KARTH AND I SIT AT Bazur’s kitchen table and watch each other carefully.
Two steaming cups of tea sit next to us. It’s strange, I pictured our reunion many times in my head but the real thing feels different. Not in a bad way, but I just always thought it would be more grandiose. Instead, it’s a bit awkward.
It’s easy enough to understand why.
We’re both adults, it’s been two decades since we last saw each other. I remember my brother, but I don’t know my brother. I doubt that his favorite things to do are skipping rocks across the river and tying sticks into my hair. His face isn’t as scarred as Bazur’s but from the crooked set to his nose I can tell it’s been broken. The wraps on his hands do very little to hide the callouses and cuts along his knuckles.
Whatever life he’s had it hasn’t been a peaceful one.
The silence presses down on us and I can feel Karth’s leg bouncing under the table. This is ridiculous. One of us needs to be brave enough to say the first word. I clear my throat and pick up my mug of tea as a way to keep my hands busy.
“Karth,” I say at the same time he says, “Kaethe.”
We both laugh shyly and he shakes his head. “I’ve thought about this a million times and now that it’s happening I don’t know what to say,” he confesses.
“Me neither,” I agree. “Karth, that night…I’m so sorry. If I hadn’t let go of you then maybe—”
“Thea,” his voice is sharp, “don’t apologize. Nothing about that night was your fault. We were kids, it’s easy to forget just how young we were when it happened. The orcs that attacked us are at fault.” His dark eyes go distant and his mouth flattens into a line. I’m not sure I want to know but I ask anyway.
“What happened to you after we were separated?”
Karth takes a deep shuddering breath. When his eyes meet mine again I have to stop myself from looking away. The terror in them is still there, even after all these years.
“The orc that was chasing us, the one who killed the blacksmith, you remember?” I nod my head feeling my palms beginning to sweat. “He caught up to me in the forest after I had lost you. I tried to run but he was faster. He hit me over the head with that hammer from the forge.”
My hand shoots out and covers his. We are quiet for another moment until he continues. Karth gives a humorless laugh.
“The blow knocked me unconscious, I think he believed me to be dead so he left me there bleeding. I don’t remember much beyond being kicked awake the next morning.
“Vorgak was there, the raid had been issued by him after a trader from our village had slighted his orcs on fur pelts. Next to him was a cart full of the bodies of our townspeople. And one of them, Kaethe, one of them had brown hair like yours and I thought…I thought…”
Tears well in my eyes and I try my best to blink them away.
“Vorgak yelled at his males for leaving one alive. I can still remember the feel of his blade on my neck. My head was throbbing, I could barely feel my legs. I couldn’t fight or do anything to stop my impending death. Then Bazur was there. He stepped out of the treeline and yelled something at Vorgak that had him pausing before he could deliver the death blow. Bazur was a lot younger then but about the same size he is now.
“He scared me when I first saw him. I tried to fight him as he picked me up and put me on a wagon. Before long I felt the wagon begin to move. Except we didn’t follow the other orcs there, we went in the opposite direction up towards the mountain.”
“He brought you here,” I answer and Karth nods.
“Once we were away from the other’s Bazur told me I was safe, that he had a healer who could help me. He asked me if there were any members of my family left and in my state I could only shake my head no. Even if you were still alive, I didn’t trust that this wasn’t another trap. One I wouldn’t drag you into.
“I even gave him a fake name, Mika. That’s why Zarod asked who Karth was, I’ve never used that name here. It took years for me to finally realize I was safe. No matter how many times Bazur repeated it to me. Or how many times Lady Myren told me while she was healing me. I carried so much anger and rage for not being able to protect you like I promised mom.”
“Karth, it’s not your fault either.”
“It should’ve never happened. That’s why I’ve been helping Bazur make sure it doesn’t to anyone else. He saw my restlessness when I first arrived and kept making trouble. When I finally told him about my rage, Bazur said there was a way for me to channel it. I trained with him to become a soldier. He gave me purpose, a way to avenge what happened to our family.”
Bazur, my heart warms as I think of him.
“As I grew I kept remembering that cart I saw. The memories faded and then I couldn’t remember if her hair had been brown like yours, or red. Maybe even blonde. Once I was old enough to leave the village on missions I started scouting. They were all dead ends until I found that village that you last stayed in.” Karth smiles softly. “The last place I ever would’ve checked was Myrkorvin. Don’t tell Mornga, but dark elves really fucking scare me. The eyes—”
Karth breaks off in a shudder and I can’t help but chuckle.
“You get used to it. I never gave going to Myrkorvin a second thought. If I had I would’ve been in that village when you came to visit. We would’ve reunited.”
“Thea, you can’t let what-if’s rule your life.” His eyes are serious as they bore into mine. “I replayed that night over and over again, wishing I could change a dozen different things. I wore myself ragged doing that. Kaethe, look what you accomplished, look at the life you lived. I wish more than anything I could’ve been a part of it, that you could’ve been a part of mine but we didn’t get a choice.”
“But now we can be,” I say firmly.
“Now we can be.” Karth swallows and averts his gaze. “Do you…remember them?”
