The Heiress and the Orc: A Monster Fantasy Romance (Orc Sworn) by Finley Fenn

Author:Finley Fenn [Fenn, Finley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-03-03T16:00:00+00:00

22

Ella’s sobbing was loud, shameful, and impossible to stop. Complete with leaking eyes, a running nose, and desperate, high-pitched gasps that seemed to wrench into her bones.

But in it, somehow, Natt had maneuvered her into his strong arms, and tucked her face close into his warm chest, against the steady pounding of his heart. And his gentle, clawless fingers wiped at her wet eyes, and smoothed back her hair, and silently said, it’s all right, you’ll be all right, I’m still here.

When the sniffling finally faded to silence, Natt was still there, still petting and stroking Ella with an intent, fierce gentleness. Speaking with every touch of those hands, whispering of his regret, his truth, his affection.

But not love, Ella knew. Because she’d spoken that painful word, earlier in this, and betrayed that dangerous truth — and Natt had seemed to entirely disregard it. Because did one lie like he had, to someone one loved? Did one deceive, and mock, and yell, and make demands, and — Ella swallowed — draw blood?

“So is there anything else I should know?” she made herself ask, her voice coming out croaky, cracked. “Anything else you’re not telling me the truth about, Speaker?”

Natt’s big body twitched against her, and his hands still stroking her had briefly hesitated. Saying yes, in fact, there was, and suddenly Ella wanted to shake him, to scream at him, to run away and never come back —

“I have not,” Natt said, his voice halting, “yet told you of the other side of my gift. As Speaker.”

Ella’s heart was pounding, her face jerking back to look at him, and finding only this damned darkness, hiding him from her eyes. “And?” she demanded. “What is it?”

His hands had begun stroking her again, smoothing at her cheeks, her hair. “It seeks truth,” he said, “from both speakers. From not only the one I speak to, but from — me. Whether I wish for this, or not.”

From him. Ella blinked, her thoughts twisting away after that, and finding — more memories. Natt looking into her eyes, into her soul, and speaking. Will you have me. You shall be safe. This truth is ours. You belong with me. Mine.

Ella sighed, slow, and gave a little bump of her head against Natt’s solid chest. “You orcs,” she said, with another bump, “are abominable.”

There was a rumble from Natt that might have been a laugh, and then the distinct feel of warm lips, kissing soft against her forehead. “Ach,” he said. “Mayhap now I shall catch you a fresh rat to eat?”

Ella’s replying shudder felt like sheer relief, somehow, especially when Natt chuckled again, and pressed another kiss against her skin. “Or should you like a pigeon?” he asked. “Or mayhap a snake? I could give you the rattle to wear, as a gift.”

Ella elbowed at him this time, but she was smiling too, and when Natt drew her up, she willingly went. But still folded into his arms, and she could feel his chest rise and fall, his hands gripping her strong and close.

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