How to Claim a Human Mate (Monstery Yours #6)

by S. J. Sanders

  That she’s unaware of the fact that she’s my mate and our relationship technically isn’t yet developed is inconsequential when it comes right down to what my instincts demand. That we are not yet mates in truth is merely a minor detail only that just needs a bit of time to work itself out.

  The banging comes again, more insistent, and a low growl rumbles in my chest. “I am coming! Hold onto your damned impatience!”

  “Well, hurry up,” comes a familiar, impatient voice from the other side.

  Groaning, I open the door to find my twin glaring at me from the other side, her arms laden with two large, steaming containers. The sight of them goes a long way to soothe my irritation at being interrupted. Erra huffs and shakes her head, her numerous braids swinging around her shoulders with that disgruntled gesture.

  “Invite me in or move out of the way,” she snaps.

  Grunting, I stand aside so that Erra can shuffle in, the pair of heavy earthenware containers teetering dangerously in her grasp as she makes her way to the long table in the kitchen. Scratching my jaw, I follow her. As she manages to set them down, I go about curiously inspecting them one by one, each one filled with a different cooked dish.

  “You couldn’t have made all of this.”

  “Of course I didn’t,” she scoffs. “Our birthday is not the only trait we share. Mother sent me here with it. She heard what happened to the human… and your insistence to take care of her.” She brushes a speck of dirt from her tunic, her lips curling with amusement. “Since she knows that you can’t cook any better than I can, she spent the morning making all of this and then tracked me down at The Ax and Mace to make sure I brought it over to you.”

  “Huh,” I mumble, setting aside the dish of lightly spiced sausages and potatoes that I think Lynn will enjoy. Her stomach is still sensitive, but the spices in this are mild enough not to upset it while still being appropriately filling. The other I will put into the icebox until the evening.

  Erra’s eyes narrows on me, her lips pursing. “You do realize that she’s going to want to meet her.”

  I hide a grimace and nod. “Eventually.”

  After I make sure that Lynn is attached to me enough that my mother’s strong personality and passion for interfering in her children’s lives doesn’t scare her away, that is.

  Erra exhales in disgust. “Good luck if you hope to avoid her,” she mutters. “Sure as all hells didn’t work for me.”

  “I am not avoiding, just delaying,” I clarify, ignoring her snort of disbelief.

  I love my mother, but I’m a grown male—a warrior—and she terrifies even me. There is only so much I’m willing to subject my female to during the period in which our new relationship… such as it is… is fragile.

  A soft patter of feet draws my attention to Lynn as she enters the room, her eyes widening slightly when Erra turns toward her and crosses her arms in a manner that could be interpreted as hostile rather than curious by anyone who didn’t know my sister.

  Lynn’s eyebrows shoot up. “We have a guest, I see.”

  Bold and fearless is my Lynn.

  I beam at her and tip my head toward my twin. “This is my twin Ehndera, or Erra as she prefers to be called.” I ignore the dirty look that she gives me for daring to use her proper name and open the container of sausage, melty cheese, and potato. “She brought sustenance.”

  “Oh, thank goodness,” Lynn sighs before dragging in a deep breath of the fragrant air. Her lips quirk. “I was almost afraid to discover what you would’ve conjured. This smells wonderful.”

  The smile she gives my sister is genuine and not the least bit intimidated, despite the fact that Erra is practically a stranger.

  “Thank you.”

  Erra cocks her head, her expression betraying her surprise until slowly she nods in response. “You’re not what I expected. I’ve been under the impression that most of the humans who come as visitors expect to be served as if we are paid attendants. You remind me more of the chieftain’s mate.”

  Lynn looks a little taken aback, but before I can apologize for my sister’s bluntness, she suddenly laughs. “Yes, I suppose that’s a good description of some of the unpleasant parts of tourism. In any case, truly I appreciate this.”

  The corner of Erra’s lips twitches. “So I see. Well, you are welcome, but I can’t claim the credit. Our mother sent this in hopes it would help you feel better.”

