Chapter 24
CHAPTER 24
J ana quickly tried to think of a way to explain herself to Lothar. Relief had flooded her when he’d raced into the clearing - relief immediately replaced by shock. He wasn’t the Lothar she knew. His eyes had transformed into bottomless black pools, his usual playful expression replaced by something feral and savage. His massive frame seemed to have grown even larger, radiating raw power and barely contained fury.
Her breath caught in her throat as those pitch-black eyes found her. The growl that rumbled from his chest was unlike anything she’d ever heard - primitive and threatening. Yet somehow she knew, deep in her bones, that the threat wasn’t directed at her.
Before she could process what was happening, he’d launched himself at Khorrek with frightening speed. Gone was the graceful warrior she knew - this was pure predator, driven by instinct and rage.
She pressed harder against the tree trunk, her heart hammering against her ribs. She’d thought she understood what Lothar meant when he spoke of the Beast Curse, but seeing it first hand was entirely different. Raw power radiated from him in waves, making the air itself feel charged with electricity.
Part of her wanted to run, to hide from this display of primal violence. But a deeper part recognized that even in this state, transformed by fury and protective instinct, Lothar had come for her. He was still her Lothar, just stripped down to his most basic drives - and chief among those was protecting her.
That knowledge had given her the courage to intervene.
“He’s following orders,” she said, fighting to keep her voice steady.
“What?” Lothar snarled, turning towards her again.
His features were still contorted, the muscles in his neck standing out with the strain of his control.
“I-I overheard him talking to a woman in the garden.”
“One of the Brides?”
Relieved that he had regained enough control to listen to her, she hurried on.
“Yes. They are both working for Lasseran.”
He snarled and raised a clawed hand again.
“But he didn’t hurt me,” she added hastily.
Even when he was pulling her through the forest, he hadn’t been needlessly rough. That had given her a sliver of hope, enough to talk to him.
“Why are you doing this?” Her voice came out steadier than she expected.
A muscle twitched in his jaw, but he kept walking, forcing her to stumble along beside him. Thick forest surrounded them - so different from the manicured gardens of the convent. Birds called overhead and leaves rustled in the breeze, but the sounds felt distant and unreal.
“You heard something you shouldn’t have,” he said finally. His voice was surprisingly cultured despite his fierce appearance. “My mission is too important to risk exposure.”
“What mission could be worth harming an innocent woman?”
The words burst out before she could stop them. Whatever the Bride intended, she was sure it wouldn’t end well for Jessamin unless she could prevent it.
His grip tightened briefly, then relaxed.
“Innocence has nothing to do with it. The High King’s plans cannot be disrupted by some arranged marriage.”
She stumbled over another root, but he kept her upright and prevented her from falling. The forest seemed to close in around them, but she forced herself to stay focused, to push back against the memories threatening to overwhelm her.
“What plans?”
“To unite these lands under one ruler. He will not allow a foolish rebellion to interfere,” Khorrek said, his voice flat and emotionless. “His word is law.”
The certainty in his voice reminded her of the cult elders. She swallowed hard, gathering her courage.
“What’s so rebellious about wanting a bride?”
“It was forbidden. If the Gods have decided the time of the orcs is at an end, then we should not interfere.” He pulled her around a fallen tree, his movements precise and controlled. “The High King sent me to stop these foolish attempts.”
She studied his profile, noting the rigid set of his scarred jaw, the way he avoided looking directly at her. His words echoed with the same blind acceptance she’d heard countless times before.
“Do you always follow orders so blindly?” Her voice came out softer than she intended, tinged with sympathy rather than accusation.
Khorrek’s stride faltered for a moment. His grip on her arm loosened slightly before tightening again. The muscle in his jaw twitched but he didn’t answer.
“The High King sees what is best for the Five Kingdoms.” His voice carried less conviction than before. “He will do whatever it takes to maintain control. Without his leadership, there would be chaos.”
The words sounded rehearsed, as if he’d repeated them to himself countless times. She recognized the pattern - she’d heard similar justifications in the cult, had even repeated some herself before she’d learned to think for herself.
“I know what happens when people blindly follow orders.” The bitterness in her voice surprised even her. “When they stop questioning whether something is right or wrong and just do what they’re told.”
His eyes met hers for a moment, and she caught a glimpse of uncertainty there before he looked away.
“Someone always gets hurt. Usually the ones who can’t fight back.” Her voice shook as memories washed over her. “And the people giving the orders don’t care about the damage they cause. They only care about control.”
Khorrek’s grip on her arm loosened slightly again, but this time he didn’t tighten it. His stride remained steady, but she could see the tension in his body. Despite the flicker of doubt she’d seen, he seemed determined to carry out his plan.
“What about Jessamin?” she demanded. “What has she done to deserve this?”
His expression darkened, muscles tensing.
“Her marriage to Ulric is a threat. The alliance between kingdoms cannot be permitted.”
“So you’ll let an innocent woman be harmed?” The words tasted bitter on her tongue. “She’s done nothing wrong except try to make the best of an arranged marriage.”
For the first time since he’d grabbed her, Khorrek stopped walking. She could see the conflict on that scarred face, brows furrowed and lips pressed tight.
“I have my orders.”
But the words came out less certain than before. She recognized that uncertainty - she’d heard it in her own voice years ago, when she’d started questioning the cult’s teachings. That mix of doubt and fear, the first cracks in her blind obedience.
“Orders that involve harming an innocent woman?” she asked gently. “Is that really who you want to be?”
His grip loosened further, his eyes tormented.
“You don’t understand. The High King-”
“I understand following orders without question. I understand being afraid to think for yourself. But I also understand that there comes a point where you have to decide what kind of person you are.”
His internal struggle was clearly visible on his face. Had no one ever challenged his beliefs before? His hand dropped from her arm entirely, and this time he didn’t immediately grab her again.
A branch cracked somewhere in the dense undergrowth, and he quickly stepped in front of her.
“Stay behind me,” he ordered, drawing his blade with practiced efficiency.
The protective gesture caught her off guard, but it confirmed her suspicion that there was more to him than a warrior blindly following orders.
The bushes rustled again, closer now, and she pressed her back against a tree trunk, the rough bark grounding her as her pulse thundered in her ears. Her fingers curled into fists, nails biting into her palms, as she searched desperately for something to use as a weapon. She wouldn’t go down without a fight if needed.
Khorrek’s massive frame blocked most of her view, but she could see how his muscles coiled, ready for action. The blade in his hand caught what little sunlight filtered through the canopy. His stance was defensive rather than aggressive - he was protecting her now.
The contradiction threw her. This wasn’t the same orc who’d dragged her from the convent. That version of him had been cold, determined. This one seemed… different. More like the warrior she imagined he might have been before blind loyalty had twisted his purpose.
But then Lothar burst into the clearing in full Beast mode and Khorrek responded. It was a terrifying sight, and although she was grateful that Lothar gained the upper hand, she couldn’t let him kill Khorrek.
He tried to move her aside and go after the other male again, but before he could, Khorrek’s expression shifted. He looked from her to Lothar, then shook his head, his shoulders slumping slightly.
“Your mating is nothing but futile resistance against the High King’s will.”
She felt Lothar’s muscles tense beneath her hand, but he didn’t try and charge at the other male.
“Your time together is limited,” Khorrek said quietly, “but I won’t be the one to end it.”
Lothar growled, his arm tightening around her but when Khorrek melted into the shadows of the forest, he didn’t attempt to follow him. Instead he turned back to her, the black in his eyes fading away to be replaced by the familiar green.
“You’re safe,” he said gruffly, and she burst into tears.