Ascension of the Orc King: An MM Fantasy Romance (The Orc Prince Trilogy Book 3) by Lionel Hart

Author:Lionel Hart [Hart, Lionel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2021-04-01T16:00:00+00:00

12

Zorvut

When Zorvut woke the next morning, his whole body was stiff and painful. The wound on his back especially stung from how he’d been laying on it, but as he tried to sit up every muscle and joint in his body burned in protest. He took in a few deep breaths before forcing himself to get up, an involuntary groan escaping his lips as he did. Once he was sitting up the pain wasn’t as bad, but he still took a moment to brace himself before looking down at Taegan.

The elf was still asleep next to him, curled up in the blankets but shifted in what looked like an uncomfortable angle to keep pressure off his wounded arm. It had been bandaged when Zorvut had gone to sleep, but Taegan must have unwrapped it—the skin was red, glistening, and mottled from elbow to shoulder, and guilt filled him at the sight. Part of him knew it was far better than the alternative, that in the moment he had only done what he knew would save Taegan’s life, but still he hated himself for having done it. He was thinner than Zorvut remembered, too, much of his muscle tone lost and replaced with a gauntness that betrayed how he must have suffered. And, though it was hard to see at this angle, Zorvut could just make out the edges of bruising along his throat where he had been strangled; he hadn’t seen it the night before, but now in the light of the morning it was a dark and painful-looking purple.

He had to look away to keep himself from weeping then. Much as he had hoped being reunited with his husband would only be joyful, the evidence of how cruelly he must have been treated, still so fresh, all but broke his heart.

“Zorvut?” Taegan’s voice was small and sleepy, and as he looked back down the elf’s eyes had barely slid open, peering up at him in concern. “Are you all right?”

“Yes,” Zorvut replied with a nod, though his voice was rough, just on the edge of breaking. “I just… I was so worried about you. I’m sorry I hurt you.”

Taegan’s green eyes glanced away as he spoke, glancing over at his arm. He shifted slightly, then winced as he lifted his head.

“Is my neck bruised?” he asked, his voice sounding raspier the louder he spoke. Zorvut grimaced, and nodded.

“Lift your head a little so I can see,” he said, and slowly Taegan tilted his head up. Zorvut cringed at the red and purple band that spread from one end of Taegan’s throat to the other. “Gods. Yes, it… that looks painful.”

“It is,” Taegan groaned, letting his head tip forward again. A dull pain was coursing through the bond, but it dimmed as they spoke as Taegan must have been trying to keep it stifled. “I think… Can I just stay here? Is that alright?”

“Of course,” Zorvut agreed; the prospect sounded appealing to him, too, but he knew there was too much to be done for him to hide away for the entire day.

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