Orc's Property: A Monster Romance (Orc Warriors of Protheka Book 4) by Celeste King

Author:Celeste King [King, Celeste]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-02-04T16:00:00+00:00

18

Jiwal

I stop in the doorway upon seeing them at the breakfast table.

Jane and Horan are seated and helping themselves to a feast Naziel has prepared for them. The picture of this small family, happy and satisfied, is not something I want to disturb.

I don’t feel like I belong in it.

I lean against the doorframe and simply watch them for a time, until Jane notices me out of the corner of her eye. That’s when her full attention falls on me, clear and bright, without a hint of distrust. “Jiwal, there you are! Come join us.”

A smile finds me. “I don’t want to impose. You should enjoy yourselves.”

“Not without you,” she says, patting the seat next to her expectantly.

I consider it, finally relinquishing and accepting her offer. A plate had already been set aside for me. I join in, eying her as she tells the boy our plans for the day. “Jiwal thought it would be a good idea for us to get out today. What do you think, Horan?”

His little face lights up. “I wanna go outside!”

Jane laughs and scrubs his sandy hair. “I thought so. We’ll get some fresh air, and…” she says, glancing to me expectantly. “What is there to do around here, anyway?”

“You’ll see.” I want to keep my plans close. I’m still holding out hope that my uncle’s reason persists, and that he’ll stay sober today. “I have a few things planned that I think you’ll both like. Then, you can meet my uncle.”

Horan proceeds to scarf down his food as if to hurry the meal, but Jane gives me a more serious look. “You’re sure that’ll be alright?”

I hesitate before nodding. “He’s agreed to our union but he wants to meet you, first.”

A brave look comes over her. “Right. Of course.”

I catch her hand and squeeze. What reassurances can I give? The bastard is a drunk and a slaver, but he will honor my decision. I have to know that. “If we’re finished with breakfast,” I say, glancing at Horan who’s chewing with an overfull mouth. “-I’d like to show you the barn. Have you ever seen a horse before?”

Horan bolts up and peels around the table so Jane has to catch him, and she falls to the floor trying to wrangle him, laughing all the while.

I help corral the kid by opening the back door. “It’s this way.”

As he bolts through, I sweep him up and tickle him until he’s hysterical with laughter, then put him on my shoulders. Jane walks beside me, glancing up at Horan every now an again, as if he’s too high up for her liking. “Careful you two.”

His little fingers tighten around my crown. “I am!”

Jane laughs with me, and I can see her relax a little.

The morning sun bares down on us, but she soaks it in and takes a deep breath. “This is nice,” she says, a light breeze tangling her golden hair. “It reminds me of-”

“Look auntie, horses!” Horan interrupts.

He tries to scramble off me, so I let him down, and he runs to the gate.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.