“Sure,” I squeaked instead, and he gave a firm nod before walking away toward the front doors. I walked stiffly toward him, worry swirling in my stomach.
He hadn’t invited me. I shouldn’t be here. About to turn on my heels, I saw Darak look at me expectantly as he held the door open. Sending a slightly nauseated smile his way, I trudged my way inside.
“And you know where you’re going?” he asked, that same judgmental eyebrow lifted as he watched me.
“I do,” I said, perking up, realizing that if he left me, I would be able to turn right around, head out of the front doors and summon Trixie with the fob. I could be on my way back home in five minutes.
He eyed my sudden smile with suspicion before nodding. “It’s a good thing I’m headed to that floor, too. Let’s go,” he said in a monotone voice and I made a face at his back as he turned to walk away.
Fucker.
We were in the elevator and on the way up to Krusk’s floor before I knew it. The panic set in once we were halfway up.
What am I even going to say to him? How do I apologize for being such a lunatic and thank him for his thoughtful gift?
“Krusk’s a nice male,” Darak said from next to me and I was startled that he was speaking to me. I blinked up at him, but he was looking at the numbers changing over the closed doors. “I haven’t known him long, but he’s loyal and kind.”
“He is,” I agreed, my heart giving a jolt at the mere mention of him now that I had an inkling of how I actually felt.
“Anyone would be lucky to be his mate,” he said, still looking at the numbers.
“They would,” I whispered, swallowing hard, and somehow knowing exactly what he was saying to me without him having tosay it.
“She should treat him right,” he added, his tone still nonchalant.
“She should,” I agreed, my voice low and earnest.
“Good,” he finished as the doors opened in front of us. He stayed inside as I stepped out and I turned to frown at him. He casually leaned forward, pressing a button as he kept his gaze on mine. With a small nod, the doors shut.
I’d been given a pep talk by two separate beings today and if that wasn’t a sign, I didn’t know what was. Shaking my head, I made my way to Krusk’s door. I hesitated as I lifted my hand to knock, overthinking everything for one more moment before I forced myself to clear my head and rap on the door three times.
I held my breath for a moment, but the call of “Come in!” had me exhaling in a rush before I opened the unlocked door.
The scene that greeted me when I stepped into the apartment could have been pulled straight from the world’s strangest—and most adorable—dream.
Four orcs—each easily the size of a refrigerator and twice as broad—sat cross-legged on the living room floor, wearing suits that probably cost more than most people’s cars without a care in the world. The glossy marble floors, the sweeping skyline view, the colossal furniture—none of it quite matched the tiny plastic tea set carefully arranged between them.
A little girl—one that I recognized as Gabbi, Krusk’s niece, from all the pictures he’d shown me—was in full princess regalia. Complete with sparkly tiara and a tutu that could deflect sunlight, she was presiding over the whole affair with regal authority.
She poured imaginary tea into chipped pastel cups while the orcs leaned forward attentively, holding their pinkies up in what could only be described as heroic concentration.
“Uncle Sav, you’re spilling!” the little girl scolded.
Savla—who was just as large and intimidating-looking as the other three—froze mid-pour, eyes wide with panic. “Apologies, Lady Sparkles,” he rumbled solemnly, using the nickname he’d apparently been assigned. “It won’t happen again.”
Across from him, Krusk, his brother Enka and his clan brother Rudgar took their pretend sips with surprising elegance, though the delicate teacups looked laughably small between their tusked grins and massive hands. Enka had even tucked a linen napkin into his collar.
The absurdity of it all—the gleaming city skyline outside, the hulking orcs in tailored suits, the serious way they nodded over imaginary pastries—made my chest ache in the sweetest way.
These were warriors and businessmen… and here they were, melting completely under the rule of one very determined little girl in a tutu.
“Do you take sugar?” Gabbi asked sweetly when she noticed me, holding out a tiny plastic spoon. Krusk’s eyes widened when he spotted me, but he just grinned, not getting out of character. It made the love that was growing in my heart for him spread a little bit more.
I blinked back a laugh, sinking down onto the floor beside them. “Sure,” I said, lifting one of the many available cups and accepting the invisible sugar with all the grace I could muster. “Just one lump. I’m watching my figure.”
Three orcs nodded solemnly, as if I’d just declared something deeply wise.
And honestly, in that moment, surrounded by laughter and imaginary tea and far too much love for one luxurious apartment, it felt like the most perfect kind of madness.
