Page 84 of The Savage Vow
Nargol was awake long before the sunbeams graced her face.
She had not truly slept. A little here and there. Her arms were wrapped around Orlena, and she had not loosened them once. She lay still now, watching her mate.
Orlena was curled against her chest, one hand fisted Nargol’s shirt as if she were afraid she might disappear. Her mate would never have to worry about them being separated again. A faint crease marred Orlena’s brow even in sleep.
It had taken her a while to drift off into a restful sleep last night, but then her soft voice had broken through the darkness.
“I love you.”
The words replayed in Nargol’s mind for the thousandth time.
Nargol wasn’t sure if she was supposed to have heard it, but those words, even though soft, had sounded like a beacon through a storm.
It had swelled her chest with pride. This was deep. Her mate loved her.
Her.
After everything they had been through, her mate still loved her.
An orc.
It wasn’t that long ago when Orlena had tried to explain the ways of Soza and how Nargol shouldn’t compliment her beauty.
Well, um…humans keep to themselves and orcs do the same.
This orc refused to stay away from her human. She may be an orc raised on tradition and a warrior shaped by duty, but she knew what the goddess above had presented to her.
Her mate.
Nargol lowered her head and brushed her lips gently over Orlena’s hair.
“I will not fail you,” she murmured against the soft strands.
This was one promise she was not going to fail. She could not. Her and Orlena’s safety depended on it.
She just prayed that her sister and father were marching toward Soza with their army. With Grat on the loose, he was likely scheming in the shadows.
And with the threat of Rujin…she certainly couldn’t fail. If Rujin stepped foot in Aghon, there would be war.
And this time, it would not end in exile and wandering.
It possibly could end in annihilation.
Orlena stirred in her embrace. Nargol’s arm instinctively tightened around her, then she relaxed her hold. Orlena blinked up at her with sleep-filled eyes.
“Why are you staring at me?” Orlena murmured.
“Because I can,” Nargol replied quietly.
A faint smile tugged at Orlena’s lips. She shook her head as a soft snort escaped her.
“Did you sleep at all?” Orlena asked.
“Enough,” she replied. It was the truth. She didn’t require much sleep. Especially when she had a very precious person in her arms who needed to be protected.
Silence fell between them. Orlena reached up and touched Nargol’s jaw.
“I never thanked you for saving me,” she whispered.
