I winced, then sighed. “I wanted him to. I was ready.”
Verna’s sigh echoed my own, and she reached forward to pat my knee.
“My Mate is the Bloodfire Keeper, which means he keeps our clan’s memory and histories. He has told me that a chief’s Mating is witnessed by the clan. That way, the clan knows their future is secure, and the next chief has been conceived.”
Conceived? I dropped my hand to my stomach, my eyes going wide.
“A bairn?” I whispered.
Isadora settled next to me again. “The orcs call them kitlings, but aye. ‘Tis not always assured a chief’s Mate falls pregnant right away, but Nan will likely consult with the stars to ensure the best outcome?—”
“Nay,” Verna interrupted. “Two coppers says that Kragorn will arrange for the ceremony right away. I doubt he will be able to last much longer.”
‘Twas the way these two were so matter of fact about the situation that allowed me to relax even more. I glanced between them. They’d recently been through these same emotions, and I felt as if I could trust them. Lean on them.
“What sort of ceremony?” I asked.
Verna tapped her chin. “As I understand it, ‘tis basically a public claiming. The two of ye…” She made a circle with her fingers, then pushed two fingers from the opposite hand through the circle, while winking.
“In front of the clan.”
My eyes widened in shock. “In front ofeveryone?”
Isadora patted my leg. “We could arrange it to happen at night. The darkness will make it more private.”
Oh dear. My heart pounded madly.
And I was surprised to discover that ‘twas not entirely in trepidation.
The thought of Kragorn doing what he’d done today—more so—in front of the clan…I gulped down the tea, my hands already shaking. Why was there a part of me that didn’t hate the thought?
Likely because you are so desperate to feel his cock inside you.
Yes. Well. Therewasthat, wasn’t there?
Nay…nay, this waswrong, wasn’t it? I wasn’t the courageous one, I wasn’t the one who could stand up in front of a group, put myself on display like that. I wasn’t a leader, not like Kragorn.
But…I wanted him. Ilovedhim.
The tea was gone, but I still stared into the mug.
Verna squeezed my knee.
“We are getting ahead of ourselves,” she announced quietly. “The real question is: do youwantto be Mated to Kragorn?”
Slowly, I lifted my gaze to her.
“What?”
Her green eyes were sympathetic. “I am not asking about the fucking, although I can see that you are as anxious for that as any of us were. I am asking about being hisMate. His partner. Being tied to him for the rest of your life.”
“My father…” I began, but she shook her head.
“I am not asking about your father, or whatever relationship Kragorn and your father had up until this moment. I am asking aboutyourfeelings for Kragorn.”
“I love him,” I confessed with a whisper, and Verna nodded in satisfaction as she sat back.
Isadora took the mug from my hands then twined her fingers through mine.
