Page 36 of Obeying the Orc
I got the sense that she was too ashamed to hold my gaze. The realization stunned me. I cleared my throat. “Yes, I am going to marry Mr. Thazurok. Today, in fact.”
Mrs. Foxthorne smiled, though the unmistakable sadness still lurked in her eyes. She blinked rapidly a few times, and then she swallowed hard and appeared to fumble for words, because her lips moved but no sound came out. Quite uncharacteristic of the woman. Finally, I heard what she was trying to say.
“I wish you well, my dear. I wish you all the best.” Her head jerked up. “Well, I must be going. I am going to surprise Angus at his claim. He has been there for a long time without returning to Faircross, so I thought I might surprise him.”
“Surely you aren’t traveling there alone, Mrs. Foxthorne?” I couldn’t fathom what was wrong with my former friend. She was behaving oddly. I’d always imagined that if I ever ran into Mrs. Foxthorne, the old woman would sneer and try cutting me down with cruel words. But that wasn’t the case at all.
“I hired Trimm Yorkshire to bring me there. He takes a wagon up the mountain to Angus’s claim from time to time, to deliver supplies. I have never been there before, of course, but Mr. Yorkshire knows the way.” She displayed another smile that appeared especially forced. In fact, she seemed as if she might break down crying at any moment.
“Are you well, Mrs. Foxthorne?” I couldn’t believe I felt sympathy for the woman, given how she had treated me, but she’d been kind to me once upon a time. If not for Mrs. Foxthorne, I might have ended up at The Sweet Siren long before I had met Knot. I might not have fallen in love with the handsome orc, or met him at all, under such different circumstances.
“Yes, dear, I am fine. Like I said, I must get going.” Mrs. Foxthorne stepped out of my path and started walking away. “Congratulations on your marriage to the priest,” she called over her shoulder, her voice again ringing with sincerity.
“Th-thank you.” I stood frozen for several moments as I contemplated what had just occurred. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Mrs. Foxthorne. The woman’s husband was a scoundrel and a liar. According to Madame Sage, he used to frequent The Sweet Siren as well, proof that he’d been an unfaithful husband long before he’d set his sights on me.
Well, I didn’t have time to think about such matters now. I had a wedding to get to. I pushed all thoughts of the Foxthornes aside and headed for the bridge. I welcomed the cool breeze that drifted across the water. I smiled at the young boys who were fishing over the side of the bridge. There were other boys holding fishing poles scattered on the riverbank as well.
I hoped to have sons with Knot one day. Daughters too. Would we still be living in the Faircross area when our children were old enough to go fishing? I didn’t know, but the not knowing didn’t scare me. Not anymore. I knew one thing for certain—I loved Knot and he loved me in return.
Wherever we made our home, we would be together.
We would make it work.
I found my husband-to-be waiting at our picnic spot. A well-dressed human male who emanated authority stood next to him, presumably the traveling judge. Laughter and voices sounded behind me, and I glanced over my shoulder to see Floura, Madame Sage, Trevonn, and Lottie scurrying to join us. I shot them a smile and then returned my focus to Knot. I came to stand in front of him, my heart racing faster.
This was really happening.
I was about to become Knot Thazurok’s wife.
Joy abounded within me.
“You look beautiful.” He took my hands in his.
I flushed. “I look the same as when you saw me an hour ago. I’m even wearing the same dress.”
“It doesn’t matter.” His eyes gleamed with warmth and adoration. “You still look beautiful.”
“Well, thank you.”
“Shall we get started?” The judge asked. He stepped forward with his hands clasped behind his back. “I have two more weddings to officiate today.”
“Yes, please,” Knot replied, not taking his gaze off me.
I stared up at him with tears burning in my eyes. My cheeks also hurt from smiling so much. I almost laughed at the realization. I couldn’t remember the last time my cheeks had ached from too much smiling. I took it as another good omen for our marriage.
A light breeze ruffled my skirt and my hair, blowing the long curls about my shoulders. My friends from The Sweet Siren stood nearby, and a few curious boys stood on their tiptoes further down the river, fishing poles still in hand. The noon sun beamed down upon us, highlighting a few strands of gray in Knot’s otherwise black hair that I had never noticed before. Gods, he had never looked so handsome.
“Under the watchful eyes of the gods, we are gathered here today…” The traveling judge had us married in a few short minutes. Knot vowed to love, honor, and cherish me, and in return I vowed that I would love, honor, and obey him. I meant every word of the vows, and my soul sang with the knowledge that he meant every word as well.
“Before all the gods, old and new, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride, Mr. Thazurok.”
And kiss me he did. Knot cupped my face and delved his tongue deep in my mouth, exploring me and taking command with a possessiveness that made an ache pulse between my thighs. My friends clapped and cheered. Floura, of course, cheered the loudest.
“I can’t wait to get you alone, Mrs. Thazurok,” he whispered against my mouth.
Warmth pulsed harder in my nether region and a shiver coursed down my back. My face felt flushed, and my breaths came rapid and shallow. The sound of my friends clapping and the clattering of hooves as travelers rode over the bridge faded as I stared into my husband’s beautiful dark eyes. I grinned at him and rather impishly said, “I can’t wait to get you alone either, Mr. Thazurok.”
CHAPTER21
