Page 44 of Song For His Siren
"Will you get word to him of my return? I’m going to my dwelling, and then I will go find him."
"It is done," he said with a bow of his head.
Khuldruk lowered his head to the orc before they walked through the door. When they came in, the sight almost took her breath away. Before her was a grand room with tables and many different orcs sitting and eating. Some were playing a game, others were just talking, others were getting very...comfortable with each other. She couldn't take her eyes off them. She was not a prude, but she also was not prepared to see that.
"Orcs seem to be a bit more, ummm.... comfortable with each other than humans...." She trailed off, her eyes still on the orc couple.
"I did notice that people in the human realm seemed to have a bit of a different attitude towards pleasure. Orcs see it as a part of being alive. You must eat. You must bathe. You must fuck," he said. "Follow me." He guided her down another long hallway.
"A bath would be nice," she said.
"After I meet with my brother, I’ll take you to the baths."
He turned down another hallway. It was very dimly lit, with torches placed along the wall. They turned another corner into a hallway that looked the same. It was like an underground labyrinth.
"I'll never be able to find my way around."
"Never fear me, mate. I won’t leave your side," he said as he pressed a kiss to her head. "When our mating is over, you’ll get a second."
"What is a second?"
"Well, for me, my second is my brother. Your second will be one of the warriors whose job it will be to protect you."
"Like a bodyguard?"
"In a sense, but they’re more than that."
"So I'm going to be followed around by another big orc like you? I don't know if I like the idea of being followed around."
"You can choose your own. It is an honor. You can choose one of our top warriors but also some who’ll be a confidant to you."
Callie wasn't sure if she would feel comfortable around another orc without him around.
"Khuldruk, I heard you were back."
"Frema," he said, pressing his forehead to hers. "Meet my mate, Calli."
"It is an honor," she said before lowering her forehead to Calli’s hands.
"Frema is my sister."
"I have been summoned to the war room. Are you going as well?" asked the orc woman.
"Yes, soon. I wish to show my mate our dwelling first."
Frema bid them farewell and left down the hallway.
"Does your sister help rule?"
"Yes, she is the commander of the orcs in my stead."
After a moment, they came to another hallway and turned again. But then, they came to a doorway, and he pushed aside a curtain as Calli stepped in. They came into a room the size of her old apartment. On one side was a four-post bed with two large trunks on either side and a wardrobe against the wall. On the other side was a screen and a fireplace, plus a large desk with two chairs, along with a comfortable-looking chaise lounge.
"Is this where we will stay?"
"Once we have finished the mating, we’ll stay here."
"Oh...."
