Audrey screamed.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Jorrad grinned at her.
Audrey didn’t wait to see what he would do. She slammed the door shut and turned the lock. Her eyes darted around the cramped space, searching for anything she could use as a weapon. There was nothing but soap, towels, and a window that was too small for her to fit through.
Jorrad banged on the door hard enough to rattle the frame.
“Human scum,” he shouted. “Filthy orc hunter.”
Audrey pressed herself against the far wall.
“You think you can paralyze me and get away with it?” Jorrad continued, his voice full of venom. “You think you can come into our horde and play your little games? You’re nothing. Less than nothing. Weak, pathetic human trash.”
The door shook as he slammed his body into it. The wood splintered easily in the middle, and Audrey screamed and dropped to her knees, making herself as small as possible. He slammed into the door a second time, and it burst open, splinters scattering across the floor. He stepped through, twirling his swords lazily as he circled his wrist. He was in no hurry at all.
Audrey screamed again, hoping someone would hear her. There was nothing else she could do. Had she not been bedridden for three days straight, she might’ve had some strength to hold her own even without a weapon. As it were, she felt like a rag waiting to be trampled on.
“I was disappointed when the captain decided to give in and take a human bride,” the orc said, his voice conversational. “I thought he was better than that.”
He took another step toward her, and Audrey tried to press herself further into the corner, but there was nowhere to go.
“Humans are weak,” Jorrad continued. “Pointless creatures that shouldn’t even exist. An orc should never soil himself with a human. I’ve always despised your kind.”
She was helpless before him. He was playing with her like a cat played with a mouse.
“During the war, I had the best time hunting humans.” His grin widened. “It didn’t matter to me if they were military or not. I killed them because I enjoyed it. Squashed them like the bugs they are.”
She wanted to look away from him, that was how sick he made her, but she couldn’t move.
“That’s exactly why I killed your family and many others. Because I simply enjoyed it. The fear in their eyes when they realized what was happening. Oh, how they begged and screamed. Your mother, your father, your brother. They all died afraid and alone, and it was wonderful.”
“Stop,” Audrey whispered.
She was going to die here, in this bathroom, at the hands of the same orc who’d left her an orphan. She had no idea how he’d escaped or who’d let him go, but someone in the horde wanted her dead just as much as he did.
The realization that this was the end made her feel like she might faint.
Jorrad raised his sword above his head.
“I’m going to enjoy this even more than I enjoyed killing them,” he said.
His body jerked forward, Audrey wailed and covered her head with her arm, but nothing happened for a moment. She looked up and saw the tip of a blade burst through Jorrad’s chest. His eyes were wide with shock as he looked down at the weapon protruding from his body. The poisoning magic spread through him fast, his green skin turning black from the wound outward, the darkness creeping across his chest and up his neck. He fellto his knees, his sword clattering to the floor. His mouth opened but no sound came out.
Behind him stood Morgath the Skullreaper. He pulled his sword free from Jorrad’s back and wiped the blade on his sleeve without looking at the dying orc. The skull helmet covered his face, and Audrey couldn’t read his expression. Jorrad gave one last shuddering breath and collapsed on his face.
Audrey pushed herself to her feet and ran to Morgath, throwing herself into his arms. He caught her easily and held her close, his massive arms wrapping around her trembling body. She buried her face against his chest and leaned into him when she felt his hand come up to cradle the back of her head.
“I told you I’d make it right,” he whispered in her ear. “Please believe me when I say that I will let nothing happen to you. You are mine. My mate.”
Audrey pulled back and looked at him. With shaking hands, she reached up and removed the skull mask. Their eyes met, and she felt herself melt on the spot. He didn’t have to say anything. She understood what had just happened and what he’d done for her.
“It was you,” she said. “You let him go because you knew he’d come after me.”
Morgath nodded.
“You wanted a reason to kill him. So you wouldn’t have to make it a public execution and turn the horde against you.”
