Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Riven
By Thanksgiving, Eastshore had a whole new crop of orcs.
Some of them had moved here already…some were just visiting…and some were ready to move but had to be convinced. Once that became common knowledge, the whole community banded together to put on the best damn Kap’paral—the orcish harvest festival—Eastshore had ever seen.
Which wasn’t that difficult, considering this would be the second.
But it was much larger than last year’s, which had apparently been put together by Giza out in the woods. This year, with our mayor himself being an orc, he proposed a bigger event…one we could use to woo the new orcs into staying.
Even those members of the community who weren’t in some way connected to the orcs who already lived here chipped in. All of Eastshore could agree that our town was a million times better off with our new friends.
And those of us who were Mated to orcs? Well, we couldn’t be happier.
I mean, we could be happier, but not when it came to this. I mean…fuck, what did I mean?
I was Mated to Abydos. I’d moved my stuff into his bedroom, I’d started making subtle changes around his—our house so it suited me.
He gave me whatever I asked for, and I’d never been as comfortable as I was now.
Not just monetarily, but do you have any idea what kind of sleep you can get on a really high-end mattress?
My stress—those looming medical bills—was gone, I joined Abydos in his regular massages, and I was regularly getting eight hours of sleep for the first time since… uh…middle school?
Yeah, I was comfortable.
So why did it feel like something was missing?
I didn’t really dwell on it because I knew how lucky I was. Any girl would be lucky to be in my fairy-tale life, dammit…but I got Abydos. I didn’t love him for his money, I loved him for him.
Besides, there wasn’t a lot of time to dwell on anything while preparing for the Kap’paral.
Abydos had volunteered his new piece of property for the celebration, and it seemed perfect.
There were already a few lots being cleared—just enough trees were cut down to satisfy the zoning commission, and the old-growth live oaks were all spared—so there would be enough parking.
Abydos had been out here since this morning, setting up tables and dragging in wood for the traditional bonfire. When I showed up with his SUV’s trunk full of the food Mom and I had been cooking for days, he rushed over to help carry stuff.
And now we stood in the shadows, our stomachs comfortably full, watching distant lightning high up in the clouds as Giza gave the traditional welcome. Abydos’s arms were around me, holding my weight, his chin resting on my head. I could feel his breath stirring my hair as I stroked his forearm.
He wasn’t wearing a suit tonight, and I loved that he’d chosen informality here, among his friends. He might not love crowds, but he no longer walled himself off, and I liked to think I had a bit to do with that.
Giza’s voice echoed through the clearing. “For the clean waters and the bright skies, we give thanks.”
The gathered orcs, and quite a few of the humans, responded: “We give thanks.”
“For the rains and the life-giving floods, we give thanks,” Giza intoned.
This time, Abydos murmured along with his friends, “We give thanks.”
The light from the roaring bonfire seemed to make Giza’s tattoos dance as he raised his arms. “For the birdsong and the sweet scent of wildflowers, we give thanks.”
This time, I joined in. “We give thanks!”
“For the deer and the mushroom and the barley and the squash, joined today in this meal, we give thanks.”
Everyone was calling now, voices high and low, orc and human. “We give thanks!”
Giza held us in the palms of his hands as he slowly looked around the gathering and lowered his voice so we strained to hear it. “For fellowship and friendship and loved ones here and gone; for the strength of our clan and the sweetness of our hearts…we give thanks.”
It was as if all of us took a deep breath at once, because there was a pause, then we all shouted the refrain: “We give thanks!”
And my hands tightened around Abydos’s arm. I did. I did give thanks. I was beyond lucky to have found my way here, to him.
I just hoped he felt some fraction of that for me, too.
Giza lowered his hands and his voice boomed out, “May you be blessed with bounties in the coming year. I welcome you to Kap’paral, a celebration of our blessings this year.”
There was more cheering, then calling for the traditional stories. As Giza—as the eldest of the Eastshore orcs, the memory-keeper—began to speak, some of the audience began to move about, while others settled in for the tales.
Abydos shifted behind me and kept his voice low when he spoke, so as not to disturb the show. “It’s good to see them all here. Celebrating among our brothers.”
“You…” My voice caught. “You did that for them, Abydos. They’re going to have good lives here, thanks to you.”
