Summoning the Orc (The Kingverse Orcs #2)

Chapter Forty

Becca

I jolted upright, startling awake, panic racing through me and sorrow aching in my chest. My breath was ragged as a big palm ran down my back.

“What’s wrong?” Rok asked in a rough voice and I turned to see him, my palms going to his chest, as I grounded myself.

“You’re here,” I whispered, tears leaking down my cheeks as relief washed through me. His eyes went soft and sweet, and he nodded, tucking me against him, holding me close.

“I’m here, my Becca. I’ll always be with you. Even if I’m forced to leave you, I’ll find my way back,” he told me, his voice low and filled with remembered pain.

“I know,” I told him, soothed by his presence as the memories of the nightmare—where he’d disappeared into that portal—faded to the back of my mind. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” he murmured, pressing kisses to the top of my head.

The crash of something falling had both our heads swinging up and turning to the door.

“Shit,” he sighed. “I forgot that those three would be up already. It takes time to get used to the shift in time here.”

“It’s a miracle they didn’t wake us up already,” I laughed, and he released a low growl.

“They know better than waking a male who’s been reunited with his mate,” he told me and I pressed a gentle kiss to his lips before scrambling to stand.

“I’ll go help them get breakfast together,” I said, and he shook his head, tugging me back into the bed. I fell with a laugh, cupping his cheek and admiring his precious, handsome face.

“I’ll help them,” he murmured with a heavy sigh. “But first, I want to give you something.” I frowned as he leaned down, rooting around in his satchel that we’d tossed at the side of the bed in the haste I’d been in to examine all his injuries. He lifted something in his hands and I blinked down at the heavy gold earrings that he showed me.

“You’ve given me enough gold,” I told him, pressing a kiss to his cheek, my heart melting at his consideration, but he shook his head, his gaze serious.

“These are for you. My amu left them with me for my mate, and I took them before I came back home,” he whispered.

I gasped in shock as my heart ached for my mate. He was entrusting me with an heirloom from his beloved mother. My throat was clogged with emotion, but I nodded, taking them in my hands and pressing a kiss to his lips. “Thank you,” I said, struggling not to sound like I was sobbing, even though I was close.

“She would have adored you,” he told me, tipping my chin back so he could press a kiss to my lips. “Your strength and bravery. You’re everything she ever wanted for me in a mate.”

I couldn’t stop the tears then, pressing my face to his chest for a long moment as my shoulders shook. He ran his big palm up and down my back, his face buried in my hair—and I knew he shed a few of his own tears.

“I’ll keep them safe and protected,” I told him, clutching them close to my heart. He beamed at me, stroking one big finger down my cheek before straightening.

“You stay here and try to get some more sleep. I’ll go deal with those three,” he said, tipping his head toward the door where there was yet another crash.

Grateful for him, I watched as he stood from the bed and strode to the closet. I admired his bare, muscular ass, sending a quick wolf-whistle his way and making him chuckle before he tugged on the drawstring pants that we’d found that fit him so well.

As he exited the door, closing it with a quiet click behind him, I fell backward into the bed, snuggling into the warm spot he’d left behind. Surrounded by his heat and scent, I felt my eyelids drooping closed as I clung to the ear rings like a lifeline.

Waking up the second time was much more pleasant than before. The blankets were cooler now without Rok—a living furnace who kept me warm—but they still carried his scent. Sitting up, I scrubbed my hands over my eyes before moving straight to the safe in our closet to tuck away the precious gold from his mother. I was beaming as I went into the bathroom for a shower.

I couldn’t hear any sounds beyond the bedroom door, so I wondered how Rok had occupied the males’ time. When I was ready, I stepped outside and headed toward the living area.

There I found three giant orc males sitting on the floor in front of the television, prodding at the images while Rok sat on the sofa with his palm pressed to his face. His head snapped up when I entered and the frustration that had been there before was replaced with a grin.

He stood, moving toward me with that sleek, predatory stride that I loved. “I tried to get them to not break anything, but two bowls are done for and I’ve asked Rudgar to get the translation potion that worked for me.”

I nodded, noticing the three males staring at us. I smiled at them and they slammed their fists on their chest in greeting. I winced, still not used to the greeting, but Rok distracted me with a kiss.

