Chapter Thirty
One Year Later
Audrey sat collapsed in the oversized armchair by the fireplace, her feet propped up on a cushioned footstool.
Her belly was enormous. The baby sat high, pressing against her ribs and making it difficult to breathe deeply.
Her ankles were swollen despite the elevation, but her skin had that beautiful glow that came with pregnancy.
She took small sips of her tea, praying it wouldn’t immediately send her to pee.
The house was absolute chaos.
Natalie and Shauna had arrived three days ago with one mission in mind, and they’d thrown themselves into it with the kind of enthusiasm that made Audrey both grateful and exhausted. They were teaching the female orcs everything there was to know about baby showers.
“No, no, you have to twist it like this,” Shauna said, demonstrating how to curl a streamer. She stood on a chair, hanging long ribbons of green and cream from the ceiling beams. “See? It makes it look fancier.”
Varka the Keen watched intently, her dark eyes focused on Shauna’s hands. She nodded and took the next streamer, copying the motion. The twisted ribbon spiraled down from the beam.
Angela, Raknar’s bride, stood beside Varka with her own handful of streamers.
Her long blonde hair was pulled in a braid that fell down her back, and her big blue eyes were bright with concentration as she tried to master the twisting technique.
She was young and lovely, with a gentle demeanor that had won over the horde quickly.
She had only been with them for eight months, one of the first to arrive after Morgath had lifted the ban on human mates.
“Like this?” Angela asked, holding up her attempt. The streamer had a few uneven sections, but the general effect was right.
“Perfect,” Shauna said, grinning. “You’re a natural.”
Maika the Nurturing was at the table with Mina, Hokran’s bride, arranging plates and cups.
Mina was a curvy brunette in her thirties, older than both Angela and Audrey, with an easy confidence that came from experience.
She had arrived just a month after Angela, and she had fit in seamlessly with her practical nature and quick wit.
Her dark hair was twisted up in a knot at the back of her head, and she wore a simple tunic that showed off her generous curves.
“These are adorable,” Mina said, holding up one of the cups decorated with tiny green footprints. “Where did you find these, Natalie?”
“Ordered them special from an online shop,” Natalie said.
The plates had cheerful messages printed around the edges. Maika studied them with curiosity, running her finger over the words. Mina worked beside her, folding napkins into decorative shapes and placing them next to each plate.
“This is how humans celebrate?” Maika asked, glancing at Natalie. “With decorations, games, and gathering the females together?”
“Exactly,” Natalie said. “It’s all about supporting the mother before the baby comes. The men aren’t invited because it’s supposed to be a time for women to talk about womanly things.”
Dorsha the Enduring laughed from where she stood near the window, inflating green balloons with a hand pump. She tied off each balloon before adding it to the growing, bouncing pile on the floor.
“Orcs don’t have customs like this,” she said, shaking her head. “But I like it. It feels right to celebrate the baby before it arrives.”
“We should adopt this tradition,” Varka agreed. She finished hanging her streamer and stepped back to admire it. “It brings the females together. It gives us a chance to support each other.”
Angela moved to help Dorsha with the balloons, beginning to tie ribbons to the finished ones.
“I think it’s wonderful,” she said.
Zulka the Proud appeared from the kitchen carrying a tray laden with pastries. Her dreadlocks were tied back with a green ribbon that matched the decorations. She set the tray on the table and stood back with her hands on her hips, surveying the room with satisfaction.
“The cake is almost ready,” she announced.
From her chair, Audrey watched her friends fuss over every little detail.
The house looked different from a year ago. The shelves that had once held only books in orc language now displayed a whole collection of English classics. Woven rugs covered the floor, colorful curtains hung at the windows, and framed drawings decorated the walls.
She caught Angela’s eye and smiled. Raknar the Steadfast had been the first to go to the institute.
He’d returned with Angela, clearly smitten despite his usual stoic nature.
Hokran the Distant had followed just weeks later, bringing back Mina.
Both women had adapted to horde life with grace, and Audrey had found genuine friendship with them over the months.
There was a sharp knock at the door, and everyone paused.
Brumis the Bold stepped inside, her expression somewhere between reluctant and curious. She held a gift wrapped in rough brown paper, the corners folded haphazardly and held together with too much twine.
“The captain made me come,” she said gruffly, standing just inside the doorway. “I didn’t want to.”
Audrey met her eyes and saw the lie for what it was. Brumis was interested, even if she wouldn’t admit it. The orc warrior’s gaze traveled around the decorated room, taking in the twisted streamers, the balloons, and the table covered in cheerful decorations.
“Well, you’re here now,” Shauna said brightly, crossing the room to take Brumis by the arm. “So, you might as well help.”
Brumis resisted for a moment, but Shauna was persistent. She dragged the tall orc further into the room and thrust a handful of streamers into her hands.
“Hang these,” she instructed. “And make them twisted like Varka is doing.”
Brumis grumbled something under her breath but started working.
The room filled with chatter and laughter as the women worked together. Dorsha finished with the balloons and started tying them in clusters, hanging them from the ceiling beams alongside the streamers. Angela helped her, standing on her toes to reach the hooks.
“What games are played at baby showers?” Maika asked. “Natalie mentioned games earlier.”
“There are a few traditional ones,” Audrey said.