He snorted softly, his hold tightening. “Thanks to you, dkaar. You were the one who showed me what true happiness was.”
I wasn’t sure how to answer that, even if I could speak past the giant lump in my throat.
Abydos had never told me he loved me, never indicated he wanted more with me…
but maybe that was a foolish expectation.
Maybe I should speak with Sami? Maybe orcs just didn’t talk about love and marriage and health insurance benefits and joint tax returns or whatever.
Maybe, in his eyes, we were building a life together already, and that’s all that mattered?
I sighed and rested more of my weight on him.
“See those two?” He flicked his finger toward a pair of orcs who, from this distance, seemed indistinguishable in their flannel shirts and scowls.
“Brakor and Korrad. They’ve already taken jobs with the construction company working on this land.
Brakor was my heavy machinery expert, and Korrad was my safety inspector. ”
“Neither of them looks thrilled to be here,” I pointed out, and he snorted softly.
“Brakor always looks like that, and Korrad is probably just irritated that his brother’s not more enthusiastic.
This is probably the first Kap’paral they’ve attended since they came through the veil.
Bramblewood was a mix of orcs and other species, so we did a shit job of keeping traditions alive.
That’s why it’s so important that we’ve found a place out here. ”
I smiled, glad he included himself in that statement. “And that’s Garrak over there, right?” The big foreman was overseeing the proceedings with a small smile on his face and crossed arms. “He doesn’t look like he’s paying any attention to whatever Sylvik’s saying.”
“He’s probably listening, but he’s spent years watching over these guys, and I guess the habit’s hard to break. Garrak is definitely seen as their leader, and after that fuck-up where he saved us all, their protector as well.”
“I’m glad he’s moving out here, then.”
“He’s already signed a lease for one of the nicer condos in the new building.
He told me he’s waiting to collect on a few more debts—he has built quite a nest egg with his poker skills—before hiring movers.
But yeah, by Christmas he should be settled, and I think once he is, even more guys will move out. ”
I didn’t point, but I did flick my fingers. “The three with the beers listening to Giza? Are they also thinking of moving?”
“Harkaan is the one with the long hair, and he’s using this move as an excuse to open the microbrewery he’s always wanted. Dravik has all the tattoos; he was my head mechanic, and is already talking to Cairo about expanding his autobody shop to include small engine repair.”
“And the one who just took Dravik’s beer so he could grab Harkaan in a headlock?” I asked wryly, amused by the scuffle and the bored expression of the clean-cut third orc.
“That’s Varron, who used to be the mine’s medic. He isn’t a doctor, but an EMT. I’m not sure what his plans are here on Eastshore, but I’m really glad he’s looking for a place.”
I could hear the satisfaction in Abydos’s voice as he surveyed the gathering from our place in the shadows. Giza’s voice rose and fell in the background, but my focus was on my Mate.
Twisting in his arms, I placed my hands on his cheeks to pull him down toward me. “I’m really glad too,” I murmured. “I hope they find their peace.”
He hummed, then rubbed his good tusk across my cheek. “Maybe we could introduce them to some single human females.”
I burst into chuckles. Two months ago, this male wouldn’t be caught dead talking to a human, and now he was ready to play matchmaker? “My sister Brooke is planning on spending a few weeks out here in between jobs.”
Abydos seemed to only be half paying attention, judging from the way his hands were moving over my back and the bulge I could feel in his jeans. “And is she single?”
With Brooke, who could tell? I hummed and wrapped my arms around his neck. “I’ll ask.”
“Do that.” His lips brushed over mine. “Tomorrow.”
I hummed and stretched up on my toes. “Forget Brooke! Let’s go home, Mate, and celebrate our own way.”
When he scooped me up in his arms, I didn’t even squeak, and we snuck away from the celebration without anyone noticing.
The drive home was short, but I made the most of it. By the time we pulled into the garage, Abydos’s cock was out, and I was bent half over the front seat, licking the precum from the tip. My panties were soaked—just the sounds he made when I sucked his cock could do that to me.
When we reached the house, he reached over and grabbed me, pulling me across the seat and into his lap, which allowed him to carry me from the car as I giggled at his enthusiasm.
His jeans didn’t fall off until we got to the bedroom, and by then I was busy scrambling to undress as well.
Abydos stopped me before I could take off my shirt.
“Allow me,” he murmured, already completely naked.