Page 172 of The Orc's Captive Bride
She thought of Egon and Lyric. Ulric and Jessamin. All the orcs fighting for their freedom.
They deserve a future. A real future. Not Lasseran’s twisted version.
She thought of the children who would never be born if the corruption continued. The generations lost to imbalance.
Someone has to stop this. Someone has to make the hard choice.
She opened her eyes and looked at the two paths. One led to love and happiness, everything she’d never known she wanted, but others would pay the cost.
The other led to pain and sacrifice, but also hope. Purpose. The chance to save an entire world.
No choice at all, really. Not for someone like me.
She’d spent her entire life pursuing truth. Knowledge. Understanding. Even when it was difficult. Even when it meant standing alone against comfortable lies.
I didn’t come this far to choose the easy path now.
She turned away from the path leading to Khorrek and faced the other direction.
“I choose the ritual. I choose sacrifice. I choose to restore the balance.”
The words felt like ripping out her own heart, but they also felt right. Inevitable.
“Are you certain? Once begun, this cannot be undone. Cannot be taken back.”
“I’m certain.”
“Even knowing you may never return? Never hold him again? Never experience the life you might have had?”
Her voice broke. “Even knowing all that.”
“Why?”
“Because he deserves a future. They all do. And if I’m the only one who can give them that chance…” She drew a shaky breath. “Then it’s not really a choice. It’s just what needs to be done.”
A long heavy silence before warmth surrounded her. Gentle. Maternal. Approving.
“You are worthy, Thea Monroe. Worthy of the power I’m about to grant. Worthy of the trust I’m placing in you. Worthy of the love he has for you.”
“I don’t feel worthy. I feel terrified.”
“Good. Fear keeps us honest. It reminds us of the weight of our choices.”
The mist began to glow with a soft golden light.
“Are you prepared, child? Truly prepared for what comes next?”
She thought of Khorrek one more time. Sent everything she felt through the mate bond.
I love you. I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Please understand. Please live. Please be happy.
Then she nodded.
“I’m ready.”
“Then speak the final words and complete the ritual. Accept your role as my vessel and begin the restoration.”
She drew one last breath as herself. As Dr. Thea Monroe. Woman. Scholar. Mate.
