Page 4 of How the Orc Stole Christmas
“It doesn’t happen for everyone, but usually you feel a connection with someone and it only grows the more you spend time with them.” She gave me a sly look. “Do you feel that with Klas?”
Did I? I had been too freaked out by everything that I didn’t know what I was feeling. “I don’t know. But he certainly seemed eager to get away from me.”
Olivia frowned. “Yes, he did. He’s been alone a long time, even longer than Kharag. He’s older than some of the other orcs and I sense his time in the army wasn’t pleasant. He doesn’t talk about it though. He’s never pursued a female before, never bid for the auction. I wonder if the portal put you in his path for a reason?”
I scoffed. “This portal sounds random. It’s not sentient.”
Olivia shrugged. “I don’t know about that. I have a theory that it picks females who need something else out of their lives, an adventure, a change, something. And it finds their partnerhere. One of our other orcs, Ragon, slipped away for the auction and on his way, found Shannon on the road, like Klas found you. She is perfect for him and is his fated mate. So I wonder…”
I shook my head. “I have a job to get back to, people who will miss me.”
Olivia looked stricken. “Did you have a family, a husband or boyfriend who will miss you?”
Well, technically I had a family, only how long would it take for them to realize I was missing? And work, they would miss me when I didn’t show up for my shift but otherwise, who would care? They’d grumble about covering my shifts but that’s all. Damn it. Tears gathered in my eyes. I really was alone.
Olivia reached across the table and took my hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
I shook my head. “No, I just realized no one really would miss me. I mean, my job would be pissed that I missed my shifts, but that’s all. My family had gone their own ways years ago.”
We sat in silence for a few minutes, then Olivia cocked her head. “Wait, you said you could deliver my baby. What did you do back on earth?”
I dashed the tears from my eyes. “I was a nurse. Emergency room, but I’ve done a bit of everything. Obstetrics was my favorite, but the ER was the best paying.”
Olivia sat back, her hands on her enormous belly. “I’ve decided that we’re keeping you. Be prepared for some hardcore wooing, and not just from the males. So, explain to me the deal with this elf costume.”
As I explained, Olivia got this excited look in her eyes. Now why did that scare the hell out of me?
Sinteklas
Over the next few days, I kept my distance from Jules, even though every part of me demanded that I seek her out. At night, I had no choice but to see her at the communal fire where everyone gathered for meals, except some of the families who took their meals in their huts, though some joined the communal fire later. Olivia and her mates, along with Jules, came to the fire to give Jules a chance to meet the rest of the clan and many minotaurs came from the herd in the hopes of catching Jules’ attention.
As I predicted, many young orcs vied for her affections. Bringing her food, delicacies, special baubles and clothing. While Jules was always polite and friendly, she was clearly overwhelmed by the lot of them always going on at her with things. Fighting to sit next to her, to talk to her to escort her back to the hut for the evening.
“Damned fools,” I growled.
Kharag chuckled next to me. “They’re excited. We don’t see new, unattached females her very often. In fact, never. They’ve been stuck in the village since the war began, unable to seek out their own mates. Now we’ve dropped one in their midst. They’re bound to be overzealous.”
“They’re like overgrown pups, barely house trained. Can they protect her as needed and give her what she needs?” I glowered across the fire as I sipped my mug of ale, while two young orcs arguing over Jules’ head about who would escort her home.
“If you think you can do better, step up. She would welcome you. Her gaze strays to you often enough. And yours to her,” Kharag said, absently stroking his hound, Nuar.
I grunted. I had seen too many winters to be a good mate for her. She was too bright, too sunny to be saddled with a grouch like me. I knew what my clan mates said about me. They appreciated my hunting and military skill, training the younger orcs, but my methods were often too stern for them. If it kept them alive when an attack happened, I was fine with it.
Near nudged my leg, eyeing the piece of beef remaining on my plate. I tossed him the piece, my appetite lost. Kharag laughed. “You’re not as hard-hearted a bastard as you portray.”
“When are you expecting another litter?”
“You thinking of getting a pup?”
“I’d like some company.”
He shot me a sly look. “A mate can be a good companion.” I gave him a sour look, and he laughed. “I’ll have a litter ready to go in a few weeks. Come check them out this week.”
Jules rose and the two orcs, not to mention a couple more, also jumped to their feet. Voices raised about who had the right to walk her back to her hut. Two of the young ones, Bakh and Krothu, started yelling, pushing and shoving each other, finally coming to blows over it. Jules looked horrified, and I got to my feet to break them up. One of the fists caught her on the shoulder and she went flying, almost into the fire. I lunged for her and caught her before she landed in danger.
Her eyes came up to meet mine. “Thank you, Klas.”
I tucked her against me and growled at the young orcs. Kharag had joined me, grabbing them by the backs of their necks and throwing them aside. When they realized what had happened, they at least looked horrified and chagrined.
