Page 23 of Orn and the Real Girl
“Obviously,” Aora added, grinning at her joke.
My instinct was to deny them, to send them far away fast as I could, but I knew all that would come of that would be a heated lecture and an arm sore from all the slaps I’d get for my “hyper-masculine posturing”. But in truth, I was relieved that they would be by my side. In this, and in all things.
I steeled myself, taking a deep breath, and followed Mother Tonn to the rough gate we’d erected soon after our return from the cult. At first, all I could make out through the slats was alarge figure cloaked in faded gray homespun. But as I neared the figure turned, revealing a face that stopped me in my tracks.
“Lyrosh?…” I breathed, Sara’s hand on my back barely registering.
“Orn,” my eldest brother returned with a curt nod. “You seem to have made out quite well in the north,” he added, throwing me a knowing look and nodding his clean-shaven head at a clump of witches huddled together by the nearest cottage.
“They’re not my harem,” I growled, settling into a fighting stance subconsciously. “They are my family. Sisters and mothers. Only one is my mate, and I will not have you insult her by insinuating something so—“
“Alright, no need to get so testy,” Lyrosh interrupted, holding up his palms in supplication. “Now that you say it, you do have a look about you I’ve seen on other mated orcs. Something…settled. Content.”
If Lyrosh and myself had been different men, I would have said that in that moment there was something jealous and wistful in my brother’s expression. But there was no way that strong, brave Lyrosh would be jealous of me. It had always been that he was my family’s greatest pride, and I their greatest shame.
He seemed to shake himself mentally, then drew himself up straighter, his shoulders back and his bold chin high. “I would ask that I join you, Orn.”
I blinked, shocked. As if sensing my discomfort, Sara came in closer, leaning her soft warmth into my body, reminding me she was there, and that she could be my strength, if I needed it. Lyrosh tracked her movements, and this time it was clearer—Lyroshwasenvious of me, and it had something to do with Sara. Was he jealous of my having a mate?Odd beyond measure,I thought.
Aloud, I said, “I must ask, brother: what is it that brings you here? And why would you wish to join me here in my exile?”
Lyrosh’s posture wilted by the smallest measure, and if I didn’t know him so well I would have missed it. “I had a vision. Several months ago, but it has haunted me ever since. It was so tame, so domestic, but you were there, and with you was a warm golden…presence. It called to me, but I did not see who it may be.”
My brow furrowed. “A vision?”
Lyrosh nodded, rolling his eyes, just as dark as my own, but with a hard sharpness to them, like an obsidian blade. “I have never put stock in such silly things as dreams, but something about this one would not be ignored. And when I told our parents of it several weeks ago, they said that I should seek you out and track this presence as best I can. That something cast in sacred gold is always important in a vision.”
A pang of longing shot through me at the mention of my parents, and Sara pressed in still closer. I put an arm around her, drawing from her silent support, and took a breath to calm my racing heart. “And you have come here because I was in this vision? Are you not banished now because of your association with me?”
Lyrosh rolled his eyes. “You were not banished in shame, Orn. You left of your own volition.Youcalled it banishment, but you were always the only one.”
I snorted, my arm tightening around my mate and child ever so slightly. “Perhaps, but not a soul fought me, or tried to change my mind. I have never been a true orc, not there, and so the only course was banishment, was it not?”
Lyrosh waved a hand through the air, as if to dispel my words. “I don’t wish to re-hash this right now, brother. Will you have me or not?”
“I don’t know, I hedged. “I will have to consult the others, take it to a vote, perhaps—“
“Of course, we’d love to have you!” Sara interjected, shooting me a look that told me not to object. My protest died on my lips. “You are family, are you not? And so long as you follow our few rules, you are welcome to stay as long as you might need.” A sharp pinch to the soft flesh of my inner arm made me jump, but I nodded along reluctantly.
“Yes, I suppose you can stay, then,” I grumbled, feeling a little stung at my mate taking control of the situation away from me like that. But when I looked down at her face, already turned up to me, I could not help but soften. She guided me a little ways away, and leaned in close.
“I’m sorry, honey,” she said softly, “I know it was your situation to handle, but it felt…necessary. To let him in. And I know how hard things having to do with your family are for you. Does it bother you a lot, that he’s here now?”
I was still a little annoyed, but I considered her words. She was no great prophetess, but she had a knack for feeling out where a stone was meant to lie. And aside from my pride, was there truly a reason to keep Lyrosh away from my home? I sighed, feeling my proverbial hackles lower. “I suppose not,” I grumbled, stroking her soft cheek with one finger to soften my words. “But I must warn you that things between me and other orcs are…difficult. Especially since I was banished. So this—well, it might prove disruptive to our peace here.”
She nodded, grabbing my hand to nuzzle her face into my palm. When she met my gaze, the saucy look in her eyes had me forgetting all about orcish hierarchy and customs and familial bonds. “He can try to disrupt the peace,” she said softly, her voice both lilting and full of dark promise. “But he’d never manage it. Not with an entire coven at your disposal.”
Aora, who had been quiet and doing her best to follow our conversation, nodded and giggled. “No one’s more stronger thanmorra,pacha.We’ll protect you.”
My throat tightened with emotion, the protective flame mirrored in my family’s eyes bathing me in a holy kind of warmth. I pulled them to me roughly, holding them tightly in an embrace I poured all my love and thanks into.
“You’re right, my starlight,” I said to Aora, kissing her cheek. “Lyrosh doesn’t stand a chance against you.” I kissed my mate next, drinking her in like a parched man drinks down fresh, cool water. She hummed softly, returning my kiss with as much passion as I gave, and my heart flew to nest among the heavens. She was right—no one, not even my brother, would be able to harm this.
I broke the kiss but stayed close, one hand cupping the back of her head. “I love you, Sara. Until the stars fade from the sky.”
She kissed me again, Aora making a sound of disgust from her perch on Sara’s hip. “And I love you, Orn.Somuch.”
And my heart was full.
