Emalynn's POV

In just a week, we were in the wilds of Desfyra, heading toward a slaver’s outpost. Captain Onyx has been successful in his interrogations. We learned about an outpost near the coastal city of Kanna. Kanna was ruled by a governor like Pine Row because it wasn’t directly governed by a kingdom. The queen had given Silas her blessing to finish our efforts to rescue the victims of N’ila. Once we received the intel, we headed for the cost. We were only an hour’s ride from the outpost.

Things have been weird since Silas and Ro made nice with each other. They had become very studious. Always whispering about magic and planning experiments. We left them alone for a few hours in the inn and came back to them arguing over theories about shifting forms using magic. Finding out Silas was a prince was an adjustment too. Everyone Le’ Anisa constantly asked about how we met the prince and if we could introduce them. It was ridiculous every time we left the inn. Braxton and I had left the inn a few times hoping to get a moment alone. We haven’t had the chance to say anything about this incredible tension and hot makeouts since we were trailing the slaver’s caravan. It was like an invisible weight was bearing down on us.

A memory of Braxton’s hot lips kissing down my jaw flashed into my mind, causing my cheeks to overheat. If anyone looked at me right now, I would be redder than chili roots. There were so many things to consider if I took my attraction to the brute seriously. I only met the guy cause I am on the run with Ro. Her safety had to come first, but did that mean I would never fall in love? I would do anything for Ro in a heartbeat, but I think we need to continue to live life despite the threat to her life. Denying ourselves happiness would only cause us anger and depression.

“Emera,” Braxton called. He was driving the wagon we rode here in. It was a bonus from the queen for saving her subjects. I focused on the back of his head. His hair was getting longer, which I liked. “Tell the others we will be stopping soon.”

“Sure,” I replied. Our exchanges were simple and boring lately, which made me wonder if the spark between us had died out already.

I informed Ro and Silas of our plan to stop soon. We need to set up camp and do some recon on the outpost. Ro and Silas would team up together, I hope because sitting in limbo like Braxton and I was like sitting on a prickled cactus. I needed a moment alone with him because I thought I might go mad if we didn’t have some sort of definition between us. Was this all for fun or were we welcoming a difficult future together?

A few hours later…

Ro pulled Silas along with her to study the outpost. Braxton got a little smile as we finished setting up the campsite. He was busy tending Twing Dove skewers that I shot down for dinner. Thankfully, I was able to restock my quiver in Le’Anisa. If the raid on this outpost was anything like the last, I would need every arrow in my arsenal. This raid will require more plotting than the last. It wasn’t something I wanted to think about right now. Not when I was finally away from everyone except him.

I climbed the nearest tree and swung about on the limbs. A slight breeze blew through my fur as I flipped in circles. My stomach flopped about from the movement as my speed increased. A laugh escaped my lips as weightless feelings filled me with each turn. The thrill of playing in the treetops was all-consuming. I flung myself from one tree to another, rustling the limbs as I went. If I make it to an old age like Elias, I want to build a treehouse that I can retire in.

My gaze landed on the green brute sitting near the fire. He was so tall that even when he sat down, he was almost as tall as me. Sometimes I wonder if I could climb him. He’s as tall as the fruit trees in the orchards in Madam Kaya’s manor. The leaves will be changing colors soon since the summer is about over. This would be the time the guild competitions would be announced. Rory and I would begin training for exhibition matches. I bet Braxton would win against any competitor from the other guilds.

Looking down, my eyes felt like they might fall out of my head. I was on the tree limb right above Braxton. He must have gotten hot from the fire because he was peeling off his black tunic. His back looked like a well-defined wall of muscle. There were old scars from his war wounds on his glistening green skin. It was smooth and inviting, which made my whole body hot. What the hell! First, I was watching this guy like a pervert in battle, and now, I am drooling over him being shirtless. I have seen hot guys before, but something about this thick tree of a man made me want to explore his every feature.

Without warning, I dropped from the tree limb onto Braxton’s shoulders. “What kind of game are you playing you big brute?”

His large rough hands gripped my thighs to secure my position on his shoulders. Tipping his head back, he looked up at me. “You tell me. You’re the one who left the treetops.”

