Page 19 of Orin

Grace’s face pinched. “Are you sure?”

After wiping my face, I rested my hands on my lap. “Of course I’m sure. She came out of his house for heaven's sake. I saw her!”

Grace shook her head, not impressed by the news. “I had no idea. I’m sorry, Liv.”

“I don’t know why it bothers me so much. We weren’t ever an item or anything.” I sniffed.

Her voice was soft. “It’s only natural for you to be hurt since you have feelings for him.”

I wish I didn’t.

Rekna cleared his throat, causing both Grace and I to shift our attention to him. I stood and my friend joined me.

“Let’s check out how the baby is doing,” Grace said sweetly. “We’ll grab a bite to eat after and we can chat.”

ONCE I LEFT THE INFIRMARY, I was reluctant to go back to my lonely apartment now that I had no one to hang out with aside from Grace. My mind wandered as I walked aimlessly through the palace halls, uninterested in the repetitive paintings and art I’d seen a million times already.

I was so distracted that I ran into a solid wall of muscle when I turned the corner. It startled me, causing me to make a high-pitched noise. My heart sped up when I saw Orin staring down at me with a pinched brow.

“Are you okay?” he asked before his eyes fell first to my full breasts, then my stomach, before returning to my eyes.

My traitorous body warmed as if he’d touched me. “Fine,” I snapped, filled with irritation.How dare he ask me how I am.

He had a shocked look and crossed his arms. “Are you sure? You seem upset.” His voice carried a hint of the same annoyed gruffness he had on the ship.

I snorted and shook my head in silence.Of course I’m upset. You have a mate and don’t want me.

There was a long, awkward pause.

“Has Clor spoken to you?” he asked.

“What if he has?” I snarled.Who does he think he is?I found myself glaring at him and feeling defensive, but unable to think straight or form complete sentences.

Orin’s lips were pursed. “I asked him not to take you to the market because it isn’t safe.”

I placed my hands on my hips and saw a brief twitch at the corners of his mouth.Is he amused right now?His response only provoked me further.

Before I knew it, I was jabbing my index finger into his chest. Casting a quick glance at it, he then turned his attention to me, his eyebrow quirked in curiosity.

“Look, you had no right to scare him away from me. He was one of my only friends here...It’s not up to you who I decide to spend time with.” My speaking halted as my words got stuck. I wished he would admit he felt something for me.

Clearing his throat, Orin couldn’t hide the hurt that flickered across his face. “I am concerned about your safety, as well as that of your youngling. The marketplace is currently unsafe.”

Is this the moment he admits our connection?I held my breath as I waited.

When he added nothing, I released the breath and scowled at him. My idiotic hormones insisted on picking a fight with the big bad warrior.

“Why do you care what happens to me?”You don’t want me.

I didn’t mention the mysterious woman I saw at his home. The thought of him acknowledging her as his mate terrified me. Guessing she was his mate was one thing. To find out she was indeed his mate would crush me.

In a rare gesture, Orin extended his hand and grazed my arm with his palm, leaving a tingling sensation behind. His mating marks on his biceps raised and began to have a bit of color.

Our skin sizzled where his hand touched me, leaving me in no doubt. We were indeed fated mates. I’d learned a little about what the Alarans called their K’sha and I knew the bond was one of the strongest there was. If he knew of our connection, why would he not make an effort to be with me? I thought that was how this worked?

The little voice in my head revealed the painful truth. He was already claimed by someone else.

“Olivia, I...” Dropping his hand, he glanced downward. His expression filled with regret.

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