Chapter 10
Thavros
It had been over a week since the enchanting statue had started to come to life, and preparations for my brother's feast were in full swing. I was happy for him. Finding his mate had saved our clan and brought back our magic. A feast was indeed deserved.
Yet, I found myself utterly distracted. Even now, as I was in a meeting with our clan leadership and the leaders of three bordering villages, I couldn’t keep my eyes off the statue visible on the floor above our round table.
"It's nice to see the crystal glowing again," said a fawn sitting across from me.
"It is," said Khuldruk, sitting back. "I want to apologize again for the scene caused by the orcs from the Westerly Clan when they tried to attack my mate. I’ve made arrangements for reimbursement and repairs to the damage."
"No need," the fawn replied with a wave. "The business this feast is bringing will be more than enough. We’ll be at capacity for weeks."
Khuldruk leaned in. "There is another reason I brought you here. In light of recent attacks, I want to know what you’re seeing in your territories.
The forces trying to suppress and control magic are gaining ground.
Even out here, in places that honor the old ways, the magic is being monitored.
I believe the Orcs of the Westerly Clan have aligned themselves with those forces. "
All the heads around the table nodded—except one.
"You make a bold accusation," said the werewolf, arms folded. "Where is your proof?"
"They came for my mate," Khuldruk said, voice flat. "And when they realized the bond had rekindled and our magic was back, they vanished. No raids. No sabotage. Silence. Too convenient to be a coincidence."
The others shifted, the air thick with unease.
"My only concern is the protection of my pack," the werewolf said with a growl. "We’ve survived by staying out of the business of others. I don’t intend to change that now."
Khuldruk’s stare was like stone. "Until it’s your business. And then, who will stand with you?"
"That is not proof. Our pack is safe. I will not jeopardize that."
"It may not be proof, but they’re coming for all forms of magic. When we lost the mating bond, it not only cut us off from our magic, but it also cut us off from what makes us orcs. You are a species with fated mates. You should understand that."
"Be that as it may," the wolf sneered, "my pack will not be involved."
"You have my support," said the mayor of the village closest to the mountain.
"And mine," offered the fawn.
Heads nodded in agreement—except for the sullen werewolf, arms crossed tighter.
"Then we’re done here," Khuldruk said, pushing back his seat. "Ragnor, show our guests out. Make sure the innkeeper is repaid."
The orc by the door nodded and led the leaders out, leaving Khuldruk and me alone.
"When is Frema set to return?" he asked.
"The scout arrived this morning. The troop was a day behind. They should return tomorrow before nightfall," I said.
"Good. We’ll need a briefing."
I nodded, but my eyes drifted upward … again. To her. Always to her.
"Did you hear me?" Khuldruk asked.
"Could you repeat that?"
"I asked how you thought the meeting went."
"As well as could be expected. Packs tend to be exclusionary. But if push came to shove, I think they'd side with us."
He narrowed his eyes. "What is going on with you? You’re distracted. You always have notes. Commentary. Today, you barely spoke."
My gaze flicked upward again. What could I say? I spend my nights researching and falling in love with a statue. He’d think I was deluded or enchanted.
"I’m tired," I muttered, standing.
"I’m beginning to worry about you. You haven’t been yourself since my return."
“I am fine,” I say as I push back my chair and stand.
“What is it, brother? I need you focused. While the magic has returned, it is still weak. The job is not done.”
I turned halfway up the stairs. "Maybe it’s not me who’s changed."
I wasn’t sure why I was picking a fight with him. Clearly, I was acting differently. I was a delusional fool in love with a statue. But what else was I supposed to say?
Khuldruk flinched like I’d struck him. "Maybe not," he said quietly. "But something is going on with you."
His judgmental gaze burned into me, but I couldn’t bring myself to meet his eyes.
I climbed the rest of the stairs without another word, heart heavy and thoughts already drifting back to her.
She was waiting.
And that was all that mattered.
I spent the rest of my day and into the evening researching. I knew I should have gone to the great hall for dinner. I knew I should find my brother and share my thoughts on the meeting, but the thought of missing the moment my beautiful statue took her first breath of the day was too much to bear.
Somewhere in our brief time together, she had come to mean a great deal to me. She had come to mean everything to me. Maybe Khuldruk was right, maybe I was losing my mind.
I looked out the window as the sun sank low in the sky.
As the nights grew longer, so did my time with my new alabaster goddess.
