Chapter 14 #2
“Nonsense. You’re living with my son. You’re his Bride.” Mother waves this away like it’s already settled.
“Mother—” I attempt to interject.
“Hush. Let me meet her properly.” Mother sits down right next to Anna, completely focused on her.
My father approaches more slowly and nods respectfully to Anna. “Anna Lee. Heard about your situation.” His voice is deep, authoritative. “It’s good that you came to the commune. You’re safe here. My son will protect you.”
The certainty in his tone seems to ease some of Anna’s nervousness. “Thank you,” she says quietly. “That means a lot.”
“Would you like to stay for breakfast?” Anna gestures to the kitchen, where ingredients are clearly visible but nothing’s cooking yet. “We were just about to start.”
I could kiss her for that invitation. My Bride is a kind human with perfect instincts.
A huge smile lights up my mother’s face. “We’d love to stay and eat with you. Wouldn’t we, Cadoc?”
Father nods. “Been traveling since dawn. Food sounds good.”
Mother immediately launches into questions, leading Anna into the small living area.
“Where are you from? What do you do? Do you like the commune? Have you met the other Brides?” She barely gives Anna time to answer, just keeps asking, delighted to finally have a potential daughter-in-law to interrogate.
My father notices the ingredients spread out. “Need help with breakfast, son?”
The subtext is clear: he doesn’t think I can cook properly and wants to make sure the food is actually edible. I’m slightly offended but also appreciate the help. “Yes, thanks.”
We move into the kitchen together. He immediately moves toward the eggs. “How about I handle these?” Not a question.
“I can make eggs.”
“I’m sure you can. But I’m here, so let me help.” Translation: I’ll make sure they’re done right.
I resign myself to bacon and toast duty. At least he’s not criticizing openly.
We work in comfortable silence. Years of hunting and cooking together show in our coordination. Father cracks eggs expertly and seasons them perfectly. I handle the bacon, multiplying the servings from two to four, which is an easy adjustment.
Meanwhile, the both of us overhear Mother’s interrogation.
“So you’ve been living here a week now? How wonderful! And you adopted a kitten? How sweet! Keric never had pets before.”
Anna’s handling it well, answering between Mother’s rapid-fire questions, laughing at appropriate moments. She’s nervous but genuine, all those years of teaching and social situations with other humans, coming in handy.
“Where’s your family, dear?” Mother asks.
“Oh, both of parents passed away about ten years ago,” Anna explains. “I was adopted. No siblings.”
Mother’s voice softens immediately. “Oh honey, you’ve been alone? First, without your parents and then on the run from those assholes I heard about?”
“Yes,” Anna admits quietly.
“Well, you have family now. Us.”
I pause mid-flip of bacon and glance over my shoulder to check on my bride. Anna has tears in her eyes. “Thank you,” she whispers.
Father notices me watching. “You truly care for her.”
“Yes.”
“Good. She needs family and you need a Bride.” He flips the eggs. “Don’t rush her, but don’t let her go either.”
I nod. His approval has always mattered to me. Cadoc Irontree is a fierce, legendary orc hunter, and yet remains kind enough to his bride along, not caring if she slows him down or causes him to lose competitions. All that matters is her safety and happiness, which I’ve always admired.
From the other room, Mother’s getting more personal. “So, Anna. Do you care for my son?”
Silence.
I freeze mid-flip of bacon.
Father notices and lets out a snort-laugh.
“Yes,” Anna says quietly. “I do.”
I let out the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.
“Good. Because he clearly adores you. I can see it in how he looks at you.” Then she barrels ahead. “Have you thought about the wedding?”
I nearly drop the platter of bacon.
“Wedding?” Anna sounds panicked. “We’re not—”
“Oh, you will be. I can tell these things.” Maggie Irontree is enthusiastic now. Unstoppable. “We should start planning. Do you want a human-style wedding or an orc ceremony? Or both? We could do both, this has happened before.”
“Mother,” I growl from the kitchen.
Father chuckles beside me. “Let her dream, son.”
