Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Jonus
My cousin has everything I specified. Laptop, phone, portable router, VPN hardware, the whole setup. He also brought a shower chair, which was smart.
“I grabbed extra charging cables and a backup battery pack,” Aldar explains. “And Lucy suggested a few other things.” He pulls out a soft blanket, some snacks, a book. “She said Sloane might want creature comforts.”
Sloane’s face softens. “That’s really sweet of you two, to think of me like that.
Oh, and actually, before I forget—” She shifts on the couch, looking uncomfortable.
“Um, I need to order some other things for myself. I’m grateful for what you’ve gotten to me so far, but I feel bad continuing to borrow so much from Ellie.
And I’m starting to think I might be here for a bit and since everything I own is in my apartment in DC and I can’t exactly go back there right now… ”
“Make a list,” I tell her. “We’ll get whatever you need.”
“Oh, what I was trying to say, is that I can order what I need once the laptop is set up. Maybe I can have it sent next door, so no one will know—”
“No.” The word comes out sharper than I intended. “You can’t deliver anything, even next door, or use your credit cards, or your bank account. Nothing tied to your name. That’s how Aldridge will find you.”
She exhales. “You’re right about all of that, but how am I going to buy anything?”
I glance at Aldar. “We’ll handle it.”
Aldar nods in agreement. “Don’t worry about sending me out again.
I truly don’t mind. I enjoy driving that SUV and because this town is smaller, it’s not stressful driving around.
The humans here are pleasant and helpful.
Simply make another list and I will go out and procure what you need.
The Irontrees help each other out. If I were in a similar situation, Jonus would be helping me, or a bride of mine in the same way. ”
I crook a brow ridge at him.
He shrugs in response. “I’ll go back out to the stores and pay cash for what you need. That way there will be no digital trail or shipping address to trace.”
“Cash?” Sloane looks between us. “That’s... very old school.”
“Orcs don’t normally trust human banking systems,” Aldar says with a shrug. “We’ve only recently started using them at all. Cash is still our preferred method of payment.”
She studies us for a moment, curiosity flickering across her face. I can see the journalist in her, filing this away, wanting to ask more. But she lets it go. “I’ll make a list,” she says finally, “but I’m keeping track of every dollar. I’ll pay you back when this is over.”
“If that helps you sleep at night,” I tell her.
“It does.” She pauses. “But nothing expensive. Just basics.”
“Make the list. I’ll decide what counts as basic.”
She huffs a laugh. “Bossy.”
“Practical.”
Sloane spends time making her list and explaining to Aldar where he can go to get these items. After lots of apologies to Aldar “for causing all this trouble”, my cousin leaves again to get what my future bride needs.
Meanwhile I get her new cell phone set up and loaded with the proper contacts—all the orcs present and even the numbers for the two human brides.
Sloane watches me with something like surprise.
“You’re really good at this,” she says, watching as I move onto opening the laptop box.
“I set up Garlen’s entire teaching station when he was going through his situation. Dual monitors, professional camera, the works. Orcs aren’t all brute strength, you know.”
She grins. “I never thought you were.”
I configure the VPN, set up her secure cloud access, make sure everything is encrypted and untraceable. She won’t be able to be tracked through this equipment. I’ll make sure of it.
“There.” I hand her the laptop. “You’re connected with a secure line and your cloud storage should be accessible now.”
She smiles wide and takes it from me. Minutes later she’s accessed her files. “Oh, this makes me feel so much better, seeing it’s all still here. Months of work. Everything I need to take Aldridge down.”
“Then let’s take him down.”
“I need to organize everything into a timeline first,” she says, already clicking through folders.
“Then write the actual article. My editor at the Times knows I went dark — I need to reach out to her securely, let her know I’m alive and that I have everything we need.
Once the story is published, Aldridge loses his main reason to come after me.
The information will already be public.”
“How long to write it?”
“A few days, maybe a week. Depends on how fast legal review goes.” She glances at me. “The question is whether I have that long before he finds me.”
“We’ll make sure you do.”
She looks at me, and something passes between us. Partnership. Purpose.
Sloane dives into her work. I sit beside her on the couch, working on my own tasks—security protocols, communication channels, coordinating with the team.
