Page 62 of First Comes Orc, Second Comes Baby
“Oh, Brahnt hasn’t—” Charlotte stopped. “Wait a minute. Isn’t it flipped in your culture? The girls do the proposing?”
Regine joined Milgrida in staring down at Charlotte. Then the Eldest Orcess, then the others until they surrounded her in an enclosed circle.
“Yes,” Regine said, “but our traditional betrothal practice has been banned for centuries. So you have to do it in secret, and you can tell no one.”
“That sounds. . .ominous.”
Regine smiled. “You will give my son a proper proposal, or I will break you over my knee.”
Charlotte blinked. “Yes, ma’am.”
* * *
She sat on the couch, one leg crossed over the other.
Brahnt burst into the house. “Charlotte! Why didn’t you tell me as soon as you were home?”
“Good evening,” she said pleasantly. “How was your day? You tell me how your day was, and I'll tell you all about my day.”
He took a half step back, then halted. “My day was. . .good.”
Their gazes dueled.
“Are you going to come inside the house?” she asked.
Brahnt’s gaze retreated and tried to hide in the hallway. “I'm weighing my options.”
She bared her teeth. A particular facial expression she’d learned that very day. Charlotte patted the couch next to her. “Why don't you come sit next to me. I'll go first.”
“Ah. . .”
“Get in here now,” she barked, satisfied when he jerked forward, slamming the door behind him and darted forward two steps before he halted, eyes narrowing.
“Clearly, you've spent the day with the female’s circle. I didn't think they'd rub off on you so soon.”
“Let's discuss the female’s circle.”
He struggled not to wince. “Have you had dinner, my darling? I made sinigang and left it in the fridge for you.”
“I was too fatigued to eat. My appetite is completely gone. You might as well sit, Brahnt.”
The Orc slunk forward, paused, then drew himself up to his full height, gaze narrowed on hers, and took the last two steps forward at a deliberate pace.
She was tempted to snap her teeth at him, except it would just look pathetic, all things considered.
“I'm not going to bite,” she said, as he lowered himself with appropriate wariness onto the couch.
“If you’ve spent a day with the female’s circle, you are,” was his muttered, dark reply.
“You didn’t warn me.”
Brahnt rubbed his chin. “No. I thought it would be better for your mental health to go in blind. How did it go?”
“I’m still pregnant.”
He winced. “My mother didn’t call me.”
“Is that a good or a bad sign?”