  A look of consternation flickers on Lynn’s face, and she gives a self-deprecating chuckle. “Oh. I guess word of my illness spread fast.”

  Erra lifts one shoulder in a casual shrug. “Only to those to whom it may matter.” She pauses, her lips curving slowly into a real smile. “And our mother is very convincing when she wants to know something.”

  The last is offered with a meaningful look to me, and my mouth pulls in a grimace once more. I can only imagine. As the oldest of Elga Ironclaw’s children, my mother has made a point of knowing every little thing I take interest in or get involved with. Every failed courtship in my youth was accompanied by unwanted observations and advice. Naturally, she would have heard that I was exhibiting guarding behavior around Lynn. That alone would have told her all that she needed to know about the situation. My mother’s interference is expected, but this is one time that I can’t really complain.

  I just dread whatever may come next, because I know my mother well enough to know that it will not stop here.

  My sister’s grin turns sharp as she watches me squirm. Slowly, she pushes away from the table and stretches her arms.

  “Well, my good deed for the day has been done. I better get back to the tavern before Gavith begins wondering if someone has stolen me away.”

  I snort. “He would only be so lucky, though I would pity any other male who took you.”

  A sharp grunt bursts out of me as Erra, heavy-handed as ever, chuckles as she walks by me, giving my back a hard slap in passing.

  “Enjoy the rest of your day!” she bellows.

  Lynn’s eyes follow her departure, a smile playing at her lips. It is only when Erra is gone that her gaze slides back to me and she grins.

  “I like her.”

  “Good, then you can come live with me so you can intercept her while I hide,” I say, only half-teasing.

  She snickers and shakes her head. “Nice try, orc.”

  My grin is unrepentant as I fetch a pair of bowls from the cupboard and utensils. “Well then, how about some food, human?”

  I get a gracious nod as she drops into a chair at the table while I divide the contents of the container between the two bowls, setting one in front of her. We eat in relative silence with just snips of conversation flowing between us as she asks random questions about growing up in the village. When we finish, I pluck up the bowls before she has the opportunity to rise and send her back out to her chair while I set about cleaning everything up and taking the other container out to the icebox.

  Everything once again set right, I wander back to our cozy place by the hearth to see that Lynn is wrapped thoroughly in the large quilt, a book propped up in her hands.

  “What are you reading?” I ask softly, nodding to her book when her eyes lift to meet mine.

  Her cheeks pinken and she looks away. “A book.”

  “That I can see,” I tease. “Believe it or not, I have read my fair share of books. Orcs are quite fond of tales.”

  She glances at me out of the corner of her eye, a blonde eyebrow arching. “And you enjoy reading?”

  I nod. “It is nice to enjoy someone else’s life for a time, even a fictional one.”

  Lowering the book, she looks over at me with interest. My heart stutters. Oh, how much I have wanted her to look at me like that!

  “I can’t agree more. What do you enjoy reading?”

  I shrug. “Most of our tales have grand adventures, daring battles, sworn oaths between mates found and that sort of thing.” I nod to the book again. “What is that story of?”

  “Sort of an
adventure and romance,” she says slowly, her cheeks deepening in color in a way that I find delightful.

  I grin and settle back into my chair. “Sounds entertaining. You should read me some if you feel up to it.”

  Her eyebrows shoot straight up to her hairline and fingers twitch on her book uncertainly. “You would… like that? Are you sure?”

  “I have no doubt. From the beginning, if you don’t mind,” I instruct with a casual roll of my hand.

  A soft laugh rises from her as she opens the book at the beginning. “All right then.”

  The sound of her voice carries us as the hours pass. I stop her several times to get her something to drink or to check on Haith and take care of his needs. She even continues to read to me at the table while we enjoy our evening meal. She reads until she tires and, with blurry eyes, sets the book down on the table beside her chair. She looks so wonderfully relaxed and happy that I can’t let our evening end there, so in a low voice I begin telling old tales I have heard since I was an orcling from my father and his father before him, spinning our world’s history for her, the brave deeds of orcs who’ve gone before, until at last her eyes flicker closed as sleep claims her.

