Page 30 of Obeying the Orc
During my time in Faircross, I had gotten to know the townspeople better. The growing families as well as the single miners. The population was steadily increasing, and I couldn’t deny that even I recognized a need for a priest.
What if, no matter how many times I visited her, Natalee would never agree to become my wife? My heart broke at the thought.
I got back to work, holding a board in place while Parcos hammered a nail into it, with neither of us mentioning the punch that had almost been thrown.
Once the fence was finished about an hour later, I returned to my room at The Bluebird Inn. A plan formed in my mind, and as I reached a decision on how to best move forward, I wavered between hopefulness and sorrow. Because I honestly didn’t know how Natalee would react.
CHAPTER17
NATALEE
He wasn’t coming.Not tonight. Maybe not ever again. I tried to hide my disappointment as I moved about the main room of the tavern, serving drinks and chatting with customers. Knot usually visited The Sweet Siren just after darkness fell. Tonight would have been our fifteenth night in a row together.
How stupid I’d been to fall for him. Yet I had continually pushed him away. Each time he’d proposed marriage, I’d said no. I blinked back tears and hurried into the kitchen.
“What’s wrong, child?” Lottie asked from the stove.
I was grateful to find no one else around. I let a few tears fall, brushed them away, and sniffled. Misery consumed me, and my chest tightened with heartbreak, making it difficult to breathe. Lottie wiped her hands on her apron, approached me cautiously, then draped an arm around my shoulders.
“There, there. Now who was mean to you? Point the scoundrel out and I’ll put a concoction of spices in his supper so fierce it’ll set him on his back for days.”
“Oh, nothing happened out there.” I gave a desolate sigh. “It’s what isn’t going to happen tonight that has me so upset. I feel like a fool.”
Lottie urged me to sit down at the little table against the wall. She took my hand and gave it a squeeze, her dark eyes shining with sympathy. “The priest has you upset, has he?”
I nodded, then wondered if the whole town knew my business. “I might have eavesdropped on a conversation he had with one of his friends today. It was about me, and about him possibly becoming the priest in Faircross. Knot’s friend seemed to think I was leading him astray and keeping him from answering his calling. Maybe he’s right. This town could use a priest. What will happen if the seasons change a few more times without proper ceremonies being held in the temple?” I sighed. “Anyway, it doesn’t appear that Knot is planning on meeting me tonight. He hasn’t shown yet.”
“Oh, child. Maybe the male got held up somewhere.”
“He probably went back to his cabin. He probably came to his senses and decided not to see me anymore. I’ve been so stupid.” I wiped away another tear.
“Why don’t you go on up to your room? Get some rest and perhaps in the morning you can find your orc priest and talk things through.”
“No. I should be working. The more I work, the sooner I’ll make it back home.” I stood up and moved toward the chatter and piano music. “Have a good night, Lottie.”
Out in the main room, I let my gaze wander around until an older human man caught my eye and winked. I hesitated for a moment, but then I remembered the conversation I’d overheard this afternoon, and I reminded myself that Knot wasn’t coming. Starfires, he would probably cancel the deal he’d made with Madame Sage. I supposed, given recent events, the deal he’d made to buy my nights in perpetuity was forfeit anyway. He was likely halfway to his cabin right now.
After taking a deep breath, I sashayed over to the human male with a smile that didn’t feel right. Because it was forced. He patted his knee, and I sat on his lap and ran a hand slowly over his chest. A move I’d witnessed other sirens do many times. It felt so very wrong. He wasn’t Knot. But I didn’t get up.
“I’ve had my eye on you all week, little female.”
I batted my eyelashes at him, copying a flirtatious look I’d seen Floura give the customers. Though I didn’t recognize the man, I said, “Sugar pie, I’ve had my eye on you all week too.”
He chuckled and squeezed my thigh, right above my stockings. Again, it felt agonizingly wrong. He wasn’t Knot. How could I stand the touch of any male but him?
“What do you say we finish this conversation upstairs, Miss Julianne?”
Well, if he knew my name, he must be a regular customer I just hadn’t taken notice of yet. That gave me a little comfort. Madame Sage and Trevonn didn’t allow known troublemakers into The Sweet Siren. Though this man didn’t appeal to me at all, he would be a safe place to start moving on from my time with Knot. I might not feel any attraction to him—he might even repulse me—but he wouldn’t hurt me.
But in the next moment, the man’s face went pale and he jerked his hand away from my thigh. Before I could ask what was wrong, I found myself pulled off the customer’s lap.
Dark, furious eyes stared down at me.
I gasped as Knot turned me around and clutched my forearms. His nostrils flared and his face became a darker shade of green. A wave of nerves assailed me, and a quiver rushed across my bottom cheeks. I’d never seen him so displeased before.
“What are you doing?” he seethed. “You know I’ve reserved you for the foreseeable future! You’remine, and mine alone.”
I glared at him, anger flaring hot as I recalled the conversation I’d overheard this afternoon. “A bit late, aren’t you? I honestly didn’t think you were coming.” By some miracle, my voice didn’t break as I answered him. I tried to latch on to the anger, rather than the heartbreak. Amidst the turmoil, I also experienced a wave of hope. Because even though I’d believed he wouldn’t come, here he was. Standing in front of me, with a firm grip on my arms as he glared daggers at me.
