Page 146 of The Orc's Captive Bride
“Yes and no.” Lyric gave her an understanding smile. “You stop fighting it. Start trusting it. But it never stops being strange. Never stops feeling like something beyond yourself.”
“I don’t know if I can do this.”
“You can. You are.” Lyric squeezed her arm. “And you’re not alone. You have Khorrek. You have Egon and me. You have all of us.”
Thea felt tears prick her eyes. Ridiculous. She never cried.
But she was so far from home. So far from everything she’d known.
And yet somehow she’d found… family.
People who understand. Who supported her. Who were willing to fight beside her.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Always.”
They stood there together, two ordinary women chosen for extraordinary purposes. Above them, the stars wheeled, beautiful and eternal. Somewhere in the tent behind them, Khorrek was planning. Strategizing. Preparing to walk back into the nightmare of his past.
For her.
He’s terrified. But he’ll do it anyway. Because he loves me.
The thought settled warm in her chest.
She had no idea if they’d survive this. If the ritual would work. If they could actually reverse centuries of corruption.
But she knew one thing with absolute certainty. She had to try.
Not just because the Old Gods were guiding her. Not just because the world needed saving. But because Khorrek deservedfreedom. He deserved peace and a future where he wasn’t defined by his past.
And she would move heaven and earth to give it to him.
“We should go back,” Lyric said gently. “Before they come looking for us.”
She nodded, pushed her glasses up her nose, and squared her shoulders.
“Right. Yes. There’s still a lot to plan.”
They walked back together. Towards the warm glow of the command tent.
Toward the impossible task ahead.
Toward destiny.
And she felt that strange certainty pulse through her once more.
This is what I was brought here to do. This is my purpose.
The Old Gods were moving, and she was their vessel.
Let’s see if a scholar can save the world.
The planning sessionlasted deep into the night.
Thea found herself at the center of it. Answering questions. Providing details. Drawing diagrams of magical patterns she’d never studied but somehow understood.
Khorrek stayed close. Always within reach. His presence steady. Grounding.