My phone buzzes. Dane. “How’s it going over there?” he asks when I answer.
“Good. Sloane’s got a new laptop and she’s working on a timeline of her evidence.”
“Good…Good. I’m coordinating with neighborhood watch. We’ve got eyes on all the approach roads. If anyone unfamiliar comes into the area, we’ll know.”
“You’re not coming over?”
“No.” Dane’s voice is firm. “I’m not leaving Laurie’s side right now. We’ll come for dinner later, but until then, I’m staying put.”
I understand completely. When your female is potentially in danger, you don’t leave her. Even if the danger is theoretical. “Understood. Keep me updated.”
“You too.”
I hang up and glance over at Sloane. She’s completely absorbed in her work. Her brow is furrowed in concentration. She tucks a strand of auburn hair behind her ear.
I pause and take Loki in the backyard and throw a ball with the hyper dog.
No one was able to take him for a walk today, so this will have to do.
I sweep and vacuum the entire downstairs.
Then I make Sloane a sandwich for lunch.
She eats without looking up from the screen, engrossed.
I don’t mind. I like seeing her like this—focused, determined, fighting back in the way she knows how.
I could watch her work all day.
Eventually, Aldar returns with all of Sloane’s new packages, which is the only reason she finally shuts down her computer. Garlen and Ellie return from work, tired but in good spirits. I speak to them both for a few minutes and then they disappear upstairs for a bit.
An hour later, there’s a knock at the door.
Dane and Laurie arrive with Zoe, and they’ve brought enough food to feed an army.
Ellie and Garlen make their way back downstairs, now dressed in more comfortable clothes.
A small spark of jealously enters my mind as I watch my cousin guide his pregnant bride down the steps.
The love between this mated pair shines bright and for the first time ever, I want that type of relationship for myself.
As well as a bride that is swollen with my seed.
“Dane and I made pot roast,” Laurie announces, carrying containers into the kitchen. “And mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, and apple pie for dessert. Nobody’s cooking tonight.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” Ellie says, but she’s already grabbing plates.
“Of course we did. There’s a full house and a guest who needs a reminder of real, home cooked food.” Laurie winks at Sloane. “No arguments.”
Sloane gives her a watery smile in return.
I carry my female to the kitchen table and place her in a seat right next to mine.
Dinner is loud and chaotic and exactly what this house needs.
Everyone crowds around the big table—Garlen and Ellie, Dane and Laurie, Aldar, Sloane, me.
Even Zoe is animated, chattering about her day at school between bites of pot roast.
My future bride eats heartily, which brings me much pleasure.
Loki weaves between everyone’s legs, hoping for dropped food. Sloane sneaks him a piece of meat when she thinks no one is looking.
At first, my female is very animated, asking lots of questions about Black Oak Academy. I watch her interact with my family, and something warm spreads through my chest.
But eventually she grows quiet.
Laurie notices Sloane fading before I do. “You look tired, honey. You should rest.”
Sloane tries to protest, but a yawn betrays her. “I’m fine, I just—”
“You’re exhausted,” I say, standing. “You worked too hard today. Say goodnight.”
She looks around the table, a little embarrassed at being managed. “Goodnight, everyone. Thank you for dinner, Laurie and Dane. It was wonderful.”
“Anytime, sweetheart.”
I scoop her up before she can protest. She wraps her arms around my neck—natural now, like we’ve been doing this forever.
“Goodnight,” I say to the room, and carry my female out.
I take her to the guest room—her room, for now—and settle her on the bed.
“Wound care first,” I tell her. “Then shower, then sleep.”
“Yes, Doctor Irontree.”
I huff a laugh despite myself and kneel at the foot of the bed. This has become ritual already, taking her foot in my hands and unwrapping the bandages carefully. Checking for infection—redness, warmth, pus.
“The stitched one on your heel is looking better,” I tell her.
“Still watching it, but better.” I clean the wounds with saline, apply antibiotic ointment, rewrap with fresh bandages.
My hands dwarf her feet. She’s so small and fragile compared to me.
And yet she climbed out of a pit and ran through a jungle barefoot.
My female is strong.
