Page 116 of Horn in My Side
“Godsdamnit.”When her face crumpled, he cursed again.“No, no, I didn’t mean it like that.”He raked his claws through his hair.“I should have said it first.I love you, Jasmine.I’ve been wanting to tell you all this time.For weeks.And then that email came, and I panicked.I really wasn’t expecting it.I was torn between taking the job and staying here.And not just because I fell in love with you, but this town, for some reason, has grownon me.I didn’t know what I wanted.Choosing was too hard and I froze up.I fucked it all up.”
She reached toward him, placing her small, warm hand on top of his.“I thought I was doing the right thing, letting you go.This was your dream, and I didn’t want to hold you back.If I’d told you to stay, you would have resented me for it.It would have been this cloud over us and I’d always be wondering if you regretted it.I pushed you away because I wanted to guarantee your future, your legacy.As someone who loves you, I wanted that for you.”
“Jasmine ...”
She moved first, slipping her arms around his torso, her body melting into his as she pressed her cheek to his chest.He wrapped his free arm around her as finally, after two weeks of torture, he could breathe again.
“You’re wrong, you know.”
She rested her chin on his chest to look up at him.“Wrong?About what?”
Gently, he disentangled her arms from him and lowered the snow globe between them.Snow and glitter danced around the miniature pet shop before settling down.“This shop isn’t my home.And Dewberry Falls isn’t, either.”
“I know.”Her voice turned quiet.“But we can make long distance work.”Her teeth worried at her lower lip.“I mean, that’s what you want, right?”
“No, no, you’re not understanding me.”He turned the globe so the inscription was face out.“Remember what I said about orcs having two homes?That ashak’rocais our heart-home, the one we carry with us wherever we are?”
She nodded.
“There’s another word we use for our heart-home.Ashak’a.The person who lives in our hearts.”He grinned as her face went blank.“You’re my heart-home.My ashak’a.I feel most contentand at peace with you and I carry you with me wherever I go.I love you, Jasmine.”
Her eyes shone bright with emotion.“Mal ...I love you too.”
Reaching for her once more, he lifted her up with one arm and leaned down, kissing her with all the emotion in his hearts.He didn’t need the Historical Society job or to solidify his legacy.Jasmine was all he needed and all he ever wanted.
Epilogue
JASMINE
One year later ...
Jasmine held up a hand to shield her eyes from the glare of the sun as she focused her gaze on the distance.She searched through the puffy, cotton-like clouds floating high above the vast rolling hills until she found what she was looking for.
There.
She spotted the tiny dot on the horizon, a minuscule speck, really, set against a sky-blue background.It grew bigger, coming at her, forming into a familiar shape—four legs, a long tail, and large wings flapping rhythmically.When it was finally overhead, the fully grown dragon drifted down, landing in front of Jasmine, its paws thumping softly on the grass.
“Excellent job, Clawdia.That was the best take-off and touch-down yet.”Tossing her a treat, the dragon fledgling quickly gobbled it down.Jasmine rubbed her chin, prompting Clawdia to purr and trill.Pride and joy washed over her like a gentle wave.“Yes, you should be proud.You’ve come such a long way.”
“Indeed, she has.”
Warmth pooled in her chest, and she glanced over her shoulder to see Mal walking toward them.“You’re home early.”
That tiny line between his eyebrows appeared.“I had to get out of there.The elders were driving me nuts, trying to tell me how to do my job.”He raked a hand through the mess of his dark hair.“I change my mind about coming here.Let’s go back to Dewberry Falls.”
Even though Mal had declined their offer, the Orc Historical Society was apparently desperate to work with him.Not only had they been impressed with Mal’s skills, but also his passion about orc history and culture.They told him in no uncertain terms that he was the only orc for the job and they would be willing to do anything to have him come on board.
And so, Mal worked out an agreement to come in as a consultant on the project with a crew he had hand-picked himself, working remotely and only traveling to the site every few months.Jasmine hated it whenever he had to leave, but thankfully he was only gone for a week at most.However, after a year of planning, they were ready to break ground, so he needed to stay in Ghalad-Dur for at least a month.This time, he had set it up so Jasmine could come with him, and they’d decided to bring Clawdia along.
Jasmine glanced up at Mal, barely able to keep the corner of her mouth from tugging up.“Go back home?Why?I mean, how bad was it?Were those grumpy elders trying to tell you how to make things more efficient?Were they messing with your system?”she teased.
He shot her a wry grin.“For the record, I never messed with your clipboards.And if I haven’t said it, it’s a brilliant system and you run a tight ship at Fantastic Tails.”
“As I should—after all, I am the co-owner now.”
Mal had initially wanted to give Fantastic Tails to Jasmine, but unfortunately her pride wouldn’t allow it.So, instead of usingthe loan she’d eventually gotten from the bank to purchase the entire shop, she bought out Mal for half, and he agreed to co-own with her.They used the remaining money to renovate and upgrade the facilities.Mal also started renting the storefront next door and opened a hardware store and occasionally took on small renovation jobs.Of course, he was still an active member of the Dewberry Falls Volunteer Fire Department, responding to calls every now and then, though so far, no more three-alarm fires, much to Jasmine’s relief.
Slipping an arm round her, he pulled her into an embrace, his body relaxing.“I’m just glad I snuck out early.I’d rather be spending the day with you.”
