Page 45 of Song For His Siren
"What is it?"
"I thought it would happen here. We don't have to do it in front of people, do we?" she said, panic started to creep in.
"Not unless you want to," he replied with a cocked eyebrow. Seeing the panic wasn't going anyway, he pulled her into an embrace. "No, my little mate. I came here to get my things and show you the room. Then, we’ll meet in the war room to prepare for my absence."
"Your absence? Are you leaving?" That thought did absolutely nothing to ease the panic now rising higher.
"No, for the mating."
"Okay, I need to stop for a second. Tell me what's going to happen. I thought I knew, but I clearly don't understand."
"Of course, I’m sorry, little mate. I should’ve told you. We’ve just been moving along so quickly. We’ll have a small ceremony with my brother and sister in attendance. I think humans call it handfasting. Then, we will go to the mating cave and remain there until we are done."
"Is it going to take long?"
"Oh, my mate, I am hoping it takes a very long time," he said with a low rumble.
"I mean like longer than a night."
"No," he said with a low chuckle. "The initial mating will be not much different from what we did at the inn, but you’ll take my knot and I’ll bite you. It’ll leave a permanent mark, so you can tell me where to put it. Then, we’ll experience the rut."
"The rut?" she asked.
"The rut is a deep, insatiable need for each other. Until we are ready, we will stay in our mating cave and enjoy each other and be taken care of. Others will bring us food and gifts, and our only job is to be with and enjoy each other."
"Wow. So like a honeymoon, but, like, make it orcy?"
A low chuckle rumbled from him. "I don't know what a honeymoon is, but it is definitely orcy."
"Well, then let's get this show on the road," she said with a smile spreading across her face. She didn't know why, but the idea of having a few days lost in this orc was something she very much wanted to do. Here she was, in this new world that was nothing like the world she knew, surrounded by giant orcs who made her feel tiny, which was not a feeling she was used to. Where all of this could have felt overwhelming and scary, she felt nothing but excitement. She trusted Dru more than she had any right to, but she did all the same.
"Let's go find my brother so we can begin," he said again, wrapping his hand around her.
They set out down the same winding maze of dim corridors to the war room. After a few moments and turns, she was so truly lost, she would never find her way out of this mountain. They came to the end of a hallway that had two giant stone doors with orcs posted on either side. Both orcs gave a nod to Khuldruk and stepped aside to pull on the riggings to open the door.
"Brother," called an orc from inside.
Khuldruk stepped in, and his brother greeted him with a warm hug before touching their foreheads together.
"Thavros, may I introduce my mate, Calliope," he said, presenting her to him.
Thavros knelt in front of her and brought her hands to his forehead.
"How can this be?" Khuldruk said in amazement.
When Callie looked at him, she found him gazing upon a large purple crystal in the middle of the room. It was beautiful and seemed to be emitting a warm glow.
"It started glowing a few days ago. I am only assuming that is when you found your dear mate."
Khuldruk's eyes never left the crystal. "I thought we would have to complete the mating bond before its magic returned."
"I’ve been researching," he said, bringing Khuldruk's attention to his desk. It was a mess of scrolls and books. Khuldruk stepped around to look at the book his brother was pointing at, and Khuldruk's brow crinkled as he read it.
"Interesting," he said in a deep rumble. "Well, let's get to it then."
"Frema is already preparing the room," Thavros said.
"What's going on?" asked Callie when it seemed like the brothers were done.