  The hour is late when Kassie returns. I wave off her whispered apologies, delighted with how the evening went as I rise to my feet. I can imagine many more such sedate evenings with my Lynn. Tonight has given me something to dream about. The only thing that would have made it better would have been the weight of my mate’s body in my arms and the taste of her on my tongue.

  But I will be patient. I have all the time in the world.

  Chapter 15

  Lynn

  The last day of our vacation dawns with a blustery chill. With all the good weather we’ve enjoyed during our time in the orc village, it was perhaps too much to expect it to continue. I don’t bother setting up the café today. Despite being closed for a day while I was sick, business yesterday was incredible, and we rewarded ourselves with another trip to the fair. This time, while avoiding the pies and sticking to sugary treats doled out by goblins and trolls, we played games and purchased gifts to take home. I managed to settle on a tiny handmade troll doll as a gift for Kassie’s mother for watching Casper while she hunts down gifts to take home to her kids.

  By the time we return to our cottage, we’re exhausted, Kassie’s ankles have swollen and we are loaded with all of her souvenirs, even a fancy blade she purchased for Jason. I happen to think it’s the perfect gift for him mostly with the hope that the asshole will cut himself with it, but I keep those thoughts to myself.

  Today, however, is just for fun. After venturing out this morning to meet with Orgath while Kassie slept in, I’ve secured permission to return and set up a business, so I know that work can wait until I return. As it is, I know it will take time to properly build my café, which will give me plenty of time to get my things in order and get comfortable here before I have to even think about actual work.

  So, we’re spending our time touring the ground and interior of the keep. Kassie hangs by my side eagerly as we follow the guide. She admitted last night to being too intimidated last time we visited to see anything. She was so distracted by nerves and making plans while I did business, she hadn’t even gotten a look at the chieftain and his mate, which astounds me. Nor did she get an opportunity to meet the human queen later either, since we were busy enough to have somehow missed her customary visit.

  Unfortunately, we aren’t going to get the opportunity to meet her now either since Orgath and his mate are out of the keep taking care of clan business during the tour. It’s disappointing but I get it. After all, I certainly wouldn’t want to have to try and work with a bunch of curious tourists under foot all day.

  “Rotten luck,” Kassie sighs yet again as she admires a particularly large tapestry.

  I give her a bemused look. “I still can’t believe that you seriously spaced out during our entire visit here.”

  “Hey, I was nervous,” she replies indignantly. “And I had a lot on my mind. Besides, you know business conversations don’t interest me and you were at it for hours, so I just entertained myself with looking at the marvelous tapestries,” she says, gesturing at the tapestry in front of us.

  “But I introduced you,” I laugh in protest.

  “I do seem to recall hearing that,” she admits, her cheeks coloring with embarrassment. “It was just all too awkward. I mean, you are talking about royalty here. I didn’t know how to respond, or where to look. Don’t royal types get offended if you even so much as look at them wrong? I was being cautious.” Her face brightens further. “And there was a really hot, big orc that I was trying not to look at.”

  “You could have said something earlier and I would have pointed them out at least in passing,” I mutter. “As for the orc, you probably should have at least looked and enjoyed it before going back home.”

  She gapes at me, “Lynn, I’m married!”

  “I didn’t suggest sleeping with him,” I retort. “Though ditching Jason for an orc wouldn’t have been the worst idea.”

  Kassie snickers, her smile growing wicked. “That’s just terrible.”

  “Maybe a tiny bit,” I agree, holding my finger and thumb close together in emphasis of just how little.

  She leans forward conspiratorially. “I know you don’t believe it, but I’m telling you that I just have a feeling that things are going to turn around for us. Before I left, he seemed excited about some sort of surprise he was working on.” She giggles. “I overheard him talking on the phone about it. I can’t wait to see.”

