Page 164 of The Orc's Captive Bride
“Yes.”
Baralt sighed. “You’re going to make this difficult, aren’t you?”
“Always.”
Despite the tension, Baralt smiled slightly, understanding.
“Good. She deserves a mate who fights for her, even when she’s fighting against him.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“Love rarely does.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Khorrek’s breathing settled into the deep, even rhythm of sleep, but Thea remained motionless against his chest, staring into darkness.
He trusts me. Believes I’ll be safe.
Her throat tightened. She’d lied to him, not directly, but through omission and careful deflection. It was the same way she’d seen Lasseran manipulate truth into something twisted and dangerous.
I’m nothing like him. This is different. This is necessary.
She repeated the justification to herself over and over like a mantra, but it didn’t ease the guilt gnawing at her chest.
The runes had been painfully, terribly clear. She’d read them three times, checked her translations and searched for alternative interpretations, but the Old Language left no room for misunderstanding. The words were precise. Absolute.
Cleansing requires balance. What was taken must be returned. Life for life. Blood for blood. Willing sacrifice to restore what was stolen.
Her stomach churned.
She’d considered telling Khorrek, had nearly confessed a dozen times throughout the day.
But every time she opened her mouth, she saw his face. The fierce protectiveness. The absolute refusal to let her face danger alone.
He would try to stop me.Or worse, he’d offer himself instead.
The thought was unbearable.
He’d spent his entire life being used, being treated as a tool. A weapon. Something disposable. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—allow him to become another sacrifice on Lasseran’s altar of ambition. Even if it meant sacrificing herself instead.
Besides, I’m the one chosen for this. The runes called me here. Pulled me through the portal. The Old Gods want me specifically.
The logic was sound, rational, but it didn’t ease the ache in her chest as she listened to Khorrek’s heartbeat beneath her ear.
Strong. Steady. Alive.
I love you. Gods, I love you so much it terrifies me.
She’d never expected this, never imagined falling so completely for someone. Her life on Earth had been consumed by academic pursuits. Research. Knowledge. The safe, controlled world of books and theories.
Romance had seemed… irrelevant. A distraction from more important things. Then she’d collided with a massive orc in the middle of nowhere, and everything had changed.
Khorrek. My mate. My everything.
She blinked against the burning in her eyes.
Don’t cry. If you start now, you won’t stop.
