Page 54 of The Orc Chief's Baker
She took a step away to combat the desire and Brovdir’s face fell.
“They aren’t opening up near the village,” Sythcol’s voice was hard and unyielding. “All of them have been on the opposite end of the clan.”
“Thisone did!” She looked from Sythcol to Brovdir.
Was Brovdir not going to say anything? His expression was still downcast and stricken.
Whose side was he on in this?
“This one is an anomaly.”
“Anomaly or not, Iinsistyou tell Headman Gerald. He needs to know of the danger that?—”
“Enough!” Sythcol’s roar had Trinia’s mouth falling open in shock. She’dneverheard the male raise his voice. “Iam chief and I will not be swayed by anyone! Especially not a woman who knowsnothing.”
Brovdir instantly barreled toward Sythcol. The only thing louder than the pounding of his feet was the ferocious snarl that left his lips.
Sythcol scrambled back, far too close to the sinkhole’s edge.
“Stop!” Trinia demanded. “You’re both acting like fools! Sythcol, get away from the sinkhole before you fall in.”
The male scowled but did so, giving Brovdir a wide birth.
Brovdir instantly backed off and the deadliest, most uncomfortable silence she’d ever experienced in her life descended on the lot of them. And she’d experiencedmanyuncomfortable moments in her life.
“Brovdir.” Sythcol’s smooth voice punctuated with every icy word. “Were youthreateningme just now?”
It was dark now, but even in the dim, she could see Brovdir go stiff, his breathing labored, and his fists balled.
She should have wanted to bolt at this moment, get as far away from the furious male as she could.
Instead, she carefully approached and touched his arm.
He jolted and swung his head around to look at her. Rum cakes and raisins, his glowing eyes were both unsettling and... enchanting.
“Take a breath,” she demanded. “No good will come from fighting with him.”
He dutifully sucked in a hard gulp of air as his eyes searched hers. Finally, he turned his hard gaze back to Sythcol and said, “No threat.Apologize.”
“Apologize?” Sythcol’s brow furrowed in confusion. Trinia was just as confused until Sythcol said, “Fine. Yes. I was wrong to take all the authority in this. You do indeed hold half, Brovdir.”
“No. Toher.”
Trinia blinked, wildly uncomfortable. Especially when Sythcol’s lips parted in shock, and he sputtered. “You want me to apologize to her? Forwhat, exactly?”
“Raising your voice.”
He was mad because Sythcol had yelled at her?
Her cheeks heated and pleasure warred with her embarrassment.
Sythcol sputtered in disbelief, his glowing eyes widened, showing the bags under them more clearly. His hair was matted, and his clothes were rumpled. “All right. Trinia, I apologize for startling you. I should not have raised my voice and threatened the peace between our people.”
“It’s fine,” Trinia said quickly before Brovdir could get any angrier. “I... can see this is a matter of dire importance tobothof our communities.”
“Yes,” he said gruffly. “I do concede to that, at least. But I ask you not to get involved in this matter. I am so close to solving this, just a few days’ time, and these sinkholes will no longer be a problem. Please. Allow me time to fix this before going to your headman about what transpired here tonight.”
“I can’t do that, and you know it,” Trinia said firmly. “I almost died. The peace between our communities will be shaken when they find out you’ve kept these dangers from us.”
