Emalynn POV

Rory left with Silas three weeks ago, and I have been spending every moment with Braxton. We have a new daily routine, starting in the morning with a run. My brute runs below the trees, and I swing through the branches. These maple and aspen trees have such vibrant colors this autumn. Braxton collected the brightest colored leaf on our journey each morning and pressed it into a blank journal that Silas gave him. For a man with a higher kill count than mine, he has become sentimental about many things.

“Em, I brought you a hot vanilla milk,” Braxton grinned as we sat on the porch of his…I mean our cottage, watching the leaves dance in the breeze.

“Thanks, Brute.” My tail was bouncing with excitement over the delicious drink in my hand. He topped it with whipped cream and cinnamon. I swear the brute is trying to kill me.

He sat on the bench next to me and adjusted the blanket on my lap. The temperature has been dropping over the last week or so, making every day a ‘oh shit, I need a jacket kind of day.’ Queen Amory has been busy with court business lately. King Travis Ian of Solis has been amping up his demands for the criminal ‘Red Lady’ to be delivered to Solis by month’s end. A representative of Solis should be arriving by week’s end to negotiate the capture of the ‘Red Lady’.

King Travis Ian wasn’t the only one pestering Queen Amory. Mylor Anifya, the Desfyran representative on the Gleaca Council, has been voicing his disapproval of Rory. Mylor was pissed when he found out Silas and Rory were off on a research mission somewhere. He said it was inappropriate behavior for a prince to run off with a young woman when the court was trying to arrange his marriage. I can only imagine the size of the stick up that guy’s ass.

Braxton and I have managed to subvert the demands of my marking him, but I am fighting a losing battle here. Every time I see him, my body gets hot and I imagine his shirtless body under mine. The only thing that scared me was Braxton’s size. He could crush me in an instant. As an orc, Braxton was tall with broad shoulders, which made him wider than me too. He could probably crush me between his thick thighs…although that wouldn’t be the worst way to go.

“Emera, you're doing it again,” Braxton chided.

“Hmm? What am I doing?” I leaned my head against him. A need is growing in me to have him against me.

“Stop it, woman,” Braxton growled. “Your lusty thoughts are saturating my mind with ideas.”

His hand grazed my thigh, and all logic in my mind vanished. “Sounds like an opportunity, not a problem.”

“Woman, I’m about to throw you over my shoulder and end your wondering about my size.” Braxton’s expression was serious.

I was about two seconds away from giving in to him when a court messenger arrived at the porch steps. It feels like someone dumped ice over my head when Braxton gets up to speak with the messenger. Braxton walks oddly, trying to hide the evidence of our flirting a few moments ago. He talks with the messenger who looks awkward next to Braxton who sounds like he’s pissed at the messenger for showing up. The interaction doesn’t last long, but the messenger runs away when Braxton turns toward me. What the hell happened?

Braxton doesn’t say anything. He just scoops me up like a doll and carries me into the cottage. I got hit with a wave of emotions from Braxton as he forced his way through the door. He slams it shut with his foot before storming toward his bedroom. My body was growing hot again under his touch. My mind wanders toward lust once more and the orc groans as he carries me into the bedroom. This was it. Braxton couldn’t wait another minute… At least, I thought that until he chunked me on the bed and paced the room.

“I am getting mixed signals here, brute. Give me some context.”

“The Kingdom of Solis is preparing for war against Desfyra, and Queen Amory has called me to serve as a general for her. I have to return to the castle the day after tomorrow for our first war meeting. Silas and Rosewyn will be back by week’s end. Solis’ representative will be here the same day as Silas and Rosewyn. Shit’s hitting the wall all at once, Ema.” Braxton was near me as I sat there on the bed, processing his words.

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“Desfyra is going to war?” I wanted to confirm what he said.

“Yes. I will have to go to war.”

My heart sank. Braxton never wanted to go to war again, but he was just called into service by the queen he chose to serve. He can’t walk away, and I can’t walk away from him. “No. We are going to war together. Our fates are tied together, Braxton. If you go, I go.” Braxton looked like he wanted to argue with me, but I hushed him in my thoughts. “I know we can’t get married, brute, but will you complete the bond with me?”

“You know, I will, Ema.” He sat next to me and kissed me. “We won’t leave anything undone. Even if the law’s against us, Ema, I will find a way for us to have our happiness. I love you, Ema.” Braxton kissed me hard.

He loved me. I had asked him to call me Ema the night Rory left with Silas because it was a shortened version of my given name. He didn’t seem surprised and called me Ema or Em most of the time now. It might have been a drunken moment, but I am glad I marked my giant orc. “I love you, Braxton,” I whispered between kisses.

“Good. Your mine, Ema,” He said, slyly. His hands found their way beneath my clothes.

“And, you're mine, brute,” I growled back at him. The bond strummed happily between us. My mana was running wildly beneath my skin. We fulfilled the bond’s demand.

The next morning…

“Crap,” I muttered as I tried to leave the bed. “Everything hurts.” I grabbed a pillow and hit Braxton with it. “This is all your fault you gigantic brute! Why did you have to be so freaking big?”

Braxton started to laugh while getting hit with the pillow. “You wouldn’t be so sore if it wasn’t for endless bounds of energy. I think I only slept an hour because of you.” He turned around and pulled me into his arms. “Stay in bed for now.”

“But I am hungry,” I pouted as I snuggled into him. “Feed me, brute.”

“Okay, in an hour. You need some more rest, Ema.” He wasn’t budging from his spot or letting me loose from his hold on me.

Mean, brute. I mind-linked him.

Sleep, woman. He responded.

Well, that’s new. He can mind link me since we completed the mating bond. I wonder if there are other side effects that I should worry about…

Ema, he warned.

Fine. I will go back to sleep.