  I squeeze her arm affectionately, pushing back my worry. “You’ll have to tell me all about it.”

  She tilts her head. “You realize that we’re going to have to buy magic mirrors when we get back home just so that we can make sure we keep in touch when you leave. I don’t want a repeat of what happened between us in the past.”

  “Agreed. We will talk every week and update each other what’s going on.”

  “And you can keep me informed about how things are going with Bodi,” she sings mischievously, earning her a scowl.

  “It’s nothing like that,” I insist.

  I spotted the idiot earlier, and he was once again wearing one of his stupid outfits that I wanted to burn on the spot. How can I possibly have feelings again for someone so designed to stick out—and who enjoys it?

  “Sure it’s not,” she agrees too easily. “And that’s why you nearly had a heart attack upon seeing him. Hmm. He certainly is colorful.”

  “That would be a word for it,” I mutter.

  “And not unattractive.”

  “And doesn’t he know it all too well.”

  Kassie’s laughter fills the hall as she looks at me askance. “Weren’t you the one who dated the most questionable guys in college, saying that you can’t judge a book by its cover? Correct me if I’m wrong.”

  I roll my eyes. “No, you’re right. The thing is, Bodi doesn’t have a cover… he has an entire centerfold layout with a complementary billboard.”

  “And you like him,” she whispers deviously. “Or it wouldn’t bother you so much.”

  “Hmph. Maybe,” I concede reluctantly, then shoot her warning look. “Not that it means anything.”

  She shrugs. “It will still be interesting to see if anything comes of it. So you’ll know I’ll be pestering you.”

  “Fine, whatever,” I mutter, waving my hand to shush her.

  I swear that I keep hearing footsteps following behind us as we’ve followed our guided tour through the halls of the keep. Even walking in the middle of the group doesn’t help because I can still catch faint echoes, but every time I pause to listen, it disappears. It’s starting to make me paranoid. Why the hell would anyone be following behind us making an obvious effort to conceal their presence? Unless I’m just imagining things. It is an old building, after all.

  I’m relieved when our tour group rounds a corner and the strange silence and creeping st
eps halts. A moment later, there’s the sound of distinct retreat as if someone is walking away, but I can’t say if it’s the same footsteps I’ve been hearing or merely someone stepping into the hall and heading in the opposite direction. My relief gives way to annoyance as I see the object of my frustration just ahead, speaking to one of the guards under his command.

  The brilliant blue tunic he’s wearing today complements his coloring beautifully, but the skin-tight white trousers are even worse than any of the ones he wore before, outlining everything boldly, even if a third of his package is covered by the hem of his very short tunic. He does look incredible, though, so I can well understand the few happy sighs I hear. My own heart races when he looks my way and greets me with a devastatingly beautiful smile, the gold bands around his tusks glinting.

  Murmuring something to the guard, he heads directly toward us, his eyes glittering with a heat that sears into the deepest and most hidden parts of me. His eyes slide over the rest of our group casually as he greets everyone collectively before pinning me once more with his burning green gaze.

  “How are you doing today?” he murmurs, his mouth pursing at the low-cut collar of my tunic, showing just a hint of my cleavage. Green eyes darkening, he sweeps a sharp look over our group and his guards, a low rumble rattling in his chest that stirs undeniable excitement in my blood. He leans forward, his breath fanning my cheek. “I think you are missing part of your tunic, lanara,” he whispers.

  “Really?” My eyebrows rise because this tunic is perfectly respectable, especially compared to some clothes out there for women. “That’s funny because I was going to say the same thing about your tunic, and perhaps recommend you get another tailor who isn’t going to deprive you of a normal amount of fabric for your trousers.”

  He glances down at himself, and his frown deepens. “What is wrong with them?”

  “Not a damn thing if you’re trying to sell something,” I reply.

  His eyes smolder. “Are you perhaps telling me that you are interested? I will not sell, but I would be happy to give it all to you. Every inch.”