“Why didn’t she barricade herself into her home until he was better?”
“She didn’t trust that she’d be safe. That a fire wouldn’t break out in the barn, drawing her away from her father. You see”—Bakog leans in, his eyes dark— “if something ‘accidental’ had happened to Oshin,the mother who never even looked at her twice would be her only parent and would have the right to mate her to another. Her mother is best friends with someone in the Blackheart clan and I’m sure they would want their son to have access to the bridge. To our Negan.”
“While Negan was always close to her father, they have an unbreakable bond,” Tok says. “Don’t put her in the middle of a squabble between you and him. He’s a fair male, for a Blackheart. Obviously, if our own King has grown to trust him.”
“I would never ask her to go against her own father—”
“We’re mentioning it because you don’t have an honorable father,” Bakog says smoothly. “So you have nothing to compare her relationship to.”
Again, I come up lacking where Negan is concerned. It’s never been more obvious. I feel my jaw tighten.
While it’s true I’ll never be worthy of this female, I can’t let her go. I have to figure out a way—
“We’re not telling you this tale to point out that you don’t deserve her.”
“It’s obvious you don’t,” Tok says. “But then again, not sure Bak deserves Shalia. Good thing the addled female has forgotten much about him.”
“Nor does Tok deserve Hisa.” Bakog’s lip twitches as he mentions his friend. “But my sister has always had a penchant for older males.”
“Aye. She likes to call medaddy.”
He topples over when Bakog’s palm smacks him upside the head. “I told you never to mention that. I heard it once and it’s sickened me ever since.”
Tok rights himself, a huge grin on his green face.
“Just pointing out that none of the females are normal,” Bakog says. “Work that to your advantage. It helps to sway Oshin that you are a good protector. While Negan is strong, Oshin will want someone to take care of his daughter. Make sure nothing happens to her whileunder your care. The Blackhearts are tricky, but the West Mountain orcs have no choice but to band with them.”
“In other words, fail her and we’ll make an example of you whether it was your fault or not,” Tok growls.
“If I fail her, I’d make an example of myself,” I grit.
“Well, let’s get you fixed up so you don’t bleed all over our fair Negan, eh?”
Cleaning the stitches don’t take long. There’s no dragging it out, and Bakog isn’t as heavy handed as some. I take a quick shower and find by the time I come out, someone has sewed my tunic and washed out the blood from the bottom half. Bakog hands me a bag of ice to place over the wound for a few minutes and applies a dressing.
“The celebration has ended. Many have ended up in the tavern,” Bakog says.
“Make sure you don’t over exert that wound,” Tok says. “Give it a few days before moving it excessively.” To show me what he means, the male swivels his hips in the mimic of a dance act.
Or a sex act.
My jaw drops. He’s actually very graceful for such a beast.
“Quit showing off,” Bakog grunts.
By the grin on Tok’s face, I think mayhap he was.
These two males are not what I expected at all.
Chapter Six
Negan:
ABIGAIL’S UNCLE PAUL, who knows both the magistrate and the town sheriff, goes against protocol and keeps the tavern open to women when we’re in town. Across the room, Hisa and Shally wave me over, both in their casual clothes. Between them sits a frosty bottle from the bar. My favorite human beer.
“I picked up your gown from Aunt Rosemary’s and put it in the carriage for the ride home,” Shally says. “We can wear them again at Christmas.”
“Will look like beautiful dolls,” Hisa says, no modesty whatsoever.
