Page 185 of The Orc's Captive Bride
“Khorrek.”
“Morak.” His voice was wary, his muscles tensed for an attack that might still come. “Stand aside.”
“I will not impede you.” Morak’s eyes flicked up, caught sight of Thea, and widened. “So it’s true.”
“What’s true?”
“The rumors. That you found your mate. That she carries the blessing of the Old Gods.” He hesitated. “That you come to end Lasseran’s rule.”
Khorrek’s Beast retreated slightly, confusion replacing battle-readiness. “How do you know this?”
“Word spreads. Declar told Veren. Veren told me.” Morak’s expression hardened. “Lasseran plans to sacrifice six of us tonight. Six of our brothers who were raised beside you and me. To fuel his dark magic.”
The raw anger in his voice was unmistakable.
“You no longer serve him,” Khorrek realized.
“None of us do. Not those with orc blood.” Morak stood, towering even over Khorrek. “The path ahead is clear to the temple district, but I cannot speak for the human soldiers. They still believe in him. Still fear him.”
“As they should,” Baralt murmured from behind.
Morak’s eyes shifted, taking in the Plains People warriors for the first time. His expression registered surprise, then respect.
“You have strange allies, Khorrek.”
“The best kind.”
Morak nodded slowly. “Go then. With my blessing.” His gaze returned to Thea. “With all our blessings.”
“Thank you.” Her voice resonated strangely in the confined space.
Morak took a step back, pressing himself against the wall to let them pass. Khorrek moved forward, alert for any sign of betrayal, but Morak remained motionless, head inclined in respect as they filed past him.
Once they were safely beyond, he allowed himself to exhale. “That was unexpected.”
“Not to me,” she said quietly.
She stepped in front of him suddenly, taking the lead. “We need to go to the Veilborn temple. Now.”
It wasn’t her voice, not entirely. There was something layered beneath it—something ancient and powerful. And as she moved ahead of him, he saw it clearly for the first time—the faint golden aura that surrounded her, visible even in the blue-lit darkness of the tunnel.
The goddess. She’s here. Inside Thea. Using her.
Terror gripped him. Not for himself, but for her. What would happen when it was over? Would she still be herself? Would she still be his?
But they were committed now. Had been since the moment she stepped into that Stone Circle days ago.
“Lead the way,” he managed, voice rough with suppressed emotion.
She moved with absolute confidence through the twisting tunnels, never hesitating at junctions, never slowing to consider her path. As if she’d walked these passages a thousand times before.
Or as if something inside her knew the way.
The others followed in tense silence, clearly sensing the change in her. Twice she stopped abruptly, raising her hand for stillness. Each time, moments later, they heard the heavy tread of soldiers passing in adjoining tunnels. How she knew before any sound reached their ears, Khorrek couldn’t guess.
The goddess. Always the goddess.
His Beast paced anxiously within him, disturbed by the divine presence so close to their mate.
