Page 16 of The Savage Vow
“Your mate?” Orlena asked. A small smile appeared on her lips as she glanced away.
A stirring flickered in Nargol’s chest at the smile. Those lips were plump, and she was dying to see if they were as sweet as they looked.
“If I had a mate, I wouldn’t be escorting a beautiful woman home.” Nargol snickered.
Orlena had a little spunk to her, and she liked it. Nargol could see she held back and was even surprised at times when certain words slipped out.
But it shouldn’t be that way.
The woman should be able to say whatever the feck she wanted.
“Well, I guess that would make sense. I doubt she or he would allow you out of their sight for long,” Orlena murmured.
Nargol’s head jerked back toward Orlena in surprise.
“Was that a compliment?” Nargol grinned. Again, there was that spunk revealing itself. She gently bumped into Orlena and nudged her with her arm. “Are you trying to say that I’m easy on the eyes?”
“I’ve made an observation.” Orlena giggled. A gentle breeze blew, lifting her strands of her hair. She reached up and brushed them away from her face and tucked them behind her ear. “But since you gave me one, I figured I should return the favor.”
“But you can’t outright say it?” Nargol arched an eyebrow.
They’d arrived at the corner of the street. Orlena nodded in the direction they needed to go.
“It wouldn’t be proper. At least, not out here.” Orlena’s smile slowly faded. She sighed and drew her cloak tighter.
The night air was beginning to chill, but Nargol didn’t really feel any of it. She wanted to wrap her arm around Orlena and bring her close.
Just to share warmth.
They continued walking in a comfortable silence.
“Moving around when you want and where you want, that sounds…freeing,” Orlena said, breaking the quiet.
“It can be,” Nargol replied.
They passed a cluster of orcs gathered near a tavern, their laughter loud and rough. A few gazes lingered on Orlena with more than open curiosity. Nargol bit back a growl at the look in one of the men’s eyes. She easily read it, and it certainly wasn’t appropriate. Nargol stood to her full height and met the gaze of one of them. Her hand drifted to where her dagger rested on her belt.
It was warning.
None of them spoke.
Orlena shifted closer to her as they continued past them. It took everything Nargol had to resist the urge to reach out and take her hand.
Once they were a slight distance from the orcs, Orlena relaxed a little.
“Where have you traveled?” Orlena asked. “What’s the most beautiful place you’ve seen?”
Nargol didn’t answer right away. Images rose in her mind. Mountain passes, deep forests where the air tasted clean and sharp, valleys untouched by war and destruction. She had been all over their country of Aghon, and one of her favorite places was one of the northern tips of the western part.
“The Northern Deep,” she finally replied. “Where the land falls away into the sea. It’s the most northern part to the west. At sunset, the water looks like it’s on fire.”
Orlena stopped walking.
Nargol turned to find Orlena staring at her with a wistful look in her eyes.
“I’ve never seen the ocean,” Orlena said quietly. “I want to someday. I want to smell it. Walk along the banks to see if the water is cold or if it is warm.”
The longing in her voice tugged at Nargol’s heartstrings. Suddenly, she wanted to be the one to take Orlena to the ocean. Hold her hands as they walked along the beach. She could envision Orlena in her arms while they watched the sun rise. Her breath caught at how strong those visions were. It was as if they were there.
