I pressed closer to Kragorn, the realization making me shudder.
I didn’t want to return to my home, to my old life. This life wasn’t what I’d dared to dream of when I was a little girl…but I was content here. I could care for Kragorn the way I’d cared for my father, and mayhap find pleasure too. And no human male would consider me less than sullied by my time in the orc’s world. I would live out my life imprisoned by the harsh condemnation of humans, or as a human male’s plaything – likely prized only for whateverskillsthey thought I’d learned during my time as a captive of the orcs.
My heart lurched and flitterbys swirled in my stomach.
Glancing up at his strong jaw and the white scars that lined it, I felt my resolve strengthen. Aye, this was a good life for me, even if ‘twas as a prisoner for the rest of my days. I would pay my father’s debt, keep the village safe – and offer myself to Kragorn.
Which is why, when we reached the hot springs—an almost magical setting ringed with large boulders and even a small, roofed structure—and he said, “Take off yer clothes, Lillian,” I didn’t hesitate to obey him.
Still, once I stood, naked and shivering before him, shame crept over my face as I tried to shield my withered foot from his view. But Kragorn, who had stripped his kilt and cloak and boots without hesitation, merely clucked his tongue as he came toward me.
“Perfect,” he murmured as his hands found my waist. His gaze swept me from head to toes.
“Fooking perfect.”
Was he speaking of me? I gasped and clutched his shoulders as he lifted me…then he found the stone steps and we both sank into the warm water.
Another gasp at the sensation of being surrounded by such delightful heat. My head and shoulders were cold—there were snow flurries falling softly, after all—but the rest of me was…amazing. As a child, my sisters and I would have warm baths. But since they had left, it didn’t seem fair to ask the servants for so much labor just for myself.
But this…this was something available to Kragorn every day?
He was watching me. “Good, aye?”
“Aye.” I sighed, allowing myself to sink deeper, until the water reached my chin.
Mayhap being Kragorn’s captive had more benefits than I’d considered.
He chuckled, then made a twirling motion with his finger.
“Turn about, lass.”
Obediently, I did as he directed then hummed with pleasure at the unexpected feel of his fingers in my hair. He removed my hairpins and, after stacking them neatly on one of the boulders, he returned to unplait my hair. Despite the warmth of the water, I shuddered at the near-orgasmic sensation of his fingers running through my hair. My scalp tingled, and I swallowed another soft moan of pleasure as his fingertips dug gently into my head.
Kragorn was…caring for me?
The sensation of him rubbing shampoo in my hair left mewondering if I’d died and gone to the afterlife. If so, I must have beenverywell behaved.
“Isadora is a soap maker, I’ve learned,” he began, as he rubbed the suds through my dull locks. “I never expected my cousin Torvolk to find a Mate, but much happened when I was gone. Torvolk is the Bloodfire Ranger, but now that he’s Mated, he’ll no’ want to range so far and wide again.”
‘Twas not the first time Kragorn had started such a conversation with me, and rather than hesitating, I asked the question I knew he’d be willing to answer.
“What does a ranger do?”
As suspected, he didn’t mind my question.
“He is my—the chief’s—eyes and ears. He makes contact with the other clans, keeps us appraised on what we need to ken. Tip yer head to the side—och, good lass.”
I smiled, happy to do his bidding if it meant more of this delicious pampering. My skin prickled with awareness and pleasure.
“And your cousin—you did not think he would find a Mate?”
“I’d hoped he would, but the story of how he bought Isadora is a strange one. Ye heard it?”
I had, along with the stories of all the human women who were living here in the village. Most of them had found an excuse to come to talk to me in the last sennight, and now I wondered at their motives. Had my new friends been trying to reassure me? ‘Twas one more reason to value this life over my previous one.
Kragorn continued to speak of his family and I found myself smiling, my eyes closed and my head tipped back, answering him as necessary.
During the last few nights, since he’d been well enough to sit at the table for dinner, he’d discussed clan business with me. At first, I’d thought he was just speaking aloud to think through things, but I’d quickly learned that he genuinely wanted to hear my opinions.