“I found a new tree to play with. Something about the tree was begging for attention.” My voice had become sultry in a way I wasn’t used to.

Braxton lifted off his shoulders to sit on his lap facing him. His skin was glistening and his cheeks were slightly pink. “You got me. It was a trap to see what fluffy creature I could catch, and I think I caught the best one.”

His smile was a little crooked, but it made my heart flutter all the same. “Does this mean you like me, Brute?”

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He pulled me a little closer. “If you mean, do I think about our secret kisses every free moment of the day? The answer is yes.” He pressed his lips to mine for a moment before breaking away. “If you mean, does your presence make me smile even in the heat of combat? The answer is yes.” Another brief kiss met my lips. “If you mean, do I enjoy our debates over which bananas taste better in the market? The answer is yes.” His lips met mine again, except this one was longer and inviting. He kissed up my jaw toward my ear to whisper to me. “So, do I like you and think you are the best fluffy thing ever? My answer would be hell yes.”

My heart was pounding against the cage of my ribs. “You are too good at this. I thought I was the wild and seductive one here.”

He kissed my forehead and rested his head against mine. My hand grazed his stumbled jaw. “You are wild and seductive with your soft fluffy fur.” His toothy grin beamed at me. He has two chipped teeth in his otherwise perfect smile.

“Well, I think we have passed the friend’s zone, right brute?” There. I finally asked the question that had been weighing on me.

He gave me a throaty laugh. “Yeah, I don’t kiss my friends like I kiss you, Emera.”

“So, we’re a little closer than friends? I asked.

He must have sensed the weight of my question as he gave me a serious expression. “Emera, I want to court you, if you’ll let me.”

“Court me? Like, get into a serious relationship with me that might in marriage kind of courting?” A thousand things began racing through my mind.

“Yes, that kind of courting.” His expression was serious, but he was still smiling at me.

“I can think of a thousand reasons why that would be a bad idea.” I felt defeated by my thoughts.

His fingers ran through my fur as he looked me in the eye. “Emera, don’t try to end something before it has even started. You’re an adventurer. Life is too short in your profession not to give something as happy as this a try.”

Crap. Why did this hunk of an orc have to be so persuasive? There were serious risks involved with what he was proposing. There was no guarantee that we would keep traveling together after reaching Desfyra. If the queen rejects granting Rory protection from the council, I may not be able to stay in Gleaca. And, to top it off, our romance is forbidden by the Gleaca Council. If we had kids, they would be hybrids like Rory. I don’t want my kids to live life on the run, but no one says it would get that far. Is he right? Am I stopping something wonderful before it has started?

The sound of twigs breaking forced the two of us apart. Silas and Rory emerged from the forest looking like someone rubbed them along the forest floor. All they did was go do some recon on an outpost. Silas sat next to Braxton with a grim expression. Rory just paced like she was out of solutions for our problem.

“What happened?” I asked Rory.

“They are torturing the kids from N’ila for fun,” Silas answered.

Rory gritted her teeth as she kicked the nearest tree. She impacted the trunk so hard that the trunk cracked. “Yes, and the good prince over there wouldn’t let me rescue them.” She was sweating heavily as she paced.

Silas got up and stopped Rory dead in her tracks. She gave him a spiteful look, but he grabbed her hand to keep her from walking away. “We will rescue them, Rosewyn, but we need a plan.”

I stood up and leaned onto her shoulder. “You need a plan and your badass team to raid the outpost.” Her eyes softened as she looked at me.

“Don’t forget a seasoned war general,” Braxton added. “So, tell us what you saw on your recon mission.”

Rory looked at Braxton with confusion. “Only if you explain why you’re shirtless.”

Braxton’s face became red. “Um, I got hot…because of the fire.”

“You were born in a desert,” Silas commented. “A little heat from the fire is nothing for you.”

Rory’s jaw dropped. “Were you trying to get Em’s attention by being shirtless?”

“Hahaha,” Braxton rushed to say. “You guys are hilarious. I am going to hit the head.” He ran off into the forest after being caught red-handed.

“That’s our seasoned war general?” I joked.

“What can I say? Braxton loves fluffy things.” Silas laughed.