Page 133 of The Orc's Captive Bride
Some of them stared, others looked away quickly, but all of them gave Khorrek space.
They’re afraid of him. Or at least wary.
But she’d never been afraid of him. Not really.
Even that first moment in the stone circle when he’d towered over her, massive and terrifying, she’d been more fascinated than frightened.
I must be broken. Normal people don’t look at seven-foot orcs and think ‘interesting specimen.’
But she’d never been normal. She’d always been too curious for her own good and too interested in puzzles and patterns and things that didn’t make sense.
And Khorrek was the most fascinating puzzle she’d ever encountered.
He stopped in front of a small tent, set slightly apart from the others.
“Here.”
He ducked through the entrance, bending nearly double to fit, and set her down on a bedroll that was cleaner and softer than anything they’d used on the journey.
She sat up and tried to look alert. “I should go back. There’s still so much to?—”
“Sleep.” Khorrek’s tone was gentle but implacable. “The texts will be there tomorrow.”
“But—”
“Sleep, Thea.”
She loved the sound of her name in his deep voice, and she reached for his hand, lacing their fingers together. “Will you stay with me?”
Something flickered in his eyes that she couldn’t read. “I’ll guard the entrance.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
He didn’t respond, clearly struggling with something although she wasn’t sure what.
“Khorrek.” She tugged his hand. “Come here. Please.”
He resisted for a moment, then slowly lowered himself to sit beside her. Still tense and ready to bolt. She leaned against his shoulder and felt him gradually relax.
“Those warriors we passed. They looked at you strangely.”
“They fear me.”
“Why?”
A long pause. “I’ve killed their kind before following Lasseran’s orders.”
She wasn’t shocked. She’d known what he’d been trained to be.
“Did you want to?”
“Want didn’t matter. Only obedience mattered.”
“But now?”
“Now I choose.” His voice was rough. “And I choose you. Choose to help them instead of hurt them.”
“Good.” She yawned again. Couldn’t help it. “Because they need our help. All of them. And you’re going to be crucial to?—”
