Page 19 of The Iron Oath
“What?” Amuleta gasped. She paused and stared at Magoza. Had she lost her mind? Who in their right mind would be ashamed to be with her? After what she’d just experienced at the hands of Magoza, she still couldn’t believe it wasn’t a dream. If anything, it should be the other way around.
She wasn’t a full orc like Magoza and maybe she would be ashamed to tell anyone of their time together.
“Why would you say such a thing?” Amuleta finally bit out.
Her heart raced as she took in the strong female warrior in front of her. She had been so gentle, but firm, when she had worked Amuleta’s body. She had made Amuleta feel as if she were the most beautiful female in the world. Parts of her body still tingled from her touch and bites. She blushed at the light ache she had on her inner thigh were Magoza had nipped her.
“You appear to be nervous. The way you keep looking around as if expecting someone to jump out of the trees. Are you worried about what your mother will think when we arrive?” Magoza closed the gap between them. She reached out a hand and cradled Amuleta’s cheek.
Amuleta couldn’t help but settle her face into her palm. “I’m looking around because maybe this is a trick, or a cruel joke,” she whispered.
That was the only thing she could think of to explain why Magoza had chosen her. She had said she had punished those warriors, but Amuleta hadn’t witnessed it. For all she knew, Magoza could be in on their sick little jokes. She proclaimed that Amuleta was her mate…but how?
“What did you say?” Magoza asked.
Her hand slipped down to cup Amuleta’s chin in a firm hold. Her eyes narrowed on her, and the expression that filled them sent a shiver of apprehension down Amuleta’s spine.
Maybe she shouldn’t have said anything.
Maybe she should have basked in the moment of being with the commander then wallowed in her self-pity later.
Maybe it was just a passing fancy for the commander.
Amuleta had heard enough gossip about Magoza and her women. The words that Magoza had uttered in the midst of passion could have just been her caught up in the heat ofthe moment. Amuleta had allowed this female to do what she wanted to her—and it was worth the cost.
Her gaze clashed with Magoza’s. She swallowed hard. The fury that blazed in her eyes gave Amuleta the sense that maybe she was wrong.
Could what had happened between them be real? Was she truly destined to be with Magoza? As a half-human, she didn’t have any of the feelings or the sense of knowing that an orc would have when it came to mates. Not that her mother did. Gelisha had fallen in love with Xagok.
She hesitated for a few seconds, carefully choosing her words because her self-doubt was taking over her. Not only that, but she had to protect herself. The world could certainly be cruel. Why would the gods see fit to give Magoza a half-breed as a mate?
“Am I a trophy for you?” she whispered. She’d heard plenty of people wanting to get a taste of her because she was a half-breed. It was like she was just something they could check off on a list of things to do or be able to boast about.
“When I said I will claim you, I meant every single word of that,” Magoza bit out around her tusks.
Her grip tightened on Amuleta’s face. It wasn’t a crushing feeling, nor was it painful. If anything, it was arousing her. She sent up a prayer to every goddess that she could think of and prayed that Magoza wouldn’t be able to scent her.
“Do you not know how important the word of a warrior is?”
“And do you not know how much I will not be accepted as your?—”
Amuleta couldn’t even say the word.
Mate.
Magoza had murmured the word in her ear right before she had reached her peak the second time they had been intimate. It could truly never be. Magoza was the great warrior, daughter ofthe chieftain, the future chiefess. There would be a revolt if she took a half-breed mate.
Had the word caused Amuleta to start dreaming immediately of things she knew she couldn’t have? Of course it had. What she wouldn’t give to be able to live amongst her father’s people without feeling ashamed. To hold her head high and walk into the main hall of the stronghold clutching Magoza’s hand. To be a voice for others like her who would be cast out for just existing.
But alas, that would never come to be.
The most Amuleta probably could be was a passing fancy for Magoza, or maybe her…concubine.
“Anyone who dares speak ill of you will answer to me,” Magoza snarled.
“Even if it’s your own father?” Amuleta whispered.
Magoza’s eyes widened slightly at her retort. She released Amuleta’s face, her hand falling away. Amuleta took a step back from her and sighed. She lifted the one bag and tossed the strap over her shoulder. Her father, a warrior who’d fought for Tulak Cydassi—Magoza’s father—didn’t even know that his finest warrior had hid his family away in the woods.
