"What do you mean you're handling it?" Her voice has gone sharp with panic. "Lanek, this is my business. My problem. You can't just?—"
"You're my mate." I say it simply, like it explains everything. Because to me, it does. "Your enemies are my enemies. Your battles are my battles. And I'm not going to stand by and watch some corporate bastard force you out of your territory."
"Lanek, no." She tries to pull away but I hold her gently in place. "You can't go all protective Orc on this. There are laws. Legal processes. You can't just—what were you planning to do? Break his kneecaps?"
"Of course not." I'm genuinely offended she'd think so little of my planning. "I was going to systematically dismantle his business holdings through a coordinated effort of Orc-ownedbusinesses, file multiple zoning complaints about his properties, and have my brother in city planning tie up his permits in red tape for the next eighteen months."
"That's actually kind of brilliant."
"I'm not just a pretty face, little baker."
"But I still can't let you do it." She puts her hands over mine, her expression pleading. "This is my fight. I need to handle it myself."
"Why?" The question comes out harder than I intend. "Why do you need to fight alone when you have a mate who's willing and able to fight beside you?"
"Because—" She struggles for words. "Because I've always handled everything myself. Because I don't know how to let someone else, because what if you fail? What if this makes things worse? What if?—"
I kiss her, cutting off the spiral of anxiety. When I pull back, her eyes are wide and her breathing is unsteady.
"I won't fail," I promise quietly. "And you're not alone anymore. You said you were mine last night. Well, that goes both ways, Quinn. I'm yours too. Which means your problems are my problems. Your battles are my battles. And I'm not going to watch you break down crying in your dark bakery ever again if I can prevent it."
She's quiet for a long moment, and I can see the internal war playing out across her face. The need for independence fighting against the relief of having someone in her corner. The fear of trusting someone else fighting against the desire to let me help.
Finally, she takes a shaky breath. "Okay."
"Okay?"
"Okay, you can help. But we do this together. As partners. Not you riding in like some possessive Orc knight to save the day while I stand on the sidelines."
A grin splits my face. "Partners. I can work with that."
"Good." She stands up, tugging my shirt down self-consciously. "Now make me that breakfast you promised, and we can start planning how to destroy this developer's life."
I pull her back down for one more kiss, deep and possessive and full of promise. "Have I mentioned how much I love you?"
She freezes, her eyes going wide. "You…what?"
Fuck. That wasn't how I meant to say that. But now that the words are out there, I can't take them back. And I don't want to.
"I love you," I repeat, meeting her shocked gaze steadily. "I've loved you since you traipsed into my shop covered in food and fury. I loved you when you retaliated with the flour bomb. I loved you when you stood up to that food critic. I loved you when you broke down crying and let me hold you. And I love you now, sitting in my lap in my shirt, agreeing to let me fight your battles beside you."
Her eyes are suspiciously shiny. "You're supposed to ease into that kind of declaration. Maybe over a romantic dinner. Not while discussing corporate warfare before breakfast."
"I'm an Orc." I shrug unapologetically. "We're not subtle."
"No." She laughs wetly, tears finally spilling over. "You're really not."
"So?" My heart is pounding, waiting for her response. "Are you going to leave me hanging here, little baker?"
She cups my face in her small hands, her thumbs brushing across my tusks. "I love you too, you ridiculous, possessive, steak-leaving Orc. I have absolutely no idea how this is going to work, but I love you too."
Relief and joy crash through me in equal measure. I stand, lifting her with me, and carry her back toward the bedroom. "Breakfast can wait."
"Lanek!" She's laughing now, clinging to my shoulders. "You just said I needed protein!"
"Change of plans." I kick the bedroom door shut behind us with my foot. "I'm going to show my mate exactly how an Orc celebrates a declaration of love. Then we'll have breakfast. Then we'll destroy your enemies. Sound good?"
Her answer is lost in my kiss, but I'm pretty sure it's a yes.