I know who he’s referring to and my heart gives a tight squeeze. This isn’t something I like to think about.
“Bits and pieces, I was so young. I remember mother’s pies, she was the best cook, told the best bedtime stories too.”
“You loved that mermaid one, drove me crazy how many times you made her tell it to us,” Karth grumbles, though his smile is soft as he looks at me.
“I remember…father’s laugh, it shook the whole house. He was always so happy.” I give his hand another squeeze. “I remember how much they loved us.”
Karth squeezes my hand back. “They did.”
“Bazur will make Vorgak pay for what he did to us and to so many others.”
Karth nods. “Things are bad now, Thea. I don’t know how much Bazur has told you but—”
The front door to the cottage squeaks open and Bazur is there, looking serious and handsome. His eyes sweep over me as if to make sure no harm has come to me while he’s been away. The floorboards creak as he walks over to us and stands at my side. Reaching down, he runs a hand through my hair and I shiver, my nipples tightening painfully.
I pull my hand away from Karth’s and capture Bazur’s in my hair. Interlocking our fingers, I bring his hand to my lips and kiss the back of it. We stare at each other so lost in our own world that it isn’t until my brother clears his throat that I remember we aren’t alone.
My cheeks warm and I look away sheepishly.
“Did you get what we need from our contact in the east, Karth?” Bazur asks, turning his stare towards my brother. Karth winces at the use of his real name but nods anyway. My brother opens his mouth but shuts it, eyeing my warily. I almost offer to leave in case this is some secret I’m not privy to but Bazur waves his hand. “Kaethe is my mate, I trust her. Whatever you have to report can be shared with her.”
His authoritative tone makes my thighs grow damp. Bazur obviously smells it as his eyes darken when he turns his gaze back on me. I give his hand a squeeze as if to say, Later.
Karth digs around in the bag at his hip before pulling out a small metal box. He extends it to Bazur who pops it open and takes out the contents. It’s a small glass vial filled with some bright green liquid. Bazur lowers his eyes questioningly.
“It’s a special elixir they make. It’ll cut through any metal, any steel, even Vorgak’s armor.” Karth rubs a hand against his lightly stumbled jaw. “We have the support of a few northern generals. They advised us that Vorgak is mounting an offensive. They say he’s planning to strike here any day now.”
“We’ll be ready. It’s more important than ever to keep our village safe.” Bazur’s tender honey gaze traces over my face. I want him so badly, I want him all the time. We stare at each other, everything around us becomes unfocused. Karth’s kitchen chair scrapes along the floor as he rises.
“As much as you’re a worthy male, Bazur, the way you keep staring at my sister is making me very uncomfortable.” My mate growls but I only giggle, blushing terribly as I rise too.
“We’ll talk more tomorrow, I have a feeling that whatever you two are about to discuss I don’t need to be here for. And could you please wait until I’m a few houses away to start discussing,” Karth pleads.
“No promises,” Bazur grits out as I playfully swat at his chest. Leading my brother to the door we hug on the threshold saying our goodbyes. There is so much to learn about each other and today was a good start.
Now I just want to be alone with my mate.
Bazur and I stand in the doorway until Karth is out of eyesight. Silently, I close the door and turn to snuggle into Bazur’s chest. His wool shirt is cold against my cheek as I feel his arms wrap tightly around my back.
“I never considered him to be your brother. He told me his name was Mika and that his family was all dead.” His grip on me tightens. “That village I saved him from was yours. To think all those years ago you were so close to me and I just missed you.”
“I wonder what would’ve happened had you found us together. What our life would’ve been like.”
Bazur places a kiss to the top of my head. “As much as I would’ve loved to have known you sooner, I’m glad you escaped. You’ve had experiences you never would’ve gotten the chance to have here. There’s no point in wishing for things to be different when I wouldn’t change anything about the outcome.”
“My brother said something similar.” Bazur cups my chin and makes my eyes meet his.
“How are you feeling?”
“I feel…happy. We’re strangers, we’ve been apart longer than we were ever together but he’s my family. We’re both alive. We’re both here thanks to you. How could I be anything besides happy?” I pull back from Bazur’s chest and smile up at him. “Now I want to take care of you.”
Leading him by the hand, we climb the ladder and walk into the washroom. I turn the handles on the bathing pool and watch the deep tub fill up with steaming water. Along the sides of it sit various soaps and creams that I’ve made at Myren’s for my hair. Bazur told me he didn’t understand the need for so many things to wash oneself as if I wouldn’t notice him smelling like my lavender hair treatment four nights ago.
Kicking off my boots and unlacing my gown, Bazur matches my movements until we are both naked. This bath was built for someone of his size. He grips me around my waist and gently places me along the edge since my feet don’t touch the bottom. My mate climbs in behind me and pulls me against his muscular chest. I sigh as his hard cock begins to press against the cheeks of my ass.
The water makes our bodies slick and Bazur traces his large, calloused hands along my neck and arms. Goosebumps break out and I sigh into his touch as he begins to massage the base of my skull. His thick fingers dig into my scalp, the sensation making my toes curl.
