Page 49 of The Orc's Captive Bride
She closed the door between them, and leaned against it, trying not to think about the dream, the kiss, and the impossible feelings growing in her heart.
This is a disaster.
But she was starting to think it was a disaster he didn’t want to escape.
Even if it destroyed her.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The servant appeared precisely at dawn.
Khorrek straightened from where he’d stood guard all night, his body protesting the hours of stillness with a dull ache he’d learned to ignore. Sleep was a luxury. Rest was weakness. The High King’s orders were absolute.
Mira stood in the hallway with a breakfast tray. She kept her eyes down, her hands trembling slightly as she held the heavy silver service.
“Breakfast,” she whispered.
He nodded and stepped aside, allowing her to knock. When Thea answered, he unlocked the door and let the maid enter.
He heard Thea’s sharp intake of breath and quickly followed the maid, hesitating in the outer room.
“Is something wrong, Dr. Monroe?”
“No. Nothing’s wrong.” A pause. “But there are two plates on that tray.”
Mira’s voice was barely audible. “Yes, my lady. Master Vorlag said—he said you might wish to share your meal. That you preferred company at breakfast.”
His chest tightened. He already knew what was coming. Could feel it in the way the air seemed to shift.
“Khorrek.” Thea appeared in the bedroom doorway. She was still in her nightgown, her auburn hair in a wild tangle around her shoulders. She looked flushed and sleepy and infinitely desirable.
“Come eat with me.”
Every instinct screamed at him to refuse, but he hadn’t eaten since the previous day and his Beast was restless from hunger and frustration.
“I have already eaten,” he lied anyway.
She tilted her head, studying him with those intelligent grey eyes. Her expression said she knew it for the lie it was. “Then eat again. Humor me. Please.”
How could he refuse that single soft word?
He gave a short, sharp nod and moved to the table, sitting opposite her as Mira set the tray down, immediately knowing it was a mistake. Because sitting across from her, sharing food, and pretending they were anything other than captor and prisoner was more dangerous than any battlefield.
“Anything else, my lady?” the maid asked.
“No. Thank you, Mira.”
The girl fled as if Khorrek were going to bite her. Thea filled her plate, then looked at him expectantly.
“Eat.”
“I told you, I already?—”
“Khorrek.” She set down her fork. “I may be new to this world, but I’m not an idiot. You stood guard outside my door all night. You didn’t eat. You probably barely drank any water. So please, stop pretending and just eat something before I start worrying you’re going to collapse.”
“I don’t collapse.”
“Everyone collapses eventually.” She pushed the bread basket toward him. “Even orcs. I assume.”
