I could tell she was telling the truth, but… I winced.
“I haven’t told Abydos this yet, but…” She glanced between us again. “I would really, really like the wedding to involve some orcish traditions. I know he feels like he left his world behind, but here on Eastshore, it’s definitely being rebuilt, right?”
I thought she was talking to me until Sylvik finally pulled his attention away from me—I couldfeelhis gaze moving away, which was weird as hell—to nod to her. “I didn’t believe it until I moved out here, but yes. Sakkara—and Garrak, now that he’s settling here—are doing their best to bring us together and keep our heritage alive.”
His voice was just as creamy and delicious as I remembered.
Trying to distract myself, I pulled my hand from Riven’s and grabbed the cocoa, taking a big gulp, then licking the whipped cream from my lip.
“See?” My sister’s grin looked hopeful. “We haven’t invitedallthe orcs, just the guys Abydos is close with…but I would like to incorporate some of his ancestors’ wedding traditions.”
“I don’t know any of them,” I told her dully.
Sylvik cleared his throat. “I could find them out.”
“You don’t know them already?” Riven asked. “From your world?”
“I wasn’t raised in the orc world,” he explained quietly, his eyes dark beneath his lowered lashes, as if he were watching us, waiting for our response. “Garrak and I moved from Alaska, where there’s an orc population.”
Riven looked more shocked than I was, maybe because I wasn’t exactly certain what he meant. “What?” she blurted. “There are orcs living in Alaska? Like…being born there?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know where I was born. Garrak’s mother found me when I was very young—he was already half grown by then—and raised me.”
“In Alaska,” Riven clarified. “You didn’t cross through the veil?”
He shook his head, and I saw his lips twitch on one side, as if he was amused by her astonishment. “They stay a secret, of course, but there’s a whole community up there. Garrak learned mining there, and when he moved—our mother was gone by then—I went with him to Colorado. Some of the orcs who lived with us in Bramblewood were born here in the human world too.”
“Holy shit,” Riven breathed.
I sipped my chocolaty drink, my gaze darting between them, not sure why this was a big deal, and what it had to do with me beingscatterbrained.
But my sister shook her head. “Okay, I have questions, but I’ll ask Abydos. In the meantime, could you get with Garrak and ask him about wedding traditions or whatever? I really want to incorporate some, and I know you the best?—”
“Of course,” Sylvik interrupted smoothly, offering her a reassuring nod. “I’d be honored to help.” His dark gaze flicked to me. “That is, as long as Brooke is comfortable working with me.”
Comfortable?
I don’t think there was anything that would make mecomfortableworking around a male who made my blood race and my palms sweaty and my core tighten. But then Riven swung her hopeful gaze my way, and I sighed in surrender.
“This isn’t just because you think I’m chaotic and incompetent?”
She reared back, and I could see from the genuine surprise in her eyes that she’d never considered such a thing, and that made me feel better. “I don’t think you’re chaotic and incompetent,” she assured me. “I think you’re brilliant. I just want some orc stuff.”
Orc stuff. Reluctantly, my lips curled upward, and my hand tightened around my mug. “Okay then.”
Riven exhaled in what I hoped was relief, then she began to scootch out of the booth. “I have to get to Cole’s Seafood to make sure they have my Christmas order.” She fixed Sylvik and me with a fierce stare, one after the other. “Youarecoming to Christmas Eve, right?”
“Obviously,” I chirped, feeling a little better—maybe it was the cocoa?—as Sylvik murmured, “Absolutely, thank you.” Then my sister was gone, leaving me staring across the table at him.
“Hi,” I managed, yet again.
And this time, when he grinned, it made me feel…warm. “I’m glad to run into you again.”
“I thinkIran intoyou.” I was fiddling with the mug. “I’m sorry, again.”
“It really wasn’t a problem. Did you get your tree set up?”
“It’s soaking in water right now. We’re trying to rehydrate it.” I winced. “Did Mr. Jurgen explain that to you? I guess I should have, if you’ve never had a tree before?—”
