Page 104 of The Orc Chief's Baker
And yet . . .
“You are all that matters.”
Her stomach flipped and her heart fluttered and her body was hot with longing.
“Are you well, Trinia?”
She snapped up. “Hmm? Oh! Yes, I’m fine. Just fine.”
She was not fine.
He tipped his shaggy head, and her heart started skipping all over itself. “You’re going to wring your skirt until it rips.”
“Oh.” She dropped the fabric, but the wrinkles remained. Biscuits and jam, she hadn’t even realized she was holding it.
A green hand appeared before her, and she blinked rapidly. “Why not hold this instead?”
She shot her orc a hard look. “You want me to rip the skin off your hand instead of my dress?”
He snorted. “Not possible. Skin’s too tough.” Then his voice lowered as he said. “And pain would be worth it if it brought you comfort.”
Her heart jumped up into her throat all over again. The things he said... the way he acted...
One might think he was imprinted on her.
But that couldn’t be right. Orcs tookyearsto form imprints. They came fromlovingsomeone, and love took time to grow.
But what if he was? How was she going to grapple with that in addition to everything else? Her mother’s bakery had been lost to Ronhold. Her woods were being lost to sinkholes.
Her entire world might soon be lost to the Fades themselves.
“Trinia, breathe.”
She sucked in a breath and her head cleared. She hadn’t even realized she’d stopped breathing.
“Here.” He held out his hand to her again, and she took it without thought. His fingers engulfed hers almost completely. His warmth flooded every part of her and made her stable despite how uneasy she’d felt a few moments prior.
“All will be well, Trinia,” Brovdir said again, and like before, his vow calmed her, soothed her. She wanted to lean into his chest, shut her eyes, and let him protect her until every calamity that was about to befall them had passed.
She wanted to stay at his side througheveryhardship from here on.
“W-where are we going?” She stroked her thumb along his knuckles.
He let out an adorably content huff and her heart tripped over itself. “To Elder Plog.”
Her brows arched. “Why?”
“Need to check.” Then he paused to consider before saying, “Rather go back to tree? Wait for me there?”
“Oh no.” She huffed out a dry laugh. “Absolutely not. The last thing I want is to be alone right now.”
His expression softened. “I vow never to let you feel alone again.”
Her lips parted in shock at his words and the intensity of the contentment they made her feel. Like finally catching her breath after a hard sprint or warming up after getting caught in a blizzard.
She hadn’t felt like this since... since before her mother had gotten sick.
And then Brovdir slowly lifted her hand up. His grip was loose, tender. She could have pulled away.