“I’ve always wanted to help plan a wedding...”
Anna looks overwhelmed, while trying to remain polite.
“Breakfast is ready,” I shout and grab plates, utensils and napkins. I need to intervene before my mother plans the entire ceremony and causes my female to run from the room, screaming.
Father brings the eggs to the table. “Maggie, let them figure it out on their own.”
Mother huffs at the admonition but stops. For now.
Anna gives me a nervous smile. I place a hand on her back and lead her to a seat, right next to mine.
We all sit crowded around the kitchen table.
Two large orcs and two small human females.
Dinah weaves between legs underneath. I look around at the faces assembled and it feels like.
.. family. Mother’s wedding talk might be premature but the image is planted now.
Anna in human-style wedding dress. I want it desperately.
Mother compliments the food. “Keric, you did well with the eggs.”
I notice Father doesn’t correct her and just lets me take the credit.
“Isn’t it wonderful having a partner who cooks?” she says to Anna.
“Yes, Keric’s been amazing. He does all the cooking because I have zero skills in that area. I’m excellent at calling for takeout,” she laughs, “or picking out a good restaurant but none of my skills are necessary here.”
They continue to talk about my cooking skills and mom tells stories of how I learned to cook, and then Cadoc changes the subject. He asks about the conspiracy and Anna explains the situation carefully to them. It’s a more edited version, but enough so they better understand what we’re up against.
“Brave,” Father says, complimenting her survival skills. “And very moral of you to not let those humans continue to steal your cultural antiquities and sell them, committing crimes. Not many humans would’ve survived three years alone. My son chose well.”
Anna’s cheeks pinken and she thanks him “for his kind words.”
My mother then proceeds to tell embarrassing stories about me as a child. “He tried to hunt a rabbit when he was five. Came home covered in mud, empty-handed, sobbing because the rabbit was ‘too fast.’”
“Mother, please—”
Anna laughs, genuinely delighted. She asks questions more questions about me and listens to all the stories and laughs at all their favorite jokes. My parents eat it up.
Time passes easily. An hour, maybe more. Finally, Mother stands. “We should go Cadoc, let these two have their evening.”
Evening? I glance at the window. It’s barely noon but I don’t correct her.
Cadoc opens the front door. Mom hugs Anna tight. “Welcome to the family, dear.”
“But we’re not—” Anna tries again.
“You will be. I know these things.” She winks.
My father clasps my shoulder and leans close. “Don’t mess this up.”
“I won’t.”
He nods approvingly. Then turns to Anna. “I am glad that you chose to stay with us here, at the commune.”
“Thank you. Both of you,” Anna says, genuine warmth in her voice.
More hugs from Mother. “Come for dinner soon. I want to introduce you to everyone. I know you’ve met a lot of the brides and orcs but there still a lot more people to know and I’d love to be someone who can show you around and help you get settled.
Can I give you my contact information. Is that okay? ”
Anna happily agrees and they exchange phones to leave contact info. My parents finally leave. I close the door.
Sudden silence fills the air. The only sound is the crackle of the fire and the tinkle of a play toy that Dinah bats around.
After hours of company, the cabin feels quiet. But charged.
My female stands near the table. I’m by the door. We look at each other across the space.
“Your parents are wonderful,” she says softly. “Your mother is... intense. But lovely. Your father is intimidating but kind.”
I cross to her slowly and stop a few feet away, close but not touching.
She is truly the most beautiful female I’ve ever encountered.
Her skin looks unbelievably soft and her lips are plush.
The sparkle of her black eyes and the shine of her dark hair is enchanting.
“They love you already. They think you are adorable,” I say.
“Keric, I—” Anna stops.
“I know.” I move closer, so very close, and reach out to cup her lovely face gently with both hands. Her skin is soft and warm.
She leans into my touch just slightly.
I lean down because I want to experience my first kiss, but I refrain, lifting my head. I brush a thumb along her delicate cheek and then step back, dropping my arms. “Soon,” I promise.
She nods. “Soon.”