“Can I wash your hair, akorzag?” His voice is barely more than a growl. I nod and he reaches for one of my hair cleansing tonics. Pouring some on my head he continues digging his hands into my hair until the mixture becomes foamy. He pours clean water over my head from a pitcher, before grabbing my lavender hair conditioning cream and spreading it throughout the ends of my hair.
I never taught him my bathing routine but he’s mastered it nonetheless.
After he rinses the cream from my hair, he begins to soap my body. His hand wanders down between my legs. He groans at the wetness he finds there. With his fingers pressing into my clit I throw my head back against his shoulders. He works me until my legs begin to tremble and as much as I don’t want to stop, this bath is for him.
Turning in his arms, I rub my nipples along his chest and he shudders.
“I want to wash you now.” He barely nods as I take the soap from his hands, sudsing it up before rubbing it all over his body. My fingers dig into the muscles of his arms, trace along every scar and cut. My hand trails lower, over the muscles packed on top of each other that make up his stomach. They go lower still as I grip his cock in my hands, fingers dancing over his ridges and giving him a gentle tug.
“Does my mate like it when I hold him in my hand?” I purr in his ear, giving him another tug. Bazur’s eyes are wide and his mouth pops open. I trail kisses along his neck.
“You mean so much to me, Bazur. After hearing what you did for my brother, knowing what you did for me. Knowing what you are willing to risk to keep me safe, how could I not feel this way about you?”
I give his cock one more jerk and nip at his pulse.
“I love you, Bazur.”
There’s a thunderous sound as I’m yanked out of the bath. I giggle as my wet body is thrown down on the bed and Bazur is wild above me. His hips pin mine to the bed and his hands tangle with my own, holding them above my head.
“Love isn’t a strong enough word for what I feel for you, Kaethe. My mate, my akorzag. I’m obsessed, I’ll do anything, kill anyone for you.” His lips rain kiss all over my face as my wet pussy grinds against his cock, those ridgids digging into my clit. “I love you. I’m going to marry you, give us a family. I’m going to give you everything. Everything.”
“You already have.”
“Once it’s safe, if you want to return to Myrkorvin I’ll go too. I don’t care where I am so long as we’re together.” I shake my head underneath him. I’ve already said goodbye to my life in Myrkrovin, I belong here with Bazur.
“I don’t want to go back to my old life, I want to stay right here with you.”
Bazur’s mouth attacks mine, his tongue slipping inside to tease my own. A hand trails down my body before he sticks two of his fingers inside of me. He twists his wrist and hooks his fingers just the way I like to hit that spot inside of me. Just when I’m about ready, Bazur grabs the jar off the nightstand and coats his length in the cream.
Slipping inside of me with a satisfied groan, my legs cinch around his hips. Bazur moves slowly, as if to savor this. His hands touch every part of me from my breasts to my hips to my stomach. The touches are reverent and exploratory and so loving I could come right now.
I hold off on that and let his body work itself inside of mine. The thread tying us together grows stronger. I can feel our souls knitting together with each thrust. There were so many heartbreaks along the way, so many things that I wish I could change but none of that matters now.
Bazur is right, there’s no point in wishing for something different when the outcome is this perfect.
“My mate is so beautiful. You’re a blessing from The Mother of the Mountain.”
“Bazur, my love, my mate. Make me come,” I pant.
Bazur’s thrusts become harder. I feel my release barreling down on me, my pussy begins to tighten as Bazur’s thumb works my clit. My pussy clamps down around his cock and I’m coming. My back arches clean off the bed and my hands tangle in his silky hair.
Bazur follows me over the edge and I sigh as his warm seed begins to fill me.
Gathering me to his chest, there’s a routine comfort in this sensation. Bazur’s hands trace up and down my arms, both of us sharing breath and not speaking. My chest is warm and everything feels right.
There’s just one last thing for me to do.
Pressing a kiss to his cheek, I rise from the bed and wrap a blanket around myself. His seed slips down my leg as we head into the kitchen. I motion him to sit at the table and I get to work.
I roast vegetables in the oven and fry a large piece of frostelk meat. Seasoning and garnishing it with a sauce I made from the drippings, I plate it and present it to Bazur. He gathers me on his lap and the blanket slips off my shoulder baring my breasts. He kisses the side of one making me squirm before slicing off a chunk of meat and eating it. He groans as he chews and swallows.
Our bond locks inside my chest and Bazur presses a hand to his own heart.
We smile softly at each other and he feeds me a piece of meat, the flavor exploding on my taste buds. We polish off the plate together as the custom dictates. Bazur holds my hips in his hands, gently rubbing them up and down my sides.
“My mate is a wonderful cook. Teach me so I can make this for you. I’m sorry you had to put up with my bland stews for so long.” His fingers graze the underside of my breast and I moan, leaning my head back against his shoulder.
“Your huge cock makes up for what you lack in the kitchen.” His hand closes around my breast, gently squeezes my nipple as his tongue licks up the side of my neck. It’s not long before we are back in bed and he’s showing me just what that cock of his can do.
