“It’s a deal.”
“Good.”
To my shock, he suddenly sweeps me off the stool and carries me to the large bedroll that’s covered in furs. He deposits me in the middle of the makeshift bed, tugs off my boots, and setsthem aside. Then he removes his own boots, and he scoots closer to me.
Bold of him to assume I’ll be sharing a bedroll with him tonight, but I bite my tongue and decide it’s an argument for later. First, we must exchange information.
He turns his head to stare down at me with an expectant look that borders on stern. I suppose that’s the fae commander in him coming out, or perhaps as a highborn fae male, he’s just naturally dominant. I try but fail to fight the flush of heat that envelops my face, as well as the achiness that tightens in my core.
“I’m waiting, little moth. Start talking.”
CHAPTER 6
GIDEON
I turn toward Isabel,wanting to study her face as she reveals the truth about her prior knowledge of our mating status, just in case she decides to fib a little. I hope she plans to give me complete honesty, but I will watch her expression as she makes her confession. As a skilled commander, I’m good at sniffing out lies, even the smallest untruth.
But when she finally speaks, her words are so shocking, I find myself stunned into silence for several moments, reeling from the surprise.
“About three years ago, while I was being held captive by orcs…”
“You were held captive by orcs?” A growl builds in my throat, and gruesome thoughts of revenge parade through my mind. I glimpse bloodied green body parts, decapitated heads, and more. “Tell me what happened,” I prompt in the gentlest tone I can muster. “Did they hurt you?”
She sighs, and a haunted look enters her eyes. It’s the look I frequently saw in my dreams about her, and now I know thecause of it. Three years ago, she was terrorized by orcs. Even if they didn’t hurt her, I imagine the experience has left a mark on her.
“The orcs were planning to hurt me. They described in great detail the things they wanted to do to me. Um, they planned to take turns… well, I’m sure you know what I mean.” She blinks rapidly as she stares at the fire.
“I know what you mean, little moth. You don’t have to tell me what they said and what they were planning.” I reach for her hand and thread my fingers through hers, and I’m relieved when she allows my touch. The urge to comfort her is as all-consuming as my desire to seek vengeance on her behalf.
“Well, there was an elderly orc female traveling with them, and apparently, she was a seer. She approached me, grasped my hand, and that’s when she announced I was fated to a highborn fae male named…Gideon.” Isabel glances over at me with a somewhat sheepish look. “As you might imagine, that news came as quite a surprise to me. It also came as a surprise to the orcs who were holding me captive.”
Three years. Gods, has Isabel really known about me for three years? I wasn’t aware of her status as my mate until the Winter Court army arrived in Braemar. About three weeks compared to the three-year warning she received.
“How truly shocking,” I whisper, for lack of a better response.
“Well, yes, but it scared the orcs into leaving me alone. They feared that if they harmed me, my future mate would hunt them down and slaughter them.”
“Even if they didn’t hurt you, Isabel, I will still hunt them down and slaughter them, simply because they gave you a fright.”
“They’re all dead. Well, all of them except for the seer, and I don’t wish for any harm to come to her. You see, I awoke on the third day of my captivity to a battle. Soldiers from Braemar hadjust come upon the orcs’ encampment, and as swords clashed, I saw the seer escape into the trees. She was kind to me, and I’m glad she escaped.”
“So, you were rescued by your own people?” I exhale with relief. Thank the gods the orcs didn’t violate her or harm her in any way. It bothers me that they frightened her and took her captive in the first place, but at least they didn’t hurt her.
She nods. “My fiancé, Ian, led the charge. I thought he was so gallant, killing so many orcs just so he could rescue me… but then…” Her voice trails off, and her expression darkens with grief.
Fiancé? At the mention of her betrothal to another, it takes great effort not to fall into a rage or release a sudden growl. I lean closer to her and inhale deeply, though I don’t detect the scent of a human male on her.
I quickly remind myself that this soldier fiancé of hers is likely dead, slaughtered during the Winter Court army’s attack on Braemar. There is even a possibility that he perished at my hand. A swift wave of relief crashes over me.
Mine. Isabel is mine.
“What happened then?” I prompt, still holding her hand.
She stares at the fire again, blinking rapidly as her bottom lip quivers. “He ended our betrothal on the very day he helped rescue me from the orcs. He assumed the orcs had violated me. Without even asking me what happened, he told me that he couldn’t marry a woman who might later give birth to a half-orc bastard.”
I growl. “Your former fiancé is without honor.”
She smiles. “That’s what my father said. My father also broke his nose, though I only learned about that from overhearing gossip on the street. Anyway, that’s when I first learned about you, Gideon. Three years ago. I prayed it wasn’t true… I keptpraying the orc seer just made up a lie so she could save me from her brethren who intended to do me harm. But then…”
