Page 59 of The Savage Vow
“Yambul will want to know how you found out,” she said. “How you got this document. If you disappear now, he will suspect immediately.”
The joy drained from Orlena, leaving her knees weak. Her body swayed, and she tried to inhale. Her lungs burned as she fought to get air in them. Fear filled her at the thought of Yambul learning she’d stolen from him.
“He’ll…he’ll come after me. He’ll report me to the guards.” Orlena’s body trembled. The clothes slipped from her fingers. Images flashed through her mind—Yambul’s cold eyes, his scowl, clan guards coming to arrest her. She couldn’t go to jail.
“What do we do?” she whispered.
Bula guided her back to the bed and sat with her. She took her hands in hers. The warmth of her touch anchored Orlena.
“We need to come up with a plan,” Bula began slowly. Her amber eyes softened. She tightened her grip on Orlena’s hands. “For now, you will put the contract back exactly where you found it. Act as you always have. Give him no reason to suspect anything has changed.”
The thought of returning the parchment made Orlena sick to her stomach. It felt as if her freedom was slipping away from her.
“But—”
“I will free you,” Bula said. “We will do it the legal way where he will not be able to touch you. I just need time.”
Orlena searched her face, looking for any signs of doubt. Bula’s gaze was unwavering, and in her gut, she knew if she couldn’t trust anyone else, she could trust this orc next to her.
“Do you trust me?” Bula asked.
The words seemed to echo through the air. Her orc was asking her for one thing. Trust. It was a leap into uncertainty, but she had already taken that leap the moment she had let Bula into her heart.
Without a doubt, she loved her.
“I do,” Orlena whispered.
Bula’s shoulders relaxed. She brushed a thumb across Orlena’s cheek, wiping a lone tear that trailed down her skin.
“You are strong,doakir.This soon will be over.”
Orlena nodded and drew in a shaky breath. Fear still lingered, but hope remained. Besides, she had Bula by her side. She was sure Bula wouldn’t let anything happen to her. Whatever storm awaited them, they would face it together.
She folded the contract carefully. Tomorrow, she would return it to Yambul’s desk and play the part of dutiful apprentice. She would smile and work, pretending nothing had changed.
But everything had.
She was a free woman, and soon, the world beyond Soza would be open for her.
Orlena leaned into Bula’s embrace and let the steady beat of her heart calm all of the fears she held. For the first time since she’d stolen the contract, the fear didn’t feel suffocating. Tonight she was safe.
Because of Bula.
Dawn was arriving in Soza.The sky was streaked pale gray and gold as Orlena walked along the narrow streets toward the shop.
The air was cool and damp from last night’s lingering mist. Her breath fogged faintly in front of her. She clutched her satchel close to her chest. She glanced over her shoulder for the tenth time, expecting to see shadows emerge from the alleyways.
But there was no one there.
Still, her pulse refused to settle down.
She reached the shop and unlocked the door with jittery fingers. She hoped and prayed this wasn’t the one day when Yambul would arrive before her. The familiar scent of wood shavings and oil greeted her, and she stepped inside. Normally, the aroma soothed her. Today, it did little to quiet down the storm raging inside her chest.
She shut the door quickly and slid the bolt in place. One look around, and she knew she was alone. The shop was dim, lit only by the morning light filtering through the windows. For a moment, she stood listening.
Just in case.
Nothing but silence.