I was lost in him for a long moment before I realized that our little audience hadn’t looked away. They were staring at us with avid interest and I felt heat rush into my cheeks as I pulled myself out of Rok’s arms.

He frowned, turning to them and rolling his eyes before barking out words in Orcish. They returned to focusing their intent stares at the television instead and Rok scoffed, swinging me into his arms. I yelped, but laughed as he took me to the kitchen, placing me on the island.

“I’ve made breakfast for you,” he said, stroking his freshly-filed claws down my cheek. “But I wanted to talk about our living arrangements first.”

I nodded, wrapping my arms around his neck and giving him my full attention.

“Those males are ones that I’ve known for years,” he told me in a serious voice. “And if I can, I’d like for them to stay with us until they’re settled and able to find places of their own.”

“Like a clan?” I asked, and he searched my face for a long moment before he nodded. “Okay,” I said with a shrug and he froze before his brow furrowed.

“Okay?” he confirmed and I grinned at him, tugging him closer for a kiss.

“Of course, okay. Did you think I was going to kick them out?” I asked, giving him an offended look. “I’m not heartless.”

“I know that,” he grinned, stepping between my legs. I peeked back at the males on the living room floor, but they were still occupied with the television, talking amongst themselves. It helped that they didn’t understand what we were saying. “I just didn’t want you to think that I was making this decision without consulting you.”

“I want a clan,” I told him with a shrug, pressing my face to his throat and breathing him in. “I want a family, and if these males were family to you and protected you while you were away from me, then I’d be honored to have them.”

The bang of our door opening had us all turning toward it. Pen bustled inside, holding bags and bedding in her arms. She grinned at where we were in the kitchen before she dumped the bags on the sofa and made her way over to us.

“Hey,” she said in a breathless voice, waving at where the three males were looking at her with curiosity, “those are heavy. I brought them over to see if any of it can fit the guys. It’s some of Dristan’s things and then other stuff I ordered last night.”

“You shopaholic fiend,” I laughed, leaning over to press a kiss to her cheek. “Thank you. I was just telling Rok that they’re more than welcome to stay here with us.”

“Well sure,” Pen said with a frown, “but we also have other apartments that are available in the building. They can stay in one for now,” she added before a mischievous grin took over her face. “At least until they find their mates. It’s almost like Orcs are falling like flies these days.” She had her tongue in her cheek as she grinned at Rok, but he chuckled, tugging me closer until I was wrapped around him.

“If you’re the one who started it with Dristan,” he told her with a wink, “then I’m nothing but grateful.”

She beamed at him, slapping his shoulder. “Alright, sweet-talker. I knew you were going to be a good brother-in-law.”

The door slammed open again and Dristan staggered in under the weight of dozens more bags than Pen had been carrying. He quirked an eyebrow at where the males were prodding at the television again, rolled his eyes and dumped the bags on top of the ones that Pen had brought in.

He gravitated to his mate right away, pulling her back against him so they were snuggled close with his hands on her stomach.

“Aww, so sweet,” I said. Then I looked at Pen. “You know what we need to do?”

She smiled. “We’re going shopping as soon as we can.”

Dristan’s eyes widened in horror, and he pointed at the many bags on the sofa. “We just finished .”

“For them,” I said to him with a shrug. “Not for the baby.”

“Thank the Gods we don’t have to be involved,” he told Rok with a relieved sigh.

“Oh, you’re both going,” I informed them, a malicious grin spread across my face. “For hours . And you’re going to like it.”

Rok snorted out a laugh, moving behind me and sliding a palm over my own stomach. I looked up at him, a smile already spreading across my lips. “And soon we’re hoping to have a second miracle to go shopping for.”

“They could be best friends,” Pen murmured, tears filling her eyes again and Dristan hugged her against him, his bewildered eyes moving to mine. I shrugged at him, tears of joy filling my own eyes.

Rok turned to me, shushing me and trying to stop them, but I couldn’t help it. Every time I’d read about a happily ever after in a book, I’d never thought one would happen for me. I’d been convinced that I wasn’t lucky enough.

Yet here I was, surrounded by some important members of my family, tucked tight against the male I loved with my whole heart, dreaming of the day we’d make the family just a little bit bigger and living my very own fairytale ending.

Everything that I’d ever wanted had somehow found its way to me. I squeezed my eyes shut and let myself be surrounded by love.