I want the cave floor to open up and swallow me whole. Bad enough that they walked in on us naked. Now they’re literally smelling how turned on I am by their cousin. This is fine. I’m just going to die of mortification right here in this cave.
But then Keric’s arm tightens around me, and something about his solid presence makes the embarrassment fade. Who cares what they can smell? I’m not ashamed of wanting him. I’m not ashamed of what we did. It was basically one of the best moments of my life.
“She’s my Bride,” Keric says simply. “She chose me. And I will spend the rest of my life being worthy of that choice.”
I turn to look up at the massive, fierce, tender orc who asked for my consent even when he was out of his mind with need. “I didn’t just choose you because you asked for consent,” I tell him. “I chose you because you’re kind and protective and sneak meat to my cat when you think I’m not looking.”
His lips twitch.
“I chose you because you’re the best man—the best male—I’ve ever known.”
His eyes are going soft now, vulnerable in a way I’ve only seen a few times.
“I chose you because I love you, Keric.”
The words hang in the air between us. We haven’t said this yet. Not once. Not during sex, not after, not in any of the quiet moments we’ve shared over the past two weeks.
Keric goes completely still. “You... you do? You love me?”
“Of course I do.That’s why we made love and I’m ready to have your orc sons. It’s because I love you so much it hurts.”
For a long moment, he just stares at me. His dark eyes are shining with something that looks suspiciously like tears. Then he makes a rough sound and crushes me against his chest. His arms wrap around me so tight I can barely breathe, but I don’t care. I hold him just as tight.
“I love you too,” he rasps against my hair. “My Anna. I love you so much.”
We stay like that for what feels like forever, wrapped up in each other, the rest of the world forgotten.
Until someone clears their throat.
“So...” Kelt’s voice is awkward. “I guess we don’t need these chains.”
Keric doesn’t let go of me, but I feel him shake his head. “No. You don’t.”
“We should probably get back to the commune,” Urdan says. “Everyone’s worried. And there’s a lot to deal with. The attack. The evidence release. The aftermath.”
Reality crashes back in. The cabin. The mercenaries. The conspiracy. And— “My cat.” I pull back from Keric just enough to look at the other orcs. “Is Dinah okay? She was in the carrier in the closet when we left.”
“She’s fine,” Whelan assures me with a small smile. “Drew found her right where you left her. She’s being spoiled rotten by the Brides as we speak. Last I heard, Miranda was feeding her some kind of fancy tuna.”
Relief floods through me so hard my knees almost buckle. Dinah is safe. My baby kitty is safe. “And the evidence?” I ask. “Did it go public?”
“Jonus handled everything,” Kelt confirms. “It went live a few hours ago while we were tracking you two. The whole worldknows now. Senator Vance, the university conspiracy, all of it. It’s everywhere.”
I sag against Keric. It’s over. The running, the hiding, the constant fear—it’s finally over. Yes, there will be me having to talk to lots of law enforcement and showing up on the stand at eventual trials, but that part I don’t mind. It’s what I’ve always wanted and I’m ready for it.
“The mercenaries?” Keric asks, his voice hard.
“Being handled,” Urdan says. “The ones you two... dealt with... are being collected. And authorities have been notified about who sent them. There will be consequences.”
Keric nods, seemingly satisfied.
“Come on,” Kelt says gently. “Let’s get you both home. We’re already working on fixing doors and windows for you. You can clean up, rest, and we’ll figure out the next steps together.”
Keric looks down at me. “Ready?”
I think about everything that’s happened in the past twenty-four hours. The attack. The terror. The cave. The sex. The love confession I never planned to make but don’t regret for a second. I’m exhausted, sore and probably a complete mess. But I’m also happier than I’ve ever been. “Yeah,” I say, smiling up at the orc I love. “Let’s go home.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
