Page 97 of Ironling
“You know how highly I think of halflings, so I’m biased,” Sorcha said. She poked Aislinn’s bare knee. “I’m happy for you! You deserve this!”
“People keep saying that…” she muttered.
“Who else knows?”
“Only Fia, but she said just the same thing to me when she found out.”
“Well, it must be true, then. You work yourself ragged here. I’m glad someone’s looking out for you.” And she included a saucy wink so Aislinn would know exactly what kind oflooking out forSorcha meant.
With a little more prompting, Aislinn admitted how it had all come about; from their first meeting to her finally shoring up her courage to go to him. She told her friend of the wonderful things Hakon had made her, of how he’d helped her with the rose garden and accompanied her on meetings with the guilders.
“He’s my friend and…so much more.” The admission felt good to say aloud.
Sorcha hummed dreamily in agreement. “You’re well-suited.” With a laugh she added, “That clever bastard. Leave it to a blacksmith to find the way to your heart is with projects.”
Aislinn’s smile was uncontrollably wide. Who would’ve thought they’d suit each other so well—it all felt fated or meant to be, in a way that she didn’t quite believe in but couldn’t wholly dismiss.
“Has the mate-bond begun yet?”
“Mate-bond?” she repeated.
The joviality fell from Sorcha’s face, and she turned to look at Aislinn seriously. “Has he not said anything about the orcish mate-bond?”
Aislinn shook her head, her stomach sinking.
A small frown marred Sorcha’s brow as she said, “He better have a good reason.”
“I’m sure he does.” Though Aislinn couldn’t think of one. Despite the warm water of the baths, her fingers began to go cold. “Why don’t you explain it to me.”
Sorcha did, describing how orcs had an internal instinct, a beast they called it, that pushed them to fight and fuck. Some had stronger inner beasts than others, particularly in battle, with stronger beasts pushing an orc into a berserker rage. Many orcish sagas told of the destruction a berserker could mete upon an enemy, especially a mated berserker.
Not all orcs formed mate-bonds, and to Sorcha’s knowledge it wasn’t preordained like other folk believed. When a compatible partner had been found, and the desire was there, a mate-bond formed between lovers. This bond was everlasting, tying mates together for the rest of their days. Such a bond, and the consequences of it, meant that some feared it.
“Once it’s set, it’s there for life. Always they will feel a pull toward their mate. An orc with a mate-bond will do anything for their partner.”
“And you share one with Orek?”
A smile cracked across Sorcha’s serious face at the mention of her own mate. “Yes. He said it began to form not long after we met, but he fought it, thinking we wouldn’t remain together. He said it usually takes a while to complete, with sustained contact and sex.” She arched her brows deliberately.
“Hakon hasn’t said…”
Sorcha reached out to take her hand. “He might not think you’re ready to hear it. Orek didn’t tell me at first. He didn’t want me to feel tied to him if that’s not what I wanted.” Her friend searched her face, and Aislinn wanted to squirm away. She knew what Sorcha would ask even before she did. “Do you want to be his mate?”
Yes.“I don’t know.”
To be a mate, to share a mate-bond, it all seemed so…final.Such a bond sounded as though it carried far more weight than a human marriage—tied together through blood and instinct rather than just paper and vows. Someone would have to be sure the one they bonded with was truly the right one.
The idea of having to find such a right one, to not only determine it was them but also that they could be trusted with her heart and her future, had panic clawing up Aislinn’s throat.
What if you get it wrong?
“Hakon purchased land,” she made herself say to distract from her panic. “That meadow north of your estate? With the outcropping?”
Sorcha nodded slowly. “I know it.”
“He bought it outright. He’s talked before of building a big house and forge there. And…he hasn’t said as much, but I believe he came to the Darrowlands to start a family. That would require a mate, wouldn’t it?”
“Not always, but…” Sorcha chewed her lip, considering. “I’m a little surprised, honestly. He didn’t seem like he wanted to farm—and there’s so much for him here at the castle.”
