Page 38 of The Savage Vow
“What type of establishment you think I run here? This is not a tavern or a whore?—”
“Watch what you say,” Nargol warned. Her hand automatically drifted down to the hilt of her blade. She gripped it and paused.
Yambul’s eyes went to her hand then flicked up to her. She hardened her gaze.
“She’s working. You can speak with her on her lunch or when she’s off,” he sniped.
“It won’t take long,” Nargol interrupted. She kept her voice calm, but the edge was still there.
He glanced at Orlena again, nodding.
“This better not be about an order you’ve messed up. I swear I’ll add another month to your contract,” he barked.
The suspicion in his gaze thickened as Orlena scurried around the counter to Nargol.
“It’s not,” Orlena murmured. She arrived at Nargol’s side and motioned for them to step outside.
Nargol followed her out the door. It slammed shut behind them. Makhel waited in the street with the shukans. She watched them without saying a word. She nodded to Nargol then turned toward the road.
“Bula. You’re here. Is something wrong?” Orlena’s gaze searched hers.
That name burned liked a dagger sinking into Nargol’s heart. She swallowed hard and took in every detail of her mate. The way her hair had been neatly braided back for work, the faint smudge of sawdust on her sleeve, the tension drawn tight in her shoulders.
Goddess above, she needed to take her mate away from this place.
She’d appeared fragile standing next to that orc. Nargol had wanted to put herself between him and Orlena.
But she couldn’t.
Her mate was strong, and if she’d handled this orc for all the time she’d worked for him, then it proved it.
“I’m leaving,” Nargol said.
Orlena stilled. Something crossed in her gaze that resembled disappointment or even sadness.
It set Nargol on edge. “Only for a few days, then I will return. I have business outside of the village that I must attend to.”
“You have always said you belonged nowhere. You don’t need to lie to me,” Orlena said.
“I am coming back to Soza. This I promise you.”
Silence stretched between them. Orlena glanced away first.
“Promises are easily made. Don’t make one if you are not going to keep it.” She sniffed. She reached up and brushed a wayward strand of hair from her face.
“Look at me,” Nargol said.
Orlena turned those big brown eyes to her, and what she saw almost brought her to her knees. Her eyes were filled with unshed tears. She closed the gap between them. She didn’t care who may be watching from the street. She needed her mate to understand that she spoke the truth.
“I am returning. To you.”
“But this place. You don’t belong here?—”
“You don’t either,” Nargol interrupted. A small smile tugged at her lips.
“I don’t have a choice,” she said.
“You will. Soon enough,” Nargol said swiftly. This was a promise she was going to keep.
