Page 101 of The Orc's Captive Bride
“Yes.”
“People like you.”
The words hurt, but they were true.
“Yes,” he said. “He’ll send warriors. Trackers. Mages. Everything he has.”
“Then how do we?—”
“I know his methods. I’ve led hunting parties before and I know how they think, how they operate.”
“So you can counter them.”
“I can try.”
She studied him, those clear grey eyes seeing too much.
“This is treason,” she said. “Betraying your king. Your oaths. Everything you were raised to serve.”
“I know.”
“They’ll kill you if they catch you.”
“I know that too.”
“Then why—” Her voice cracked. “Why are you doing this?”
Because you matter more than oaths made by a child who didn’t understand what he was swearing to.
Because I’d rather die free than live as a slave.
Because when I look at you, I see something worth fighting for.
He didn’t say any of that. Instead, he took her hand. “Because it’s the right thing to do.”
She laughed shakily, verging on tears. “You’re choosing morality now? After thirty-five years of following orders?”
“I’m choosing you.”
The words were out before he could stop them, honest and terrifying.
Her breath caught. “Khorrek?—”
“You don’t have to say anything. I just—” He stopped, tried again. “I spent my whole life believing I was serving something greater than myself. A noble purpose. A righteous king. But it was all a lie. And I can’t—” His voice roughened. “I can’t keep serving that lie. Not when the truth is sitting right in front of me.”
“The truth?”
“That some things are worth more than loyalty to a monster who calls himself a king. That some people deserve to be protected, even if it costs me everything.”
Tears slid down her cheeks. “You’re going to make me cry.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” She squeezed his hand. “I’m crying because—” She took a shaky breath. “Because no one has ever chosen me before. Not like this.”
“Then everyone you’ve known has been a fool.”
She laughed again, and wiped her eyes. “We’re really doing this. Running away in the middle of the night like fugitives.”
