Page 24 of Ella’s Obsessive Orc

The words land like a bomb. Ella’s mother blinks once, then twice, like she’s trying to process my words.

Her mouth opens, and the words that come out are even more shrill than I expect. “I want to speak to my daughter alone. Now.”

“Not going to happen.” I don’t trust this bitch at all.

I glance at Ella, ready for her to balk, but she just nods, squeezing my hand at her side.

Her mother's face contorts into a mask of calculated outrage, red lipstick cracking at the corners of her mouth. "You realize this is kidnapping?" She jabs a manicured finger through the air. "I'll have State Troopers and a court order here before lunch."

"She's dating a prince," the sister with the platinum ponytail hiss-whispers, her nostrils flaring like she smells something rotten. "Why does she get a prince when I'm still living in that shoebox apartment?"

"Yeah, but he's green with tusks," the other one mutters, eyeing me up and down like I'm livestock at auction. Her thin lips curl back from too-white veneers.

"Shut up, you two," Ella's mother snaps, her voice like a whip crack as she shoots them both a venomous side-eye.

Ella steps up, ignoring the annoying bickering. Her voice is firm, every word pure iron. “Mom, I’m not a prisoner. I’m here because I want to be. Oren is my mate. We’re bonded.”

Her mother actually scoffs. “Ella, that’s not even a thing. You’re clearly being manipulated. Come home with us and we’ll forget this ever happened.”

Ella runs out of patience. “Get lost. I’m not going to fall for your bullshit a second time.”

The woman sputters, cycles through several facial expressions ranging from shock to hate, then fixes on me. “This isn’t over. I’m not leaving until I speak to the Council. And then I’m taking you to court.” She actually pounds her tiny fist on the barrier, like it’ll bring the walls down.

Fuck. I’m so over this. I glance at the guards. “Escort her off of Arch property. If she resists, call Gavric.”

The guards close in. Ella’s mother stares at me like she wishes she could incinerate me with her eyeballs, but her bravado cracks the second Ronan and his team move to flank her. The sisters start shrieking immediately, one threatening to call six different lawyers, the other whining about “inhumane conditions” and “media exposure.” They put up a hell of a racket, stumbling in their cheap heels, phones waving wildly as they record the entire walk of shame back to their black sedan.

“Don’t think for a second this is over!” Ella’s mother screeches, nearly tripping over her own feet. “I’ll have the whole place condemned! You’ll be hearing from our attorney, the governor, and the goddamn President!” Her voice carries all the way down the avenue, echoing off the stone arches.

Ella doesn’t even flinch. She stands next to me, proud, calm, steel in her spine. My mate leans over and whispers, “My mother doesn’t even know who’s President.” I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.

We walk back to the house, her fingers tangled in mine. The mark on her chest pulses with heat, causing my own mark to tingle as our heartbeats sync with each step.

She glances up and catches me staring. “I love you.” Those words will never get old.

"I love you, too, little warrior." I pull her close, my rough green palms engulfing her soft curves, the scent of her lemony shampoo filling my lungs as I breathe her in. "I won't ever let anyone hurt you." The mark on my chest throbs with protective heat. If her mother wants to make waves, I'll turn the tsunami back on her with the full force of Arch resources behind me. That evil bitch with her blood-red talons and viper's tongue has no idea the ancient Orc fury she's awakened.

Keeping my mate safe and happy is now my only purpose, written into my very bones. I'll do whatever it takes—call in every favor, wield every weapon, exhaust every resource. Even if I have to stand guard at our borders every night for the rest of my life, it's a battle I'll never lose.