Page 75 of His Orc Lady
I grin against his skin. “Of course.”
“I’d expect nothing less.” He kisses the top of my head. “You’re so good at solving issues.”
“There’s another issue I wanted to talk to you about,” I murmur.
“Oh?”
My throat tightens, but I force the words out despite the anxiety creeping through my mind. “I’d like to have a baby. If, uh, if you want one, too, I mean. I don’t want to rush you into a decision, I’m only telling you because we said no more secrets, and I didn’t want?—”
“Mara.” Owen covers his hand with mine, squeezing it. “I’d like that, too.”
I shuffle back a bit so I can meet his gaze. “But—you never said so.”
His mouth twists in a wry smile. “You told me once you weren’t certain if you’ll ever want one, so the last thing I wanted to do was pressure you. I love you, and that’s enough. Besides, I’m not the one who will have to carry the child inside me for the better part of the year.” He brushes back my hair, his touch so gentle. “But if you have changed your mind, I’m all in. I will love you both—or ratherallof you, depending on how many babies you want to have.”
His heartbeat is faster under my palm now, but his scent remains calm—and happy. I inhale deeply, then close my eyes and snuggle back into his side.
“Just one to start with,” I tell him. “Then we’ll see how we go on.”
He chuckles, the sound rumbling under my ear. “All right, I suppose that’s a fair plan.”
“I love you.” I close my eyes, more content than I’ve ever been in my life.
Owen kisses my lips, then murmurs, “I love you, too.”
Epilogue Two
NEEKAR
I stare at the bonfire, at the sparks dancing above the tall orange flames. It’s well past midnight, and the pale sliver of the moon hangs low in the east, just rising over the mountain peaks in the distance. My cup is nearly empty, the last bit of ale sloshing around as I lift it to my mouth and take a sip.
I should get another—or join the last remaining orcs still milling around, stretching the party late into the night.
But I stay right where I am, on an otherwise empty bench by the fire, alone.
It was a beautiful ceremony. We’ve never had a wedding this big at the Hill, and I’m glad Mara got to celebrate her love for Owen in such a lavish way. She’s been taking care of everyone in this palace for a decade, and she deserves to be happy.
I think back on the time before we arrived here, before we left the old kingdom and traveled across the human lands to find a new homeland for our people. I’d been so young then, still in training, a seventeen-year-old with stars in his eyes, wanting to prove myself to my new king.
I’ve done that—and more. I’ve made friends and helped my family get settled here, I protected our clan and met many good people along the way. I’ve earned the respect of my clansmen, and found myself, my role in this world.
But I haven’t foundher.
My mate, whoever she might be, is still unreachable. Whether she’s orc or human, she’s out there somewhere, living her life without knowing I exist.
I sigh and toss back the last of my drink. There are dozens of wonderful women in this clan—couldn’t it be one of them? If one of my friends turned out to be my mate, creating a life together would be simple. We’d pick a set of rooms here at the Hill, settle in, and start a family. I’d remain in King Gorvor’s employ and see my family every day. I’d be able to help my parents as they got old, and my sister’s children would get cousins to play with.
Butsheisn’t here. I’d know it—and, more importantly, she would know it, too. We’d recognize each other instantly.
I lean forward, placing my elbows on my knees. The heat of the fire chases away the night chill—this high in the mountains, nights get cold, even in the summer. All too soon, the days will turn shorter, leaves will turn, and another winter will pass without me finding my mate.
Suddenly, the thought is too much to bear. Some deep-seated instinct is calling at me, urging me to leave, to find her, to make sure she’s all right.
I try to reason with myself. Sometimes, it takes orcs years or decades to find their mate. Ozork searched for his mate for such a long time, traveling to the human lands and back every year. He’d nearly despaired, but Willow arrived right on our doorstep one day, and heknew. So maybe I should just be patient. I’m much younger than him, after all, and perhaps we’ll meet by chance one day.
But that’s not what my gut is telling me.
“Neekar!”