Page 140 of That’s My Orc, Tusk Off

“Yes.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Refusal would result in severance from your family line. Loss of name. Permanent exile from the kingdom.” He looked up. “The Council does not recommend this path.”

“I’m sure they don’t.”

I’d swear the scribe’s face softened. “You may file an appeal, but the timeline remains. Seven days from today, you are expected to present yourself at the Central Registry for formal introduction to⁠—”

My mark caught the morning light filtering through the window. The mountain and wave that meant Traig had chosen me and I’d chosen him.

The scribe stared at my wrist for a long moment. Then his expression shuttered.

“A kavresh bond,” he said slowly. “When did this appear?”

“Not long after you left,” Traig said. “I notified the council. I sent word.”

“We…did not receive a message.” The scribe lifted his ledger, flipping through pages at a quick pace. “And you’re certain you sent it?”

“I am.”

“And the mating mark appeared after I left?”

“Yes.”

“Interesting.” He made a note with his pen, the scratch too loud in the room. “The Council was quite specific in their instructions. They anticipated you might attempt to establish a bond after my initial assessment.”

My heart stopped.

“Attempt?” Traig’s voice had gone dangerously quiet.

“The House of Valtresh suggested I question the authenticity of any marks that appeared after the formal observation concluded.” The scribe looked up, his face sympathetic in a way that made me want to throw something. “They suggested, and the Council agreed, that such marks could be…induced. Through ritual or application of…” His head tilted. “Too-toos?”

“Tattoos,” I croaked.

“Yes, that. Application rather than genuine fate.”

“That’s not how kavresh bonds work,” I said, my voice shaking. “They appear when two people⁠—”

“Choose each other, yes. I’m aware of the lore.” He closed his ledger. “But the Council deals in verification, not faith. A mark that appears after judgment has been rendered is, unfortunately, suspect.”

Fred’s grumble cut off. Even Amanda went still, her crown dimming to brown.

“So you’re saying it doesn’t matter.” Traig’s shoulders drooped. “The marks don’t matter.”

“I’m saying the Council has made their determination. And while a kavresh bond is indeed sacred under traditional law, the timing of this particular bond raises questions that would require extensive review. Which would take considerably longer than the seven days you have remaining.”

The floor tilted under my feet.

We’d lost.

The mark had appeared when we’d stopped pretending, when we’d chosen each other completely. His parents had already won.

“I need to contact the Council,” the scribe said. “Inform them of this development. They’ll want to convene and discuss how to proceed.” He gestured to the door. “I’ll step outside to make the call. This may take some time.”

He walked out, leaving us standing in our living room with matching marks on our wrists that meant nothing.

Traig’s hand slipped from mine.