When I finish, I don’t let go immediately. “Shower time,” I say, my voice rougher than I intend.
I carry her to the bathroom and set her down on the closed toilet seat at first. “How should we do this?”
“Well, luckily the shower has that handheld nozzle. Maybe you could just turn that part on first, with the water running over there, but where I can reach it. And you can set me on the shower seat and close the shower curtain. When I’m there, I’ll wiggle out of my clothes myself and toss them out onto the floor. Then I can reach for what I need.”
“I like this idea,” I confirm. “But first, let me put these plastic bags over your feet so your bandages don’t get wet.”
“Agreed.”
We work together and soon my female is on her chair, with the curtain closed.
“I’ll be right outside the door,” I tell her. “Call if you need anything.”
“Thank you,” she shouts over the hot water.
I step out, closing the door behind me, then I lean against the wall and breathe. Her addictive scent is everywhere in this small space. My cock is half-hard and has been for hours.
I need to get myself under control.
The water shuts off. Rustling sounds. “Jonus? I need help with... I can’t reach the towels from the chair.”
I take a breath and push the door open.
I grab a towel and hand it to her behind the shower curtain without fully looking at her luscious naked body.
She wraps herself in a towel. “Okay, I’m ready.”
I lift her off the shower chair and move back a few steps and carefully place her on the toilet seat again.
The mirror gives me glimpses I shouldn’t be taking.
Wide hips. Soft stomach. Thighs I want wrapped around me.
I’m a terrible male. She’s recovering from trauma and I’m ogling her like a beast in heat.
She beams up at me. “Thank you.”
I step out of the bathroom again so she can change and do whatever she needs to her wet hair. This time I return to my own room for a moment so I can change into my own pajamas. I return in soft sleep pants and a bare chest.
When I return to carry her back to her bed, her eyes first drop to my chest then back up to my face. She licks her lips and shifts her position in her chair.
Tonight, Sloane changes into a new pair of pajamas she directed Aldar to pick up for her. She was able to order specific items online at the local Walmart and Aldar simply drove to the store and picked them up. She wears pink shorts and a matching short sleeve shirt with a deep V-neck.
I carry her back out to her bed.
My sexy female is now propped against the pillows, hair damp, her bandages fresh, face scrubbed clean and smelling fantastic. She looks exhausted and yet perfectly fuckable.
I start to stand, ready to return to my own room.
“Jonus.” Her voice is soft. “Wait.”
I stop.
“I don’t want to be alone tonight. I’m…I’m worried about the nightmares,” she explains, not quite meeting my eyes. “What if it happens again and you’re not here?”
I nod in understanding and move towards the chair. “I will remain.”
“No.” She shakes her head. “I don’t want you in the chair. You looked so uncomfortable. And I...” She takes a breath. “Oh jeez, this is hard for me to say but…can you sleep next to me? Just sleep. So I know you’re there.”
Everything in me roars yes, but I look at the guest bed. “This bed is too small,” I say. “For both of us.”
Her face falls. “Oh. Right. You’re huge and you’ve got those horns. I mean, you’re tall. I mean—” She’s flustered now, cheeks pink.
“My bed is bigger.”
She stops rambling and stares at me. “What?”
I shrug. “My bed is king-sized. It would fit the both of us.” I clear my throat. Why is this so hard? I’ve negotiated with hostile media outlets and planned extractions in wild territory. And yet asking this female to share my bed is making me sweat. “Would you want to move into my room instead?”
“Your room,” she repeats slowly.
“Just for sleeping,” I add quickly. “I don’t want you to have nightmares alone either. And if you’re in my room, I’m right there. I don’t have to sleep in a chair. It’s practical.”
She laughs. Soft, surprised. “Practical.”
“Yes.”
“Jonus.” She’s smiling now, that smile that makes my chest tight. “Are you asking me to move into your bedroom?”
I growl, frustrated with myself. “I’m asking if you want to feel safe. I can make you feel safe. In my room. In my bed.” I realize how that sounds. “Sleeping though I promise. Just sleeping.”
“Yes.”
I blink. “Yes?”
“Yes, Jonus. I’ll move into your room.” Her smile widens. “For practical reasons.”