“No,” Darak said, pulling the blueprint open with a flourish that sent dust flying. “We are finalizing all plans. For all homes.Today.”
Zara blinked. “Uh. All?”
“Yes,” Darak said, adjusting his sunglasses and somehow radiating menace.
“Why the rush?” Krusk asked slowly.
Darak’s eye gleamed. “No reason.”
Every orc exchanged looks. Tabitha raised one eyebrow—the ‘witching senses activated’ eyebrow.
Even Dristan leaned toward Penelope and murmured, “Something’s wrong with him.”
Penelope nodded. “He’s excited. That’s deeply concerning.”
I fought a smile as Darak knelt and spread the blueprint across a flat boulder. It unfurled dramatically, nearly smacking Enka in the face.Savla stood behind me, arms crossed, close enough that his breath brushed my neck whenever he exhaled. It was distracting.Extremelydistracting.
“Okay,” Darak announced. “Savla and Hanna’s home goes here—by the lake. Optimal views and minimal wind shear. Close enough to the treeline for privacy since they need access to both for potion brewing and Savla’s art.”
I knew my mate would be blushing at hisworkbeing calledart, but that was what it was. Beautiful and innovative.
“Do we have to finalize the square footage today?” Savla asked, and Darak nodded. “I didn’t know that. I left my sketchesfor the workshop at home.”
“I left my sketches at home too,” Dristan said, Lira sleeping in his arms, her tiny lips pouted in a little moue. “When did we decide that today was the day we were finalizing everything?”
Darak stared at him. “When you said, and I quote, ‘We need to build the houses as soon as possible.’”
“That doesn’t mean—”
“Yes, it does,” Darak cut in.
Krusk leaned over. “Darak. Why do you care so much?”
Darak straightened, brushing imaginary dust off his blueprint. “Because efficiency matters.”
“Efficiency?” Enka repeated, skeptical.
“Yes,” Darak said, far too calmly. “If we start now, we can hire the best crew.”
“What crew?” Dristan asked.
Darak’s face lit up just a fraction. “My brother’s company.”
Everyone paused and Penelope blinked.
“You have a brother?” she asked
Darak nodded. “Yes. Seven, in fact. The eldest owns Stonefist Construction.”
“Oh!” Zara clapped. “I’ve seen their work! Ilovetheir kitchen renovations!”
Darak’s mouth twitched.
“Good. And,” he continued, pretending his voice wasn’t gaining pitch, “I happen to know a structural engineer. The best in the region. Top of her class. Award-winning. Brilliant. Very thorough. Very… meticulous.”
His voice softened on the last word like he’d saidsexyinstead.Every orc in the vicinity froze.Krusk was the first to comment.
“Her?” he asked, with a grin.
