Chapter 14 #2
Father scoffed and spat.
“Negotiate with your rescue party? You stupid girl, get over here.”
I ignored him—sure to enrage him—and kept my attention on Sorcha’s Mate. My heart was thundering in my chest, loud enough that he would hear my terror, for certes. But I squeezed my sister’s hand for courage and took a deep breath and spoke to her Mate who watched me impassively.
“Negotiate with an army set to attack a peaceful village,” I countered.
The chief’s expression didn’t change, but he continued to watch me neutrally.
“What will ye offer to keep us from battle?”
My answer was immediate, learned from watching my Mate and the Stormseeker.
“Alliance with Bloodfire.”
One of the other orcs, the scarred one, spat his disapproval. The chief merely twitched a brow again.
“The Bloodfire clan has been our enemy for generations.”
“Aye.” I took a deep breath, held it, and prayed to my god and the gods of the orcs that this would work.
“But now your Mate’s sister is Mated to the Bloodfire chief. I would ask—nay, beg, if that is what you require—to leave my clan in peace. I can promise, on their behalf, that we will offer you no more danger.”
The last of my words had been nearly drowned out by Sorcha’s gasp and Effie’s delighted squeal. But ‘twas the response of the male in front of me that mattered most.
His brows lowered to a scowl and he glanced between me and Sorcha.
“Am I to understand ye’re Mated to Kragorn, then? The Bloodfire chief? Are ye carrying his heir?”
My free hand rested on my stomach, and I felt a calmness settle over me.
“I…I could be. There was a ceremony…”
“Fook me,” Drakolt muttered, wiping his hand down his face before turning his scowl to his Mate. “Sorcha? I suppose ye’re no’ going to let me do battle against yer sister’s clan?”
“Not even a little!” declared my sister delightedly, giving a little jump. “Our sons will be cousins, not enemies!”
Roxanna gripped my other elbow and turned me, her expression shocked.
“You are his Mate, Lillian? Truly? He has claimed you?”
I felt my cheeks heating and out of habit, ducked my head.
“Aye, truly.”
“Did you have to do the whole…public breeding thing?” She sounded horrified. “It is so degrading!”
“Actually…” My lips curled as I shot her a wry, knowing look. “I found it to be empowering. A little…exciting.”
“Oh Lord!” Roxanna sputtered as Sorcha and Effie burst into laughter.
“Empowering!” Sorcha exclaimed. “I was terrified!”
From atop his horse, her Mate rumbled, “I thought ye loved it, dkaar.”
“I loved you, Drakolt,” she shot right back with a lewd wink. “And I was willing to—”
“Enough.”
The quiet command cut through their banter, and we all turned to Father, whose face was slowly turning crimson with what appeared to be barely controlled fury.
“You. Lillian.” His finger shook as he pointed at me, and I noted ‘twas the first time today he hadn’t called me girl. “You think yourself married to that monster? Just because he fucked you in front of a few strangers? You dumb girl, he was doing that as revenge against me.”
And for a moment, I was that scared mouse again. The one who had those same thoughts, who had assumed Kragorn hadn’t chosen me, but saw me only as Tarbert’s daughter.
But…
Ye are the most desirable female I’ve ever seen.
Ye are kind and generous and brave and beautiful.
Mate.
Love.
Kragorn had said those things to me, and more. I felt it in my soul that he was my Mate, and if he was mine, then I was his, and he would not lie to his Mate.
I lifted my chin and met my father’s cruel gaze.
“You will not speak about my Mate like that. He is a good, honorable male, and… I love him.”
“Of course you do!” Father exploded, throwing up his hands. “You females are all led by your wicked desires!”
“Careful,” warned Drakolt, as one of his brothers growled and shifted in their saddle. “You insult my Mate as well.”
Exasperated, Father gestured wildly to me, turning to his son-in-law.
“Look at her! Look at her! I can understand why you stole Sorcha, and even Roxanna! They have their mother’s beauty!”
“Rude,” muttered Roxanna.
“But Lillian?” Father continued to rant. “She’s worthless as a wife. Weak, mousey, doesn’t fire a man’s blood! She’s broken, for fuck’s sake! Why do you think I kept her close all these years? No man would want her, and I found her useful!”
Oh.
I was surprised to discover that Father’s words…didn’t hurt me. I’d spent so many years fighting for him to notice me, working my fingers to the bone to earn his approval…only to now hear what he really thought of me.
And I didn’t care.
Because I’d found a place. I could be useful in my new clan. Kragorn had chosen me, despite my faults, and—
“Lillian might be shy, Father, but that does not mean she is broken.” Sorcha’s voice vibrated with anger as she glared up at our father. “She does not have to accept a life slaving for you because of a lack of options!”
I was touched by her defense and realized I’d spent my life hiding behind her and our other sisters; more beautiful, more outgoing, more everything. But once they’d left, and it was just me…I’d learned to stand on my own.
I stepped forward and touched her elbow. When she glanced at me, her brows drawn in concern, I offered her a little smile.
“Thank you, Sorcha, but his words do not hurt me.” Taking a deep breath, I straightened my shoulders, tipped my head back, and met my father’s eyes.
“I am the lady of Bloodfire clan, and I can negotiate on their behalf. As long as the Bladesedge chief believes my claim, that is all that matters here.”
“Aye!” Roxanna blurted, moving to my side. “Her Mate has claimed her, and loves her the way our Mates love us!” She turned to me. “Aye?”
Doubt swirled around me, threatened to pull me beneath the thunderous look of Father’s disapproval. I clung to the knowledge I no longer was subject to his whims, but it was hard – so very hard.
“Lillian?” she prodded, dropping her voice. “Right?”
I swallowed, offering her a little smile I hoped looked knowing…but judging from the sudden horror on her face, looked more like an ill bowel.
“Lillian, is Father right?” she hissed. “If he does not love you, how do you know he is not just using you?”
My certainty wavered, the walls I’d slowly built to hold all that back cracked under the pressure . . ..
Dkaar.
Mates.
Love.
“We are Mates,” I whispered, more to myself than to her. My eyes closed. “I am his, he is mine.”
“But—” Roxanna began but was interrupted.
“Ye can ask him yerself,” Drakolt announced, and when we glanced up at him, he nodded behind me.
I wasn’t the only one who whirled about to see the Bloodfire army approaching, but I was likely the only one to feel such a sense of relief.
Kragorn was here, and now my Father would see the truth. My Mate had chosen me, thought me worthy…and he would prove that to my father.
Right?