Chapter 38
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Stewing over his ale, Owain watched as Orla made her way across the bar towards the female that was looking at Orla with so much heat it made Owain want to crawl out of his skin. Owain had never been jealous of anyone in his life. Well, at least not romantically.
He had always envied the legitimate lords and ladies of Edam, but he had never felt jealous when a partner wanted to pursue other lovers.
Hells, he had even shared a lover or two in his time.
But seeing Orla at the bar with that orcess irritated him beyond belief.
He knew what had set Orla off. As much as she said she wasn’t jealous, he had noticed her face when she saw Vasha touch his shoulder.
Of all people, Orla should know that flirting was as much the way of the lamia as it was the way of a nymph.
But rationality be damned when it came to emotions one didn’t want to fully examine.
Owain watched Orla, wondering how he could interrupt her conversation with the orcess without seeming like a possessive brute. Orla’s words from earlier went through his mind. They didn’t have any claim to one another.
But he wanted to claim Orla. He wanted all of her; her mind, her soul, her body. Her heart.
Owain hadn’t been brave enough to define what he and Orla had back in Imsil.
And he knew that he had forfeited his right to care about her amorous endeavors when she discovered his betrayals.
Why, then, did the orcess touching the small of Orla’s back send fury through him strong enough to rival the fury of a hellhound?
Mine.
The word ran through his mind just as it had when his father threatened Orla’s life. The rational part of his mind knew that Orla wasn’t his. She wasn’t anyone’s. She was her own person. But that emotional part of him didn’t care.
Owain rose so quickly his chair made a loud scraping sound against the wooden floor. He walked over to Orla and the orcess, interrupting whatever conversation they were having.
“I need to speak with you,” he said, grabbing her by the elbow. The orcess looked questioningly from Owain to Orla.
“I’m busy,” she said, not looking at him.
“Now, Orla.” He dragged her up the stairs to their room. With the door closed behind them, Orla spun on Owain.
“What the fuck are you doing?” she hissed.
“I should ask you the same thing. Why are you flirting with some gorgeous orcess right in front of me when you know how I feel about you?”
“I didn’t expect you to care.”
“Bullshit, Orla. Tell me the truth. Why her?”
Several long moments passed. Orla’s gaze flitted from the floor to the window, then to the small hearth. Looking anywhere but directly at Owain.
“I wanted you to feel jealous.” She finally said in all but a whisper.
“Why?” He stared into her eyes, moving closer to her and invading her space as she backed up towards the door. “Why, Orla?”
Owain pressed his hands on the door next to her head, caging her in.
“Because I felt jealous of you and Vasha. And I know that is stupid, and I have no right to be jealous, but I was.” She looked up into his pale blue eyes, and he knew she saw the heat in his gaze.
“I told you, I am not interested in her. I’m not interested in anyone else. You and I both know I am only interested in you.”
Before she could respond, he leaned down and kissed her.