"The dead feel nothing more. It’s the living we must worry about," Uruha added, with far less gentleness than her mate.
"You need to rest, Malek," Kalisha said, her voice softer than usual. "You’re the Ruk’hai, but you aren’t made of stone."
"I know," I agreed, closing my eyes briefly. I was exhausted, both physically and mentally. "But I can’t rest until my people are safe."
I resisted the urge to fidget under Kroshak’s clouded, milky-white gaze.
"The Okshai people are safe for now, Ruk’hai. The kir’shakur have retreated. Your strength is our security, but you cannot remain strong if you are broken."
I nodded, resigned. The elder’s wisdom never failed. I would be of no use to my people if I collapsed from exhaustion.
"Very well," I said, turning toward my cabin. "But I want the sentinels on high alert. We will not be caught by surprise again."
"As you wish, Ruk’hai," Kalisha replied, bowing her head.
???
Two days passed before I heard the sweet, melodious voice I had been aching to hear—Fiona was back. They had been, without a doubt, the slowest and most agonizing days of my life. When I heard her name called outside, the tension gripping me since her departure finally unraveled.
I shot upright, the cabin suddenly too small for the urgency coursing through me. Throwing open the door, I found her there, bathed in the flickering light of the bonfire, surrounded by the other orcs.
Her hair was tangled in wild blonde strands—a reminder that I needed to teach her how to weave our braids—and her delicate face was smudged with dirt, but her blue eyes shone with their usual fierce intensity. The relief of seeing her safe struck so hard it emptied my mind.
I strode toward her, ignoring everyone else.
"Krash’uk," I growled, every protective instinct surging to the surface.
A bright smile spread across her face, heavy with exhaustion yet filled with love. She ran toward me, and I caught her, lifting her off the ground and spinning her around. The axe I had been holding slipped from my grasp and struck the dirt. Her body felt familiar and soft against mine, and her scent made my heart pound.
"I’m back," she whispered against my neck, holding me just as fiercely.
"I missed you," I replied, burying my face in her hair. The scent of jasmine soothed the anxiety that had weighted on me during those days apart.
"I know. I'm sorry."
I couldn't hold back any longer. Instinctively, I tangled a hand in her hair and pulled her closer, sealing her lips with mine. Fiona released a shaky breath, her body responding with the same urgency that burned through mine.
Our tongues met eagerly, craving the taste of one another. It felt like returning after a long journey—though I had never truly left home. Gradually, the kiss softened, but we remained close, sharing the same breath, reluctant to part.
"Hello, Ruk’hai," she said playfully, her eyes fixed on mine. Heat surged through my veins, and all I wanted was to carry her back to the cabin and lose myself in her.
"Hello, krash’uk," I replied with a smirk. "I have a feeling now isn’t the time to do what I want."
She laughed—a sweet sound that eased the tension gripping my body.
"I know. We have a lot to talk about."
I released her and turned to the rest of the clan. Contrary to what I’d thought, no one looked at Fiona with resentment; quite the opposite. They seemed almost as happy to see her as I was—almost.
"Are Drak and Leone alright?" I asked.
Fiona nodded, but a shadow darkened her eyes.
"Drak went with Kristan to find my mother north of An Teallach. And Leone stayed in Ceilte."
My brow furrowed.
"Kristan? Who is Kristan?"
