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As we traveled into the center of the city, she gaped at everything. I tried to see it as she did, as someone who was new to the kingdom.
I suppose if I had recently arrived in the city, I’d react in the same way. The streets were lined with magnificent silver buildings that rose two and three stories high. They must appear majestic to her after living in a small village behind a stone wall.
Grand towers stood on the top of the buildings, their peaks proudly flying vibrant flags that fluttered in the wind.
It was the perfect day to walk, and our footsteps were light on the cobblestone street. I was proud to show my city off to her—and to showheroff to those around us.
Some orcs came to a stop when they saw her, their jaws unhinging, while others just stared, their dark eyes wide. Women were not that unusual here; after all, we’d collected mates during the Hunt for ten years now. Prior to that, a few women encountered orcs, and the couples fell in love. They’d also moved here since women were accepted in our city while orcs were not welcome in theirs.
I was proud of my people, and if humans couldn’t see that our value sunk deep beneath our greenish-golden skin, then they weren’t worth our time.
“Such unique architecture,” she whispered, gaping around. “Everything’s so big. It makes me feel the size of a child.”
“You’re tiny.”Mytiny mate.
We nearly ran into two orcs from a different clan who’d gone with the group the other night but hadn’t been chosen to hunt.
They both grinned, their gazes only for Rhoslyn.
“Your hunt found success,” one said, his brow furrowing as his eyes met mine. “You’re incredibly fortunate as always, Jaus.”
“Too fortunate, I’d say.” The second fingered his weapon.
Rhoslyn’s attention flicked between us, and she stepped closer to me.
Noting them staring at her longer than I liked, I reached back to finger the hilt of my mace. A snarl ripped up my throat, and Rhoslyn swallowed deeply.
Their eyes narrowed, but they said nothing, continuing along the street.
Turning, I watched until they’d mixed in with the crowd.
“I’m sorry,” Rhoslyn said so softly, I barely heard her above those hawking their wares in the marketplace ahead.
“It’s not your fault.”
She grunted, and we continued walking. I kept her close to my side and glared at anyone who so much as looked her way.
Stopping partway down the street, I gestured to a shop on a corner between a side street and the main thoroughfare. “We can buy butter here.”
Her face darkened with color. Why this time? “That’s sweet of you.”
“I like butter too.”
“Oh.” Her shoulders drooped.
“What else do you like to eat?” I asked as we went inside.
“Anything, really.”
“Tell me.”
She shrugged. “Fruit. Vegetables. The bread we had this morning was good.”
I collected things in a basket as she spoke, and when she lifted a bottle of honey but put it back quickly, I added that to my basket as well.
“I want a lot of butter,” I told the clerk.
“This much?” he asked, holding up a tub the size of his head.