“Like cutting a piece of string to match how big around you think the mother’s belly is, then measuring her actual belly to see who was closest. Or being blindfolded and tasting different foods to guess what they are, or choosing a word that no one is allowed to say for the whole party, and whoever says it has to do a penalty. ”
The orc females looked at each other, then burst out laughing. Audrey laughed, too. She knew how ridiculous it all was. A year ago, she wouldn’t have imagined herself talking about baby shower games.
Audrey was reaching for her teacup again when the front door opened and Morgath poked his head inside. His eyes swept the room, taking in the decorations, and his expression shifted to something between confusion and amusement.
“Is everything all right?” he asked, his gaze landing on Audrey. “I heard a lot of noise and wanted to make sure you didn’t need anything.”
“We’re fine,” Audrey said, waving him away with her free hand. “This is a female gathering. You’re not supposed to be here.”
Shauna marched over to the door and shooed him back outside.
“You can’t hear what we’re talking about,” she said. “It’s against the rules.”
“What rules?”
“Baby shower rules,” Natalie called from across the room. “Now go away.”
He shook his head, baffled, but backed out.
“I’ll be at the diner if you need me,” he said. “Call for me if anything happens.”
“I will,” Audrey promised.
Zulka brought out a magnificent cake. It was three layers tall, covered in frosting that had been dyed a pale green. Delicate flowers decorated the top and sides, their petals so detailed they looked almost real. She set the cake on the table with pride.
“This is beautiful,” Audrey said. “You made this?”
“I did. Mina helped with the flowers.”
They poured fruit juices into cups and passed them around. Audrey received hers with both hands. Mina settled into the chair beside Audrey’s with her own cup, crossing her legs.
“How are you feeling?” she asked. “Honestly.”
“Nervous,” Audrey admitted, her hand moving to her belly. “At least the pregnancy is short, only five months, but that doesn’t make the birth any less intimidating.”
“It’s always scary,” she said. “But you’ve got all of us here. You’re not doing this alone.”
The gift opening began shortly after.
Audrey unwrapped each gift carefully, taking her time to admire what was inside.
The female orcs had made tiny tunics, each one stitched with care.
There were blankets woven from wool, carved wooden toys, and someone had built a cradle for the baby.
Even if the male orcs hadn’t been invited, they’d contributed.
Natalie’s and Shauna’s gifts were practical.
They’d brought bottles and pacifiers, packages of diapers, and adorable onesies covered in funny sayings that made everyone laugh.
One onesie read “I’m new here” in cheerful letters, and another said “Mommy’s little warrior” with a tiny sword printed underneath.
When Brumis’s turn came, she stepped forward and thrust her haphazardly wrapped package at Audrey.
Audrey tore it open, revealing a wooden sword. It was beautifully made, the handle carved to fit tiny hands, the blade sanded smooth.
“The orcling should learn to fight early,” Brumis said. “It’s important.”
“You know what?” Audrey said. “I agree.”
The orc warrior grunted and stepped back, but Audrey caught the pleased expression on her face before she turned away.
Maika cut the cake and distributed the slices. It was delicious, sweet and moist with a hint of vanilla that melted on the tongue. Audrey ate her slice slowly, savoring each bite. Around the room, the other females did the same, murmuring their approval.
Brumis stuffed her face with cake, taking a second slice before she had even finished the first. Then she went back for a third, piling it high on her plate and eating with obvious enjoyment. Her usual stern expression had softened into something that looked almost like happiness.
“You’ve got a sweet tooth,” Natalie teased, nudging Brumis with her elbow. “I never would have guessed.”
Brumis grunted around a mouthful of cake but didn’t deny it. She licked frosting from her fingers.
As the afternoon wore on and the light outside began to fade, Shauna moved to sit on the arm of Audrey’s chair.
“How have things been with you and Morgath?”
“Good. Really good. Nezhar has taken over most of the mage duties now, so Morgath spends much more time with me. He barely lets me do anything on my own anymore.”
“What do you mean?” Natalie asked, leaning in from her spot on the floor.
“He’s constantly hovering,” Audrey said, but there was no complaint in her tone. “He makes sure I’m comfortable, gets me whatever I need before I even have to ask, insists on helping me with everything. It’s nice, honestly. For once in my life, I don’t have to carry the world on my shoulders.”
Angela nodded knowingly. “Raknar’s the same,” she said. “He won’t let me carry anything heavier than a teacup.”
“Hokran’s gotten ridiculous about it too,” Mina added with a laugh. “He follows me around like I’m going to break if he takes his eyes off me for five seconds.”
“You deserve that,” Shauna said, squeezing Audrey’s hand. “You deserve all of it.”
“Absolutely,” Natalie agreed. “After everything you went through, you deserve to be taken care of.”
The party continued for another hour. The females talked and laughed, sharing stories and advice about childbirth and raising children.
Some of the female orcs had given birth before, and they spoke openly about their experiences.
Others had helped with births in their home world, and they offered wisdom passed down through generations.
Audrey listened to all of it, soaking in the knowledge and the support. She was nervous about the birth, knowing it would be difficult. Orclings grew faster than human babies, developing at an accelerated rate that put strain on a human mother’s body.
But sitting here surrounded by these women, both humans and orcs, she felt less afraid.
The baby kicked. Audrey smiled and thought…
She was ready.
THE END