It also meant my patience during the day was rapidly decreasing.
I found myself counting down the time until I would be alone in the dark of my study and she would join me.
These nights with her had filled me in a way that lit my senses, leaving me craving her.
Then I felt it, a shift in the air. It was like an opening door, but nothing had changed.
I turned my gaze to my beautiful statue just as her chest rose with her first breath of the night. As if a slow wave washed over her, the stone seemed to melt. It was breathtaking. When her eyes found mine and she smiled, gods help me, I was already lost.
"Hello, Thavros," she said.
"Good morning."
I took her hand and pressed a kiss to it before gazing up into her eyes. She's become almost like an addiction. It was the culmination of a puzzle I could not solve and a beauty I wanted to ravish. It was a combination that was irresistible.
"You're looking tired," she said as she raised her other hand and tucked a loose strand of my coffee brown hair that had fallen loose from my braid behind my pointed ear. "Are you sleeping?"
"I’m fine," I responded as I pressed another kiss to the inside of her wrist. "Or at least I will be once we figure all this out."
"But you did not answer my question." The lightness in her voice banished any fatigue that I may have been carrying.
"What are you working on?" she asked as she came to sit by me.
"I thought I would run some numbers before we could continue our work translating," I said as I closed the ledger book. "I am just trying to keep track of the expenses for the great feast. Khuldruk wants to be sure we are equitably involving the surrounding communities."
"You can keep working on that."
"No." I wave her off instantly. "I wish to solve the mystery of why you must leave me every morning."
"I do feel like we are getting close. Every night, I feel more and more alive. I feel like a living, breathing being tonight more than ever. Here, run your hand through my hair," she said as she ran her own hand through it.
I did the same, because she did not need to ask me twice to touch any part of her in any way. As I ran my hand through her silky tresses, she leaned into my hand and smiled. I couldn’t help myself. I leaned in and kissed her. She kissed me back with a satisfied hum.
"Hmmmm, I just feel so alive tonight," she said. "I feel like I could run and dance ... or maybe do something a little dangerous?"
When her gaze locked on mine, I saw something new there. Something that called to the more virile side, and a rumble sounded from deep within me. I wanted to take her right here. But I would suppress my baser instincts.
But as she tipped her head back, lengthening her neck, my tusks itched to claim her.
I needed to figure out this mystery for both her and me. It was getting harder to control myself.
I pushed away the closed ledger. She shifted, sitting on the table to look out the window. There was a strong part of me that wanted to swipe everything else off this table, spread her delicious thighs, and find out what she tasted like where I ached to take her.
But then she sighed, and a forlorn look covered her face. I was done. I would give anything to make the look go away.
"I don't mean to complain, but as alive as I feel tonight, it comes with emotions I haven't felt in a long time. I want to go out there," she said, looking out the window.
We were high in the mountain. This window overlooked the stables and village at the gate of the mountain, but also the wide world beyond.
"While I still can't remember anything, I can’t help but want to be a part of all of this."
Her gaze turned back to mine with a small smile turning the corner of her mouth as she let her legs kick slightly and leaned back on the table.
"I'm sorry, that's probably silly. There are bigger problems to solve."
"No, my darling," I said as I rested my hand on her knee. "Solving this problem is the only thing that matters to me."
And while my cock was firm as stone in my trousers with want for this creature before me, I pushed those needs aside. I needed to help her, to solve this, so she could be mine forever.
"Should we work more on the translation? I fear tomorrow I will be busy with Frema's return before the night of the Yule Feast."
“A Yule Feast?” she said with a wistful sigh. “That sounds like fun. I wish I could go.”
The look on her face tore at my heart. I wanted her there with me.
I wanted to dance with her around the fire.
I wanted her to get giggly after drinking too much ale.
I wanted her soft touch and captivating smile as we ate all the sweet treats we could.
And after the feast, I wanted to share the longest night of the year buried between her thighs.
“I wish you could go too,” I said as I cupped her face, letting my thumb graze her soft cheek. And I did more than anything, but with so many unknowns, I didn’t think it wise.
"You’re right,” she said with a resigned frown. “Let's get back to it," she said as she stood from the table and sat in the chair next to me.
Part of me hated it. I wanted to take her somewhere and let her have the fun she was craving. But to do that, I needed to be able to say who she was. We needed answers first, and for some reason, I felt like we were running out of time.