Page 139 of The Orc's Captive Bride
“More than that. Partnership. She makes me better. I make her stronger. Together we’re—” Egon paused, searching for the words. “Complete.”
He felt that truth resonate through his bond with Thea. She anchored him and gave him purpose, made him want to be better than what he’d been raised to be.
Complete. Yes. That’s the right word.
They reached the highest point of the patrol route. Stopped to survey the landscape.
From here, Khorrek could see the camp below. Tiny figures moving between tents. Smoke from cooking fires rising into the pale morning sky.
And somewhere down there, Thea was sleeping. Safe. Protected.
Mine to keep safe. Mine to cherish.
“You think we can win?” he asked suddenly. “Against Lasseran’s armies?”
“I think we don’t have a choice. He won’t stop. He won’t accept anything less than total control.” Egon met his eyes. “And I won’t let him have it.”
He nodded, the same determination settling in his chest.
Neither will I.
They started back down, taking a different route and checking the new sight lines.
“The other orcs in camp look at me strangely,” he said slowly. ‘Not that I blame them.”
“Give them time. Show them who you are now rather than who you were forced to be.”
“And who am I now?”
Egon’s scarred mouth curved into a slight smile. “A warrior who chose his mate over his king. Who betrayed everything he was raised to believe because it was the right thing to do. Someone worth respecting.”
The words hit harder than Khorrek expected. Settled somewhere deep. Important.
Someone worth respecting.
Not a weapon. Not a tool. Not disposable.
Someone with value. With choice. With purpose.
They descended in companionable silence. Two warriors who’d survived similar hells. Found similar salvation.
The camp was more active now. Warriors were breaking their fast and preparing for the day’s training. He spotted Ulric talking to one of his advisors and gesturing at a map. They were preparing for war.
Because Lasseran will never let them go.
He knew the High King too well. He knew his arrogance and his absolute certainty that he deserved to rule. He would come for Norhaven, for Thea, for him. The thought would have terrified him, weeks ago, but now it just made him angry and protective.
Let him come. Let him try to take her from me.
As they entered the camp warriors nodded to Egon, but gave him more of those wary looks. Perhaps Egon was right and that would change in time, but for now he ignored them, more interested in finding his mate.
She’d be awake by now. Probably already back in the command tent with Lyric. Buried in scrolls and texts.
My brilliant scholar. Determined to save the world through research and stubborn will.
He found her exactly where he expected—bent over a table covered in parchment. Lyric was beside her and both of them were talking rapidly, but something was different. He could read her excitement, but also… fear.
His protective instincts immediately flared as he crossed to her side. “What’s wrong?”
