But the lie tasted bitter even in my own mind.
This had nothing to do with honor. Nothing to do with gratitude or duty or the obligations of hospitality.
This was about how her scent wrapped around me like smoke, intoxicating and inescapable. About the territorial fury that surged through me whenever another male's gaze lingered too long. About how sitting beside her felt like finding something I hadn't known I'd lost—something essential I'd been missing since I'd abandoned the underground for the surface world.
I was in trouble.
The kind of trouble that changed everything.
And judging by the knowing, almost sympathetic look Zuhra aimed at me from across the room, I was the last person in the village to figure it out.
Chapter 6
Jordan
We finished our meal in comfortable silence, the warmth of the food settling pleasantly in my stomach. As I set down my bowl, I became acutely aware of the curious glances being cast our way. Several Orcs passing by our table slowed their pace, their eyes lingering on me with an intensity that made the hair on the back of my neck prickle.
It struck me as odd. Orcs had been living alongside humans for years now—I'd even spotted humans working throughout the village as we'd walked through, their hands deep in garden soil, their laughter mingling with orcish voices as they worked side by side. Yet here I sat, apparently the most fascinating thing in the room.
Perhaps none of them had ever encountered a healer besides Morg. That would explain it. A human doctor—especially one who'd made such a dramatic entrance—might be worth a second look. Or a third. I shifted in my seat, fighting the urge to shrink under their scrutiny.
Ruka noticed. "They mean no disrespect." He paused, seeming to choose his words carefully. "You are different from the humans who choose to live here."
I raised an eyebrow. "Different how?"
"They come seeking our way of life. You came seeking to save a life." His golden eyes held mine for a moment, and something in his gaze made my breath catch.
Before I could respond, Zuhra approached our table, wiping her hands on her apron. "So, Doctor," she said, her tusked smile warm and genuine. "How did you find the meal?"
"It was incredible," I said, meaning every word. "Honestly, that meat was one of the best things I've ever eaten. The herbs, the way the meat just fell apart—and that bread!" I gestured enthusiastically at my empty plate. "I don't know what you put in it, but it was amazing."
Zuhra's chest puffed slightly with pride, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Ah, you have good taste. The secret is in the slow cooking—we let it simmer for hours. And the bread is made fresh every morning with grain we mill ourselves." She leaned in conspiratorially. "I also add a touch of wild thyme from the mountain slopes. Most don't notice, but it makes all the difference."
"Well, it definitely made a difference. Thank you so much. I didn't realize how hungry I was until I started eating."
"A healer must keep her strength up," Zuhra said, nodding approvingly. "You are welcome at my kitchen anytime, Doctor."
Ruka shifted in his seat, drawing Zuhra's attention. "Zuhra, the doctor will be staying with us for a few days while she tends to Ardin. Can you arrange lodging for her? One of the guest cottages should suffice."
Zuhra's expression turned apologetic. "Ah, Chieftain, I'm afraid that won't be possible. With the recent influx of families, all our guest cottages are occupied." She tapped her chin thoughtfully, then her face brightened with what looked suspiciously like mischief. "But the chieftain's residence has plenty of room, does it not? It's the largest house in the village, with many bedrooms."
I caught the look Ruka shot her—a slight narrowing of his golden eyes that suggested he knew exactly what game she wasplaying. For a moment, I thought he might argue, but instead he let out a quiet breath through his nose, the sound almost resignation.
"That is... true," he said slowly, his gaze shifting to me with an expression I couldn't quite read. "You are welcome to stay at my home, Jordan. As Zuhra says, it is large. There are several guest rooms, and you would have your privacy."
"Oh, I don't want to impose," I said quickly, even as my heart did a little flip at the prospect. "If there's anywhere else—"
"There isn't," Zuhra said firmly, though her eyes sparkled with unmistakable satisfaction. "And it's no imposition. The chieftain's residence is meant to house guests of importance. A healer who saved one of our own certainly qualifies."
Ruka nodded, though I noticed the slight tension in his shoulders. "It's settled then. You'll stay with me."
The words sent an unexpected thrill through me, and I had to fight to keep my expression neutral. Get a grip, Jordan. Yes, he was attractive—impossibly so, with those striking golden eyes, that commanding presence, and that voice that seemed to resonate in my chest. But I was here as a medical professional, not some romance novel heroine getting swept off her feet by the first devastatingly handsome chieftain she encountered.
Ardin was my patient. That was my priority. That was the only priority.
Still, as I glanced at Ruka from the corner of my eye—at the strong line of his jaw, the way his dark hair fell across his forehead—I couldn't quite ignore the warmth that crept up my neck or the flutter low in my stomach. Professional. I needed to stay professional.
Even if staying under his roof was going to make that considerably more challenging.