The Orc and the Innkeeper (Elderberry Falls, #1)

by Cora Crane

But fairytales aren’t real, even here in Elderberry Falls. Right?

“Mariah, you made it!” Thorak’s deep voice echoes across the room as he strides towards me, a broad grin splitting his tusked face. His eyes are alight with what looks like genuine delight.

I force a smile. It doesn’t matter. Whoever he’s become, he’s just a means to an end for me.

I wonder if he could pick me up one-handed. Maybe use that strength to easily toss me on a bed⁠— Gods.

nod thoughtfully. “And what about future plans? Any new brews or collaborations on the horizon?” Thorak’s face lights up with excitement. “Oh, I’ve got some ideas brewing, pun intended. Been experimenting with a new honey mead using nectar from the enchanted wildflowers in the forest. Plus, I’m in talks with the centaurs about a potential collab using their heirloom grains.”

His enthusiasm is contagious, and for a moment, I forget why I’m here. I can’t ignore the ember of respect kindling inside me. This is a Thorak I never knew existed.

As he speaks, Thorak’s hand drifts from my back to my arm, his touch sending shivers down my spine. I mentally chastise myself...

“You’ve built something really special here, Thorak. It’s clear how much work you’ve poured into this place.” A smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. “That means a lot, coming from you.”

Thorak nods, his expression unreadable. “Of course. Thanks for coming by, Mariah. It means a lot to have your support in this.”

I’m the eldest of seven—large families are the orc way.

I lean in close, my voice a low rumble. “I’ll keep you safe from the big, bad monsters.” She rolls her eyes but can’t quite hide her smile. “My hero,” she drawls sarcastically, but there’s no real bite to it.

I can’t help but imagine what it would be like to do this for real—to hold her hand, to pull her close, to show the world that she’s mine. The thought sends a thrill through me, even as I try to tamp it down.

But with every brush of her skin against mine, every coy glance from beneath those long lashes, I find myself wishing more and more that it wasn’t.

“Yes, Grok, we’re together,” she says sweetly, though there’s an undercurrent of steel in her voice. “Thorak and I are in love. We’re engaged, in fact. Not that it’s any of your business.”

She turns to me then, and before I can react, she rises up on her tiptoes and presses her soft lips against mine. Fireworks explode behind my eyelids as I instinctively pull her closer, my hand splaying across the small of her back.

The kiss is pure electricity, jolting through my every nerve ending. Mariah’s lips are warm and pliant, molding perfectly against my own as if they were made to fit together. Her lavende...

All that exists in this moment is the slide of her mouth on mine, the sweet taste of her, the tight press of her petite body against my hulking frame. Gods, it feels so real, so right.

I melt into him, my hands gripping the front of his shirt for support.

I lose myself in the heady sensations—the spicy, masculine scent of him filling my nostrils, the low, rumbling growl emanating from his chest, the searing heat of his touch branding me through my thin blouse.

Watching Thorak stand protectively in front of me, all six foot eight inches of pure, rippling muscle, defending my honor without hesitation—it’s sexy as hell. And damn him, he knows it, if the smug tilt of his lips is any indication.

I’m torn between wanting to yank him down for another scorching kiss or knee him in the groin for making me feel this way.

Falling for my bully is not part of the plan.

I’ve fantasized about kissing Mariah more times than I can count over the years, but the reality blew my imagination out of the water.

In my dreams, there’s a chance this fake engagement could bloom into something real between us. That Mariah might be able to forgive me for how I treated her and see the orc I’ve grown into. The one who wants nothing more than to worship her, body and soul.

“And then today, while giving a tour of the market to Robert, we ran into Grok and his cronies. You remember that asshole. Well, he started ragging on Mariah, laughing about the idea of us dating. And Mariah, she just...grabbed me and kissed me. Right there in front of everyone.” I shake my head, still marveling over it. “I never thought...”

“You’re still in love with her, aren’t you? Just like you always have been.”

“What should I do? How do I get Mariah to forgive me, to see that I’ve changed?”

“Have you properly groveled yet? Because from what you’ve told me, it sounds like you’ve barely apologized, let alone made a real effort to atone for your past actions.”

I imagine Mariah here with me, her eyes filled with lust. In my mind, she forgives me, pulls me close, and whispers the words I’ve longed to hear. “I want you, Thorak. I need you.”

As I catch my breath, an overwhelming sense of purpose settles over me. I have to win Mariah over. No more games, no more hiding behind this fake engagement. It’s time to show her the depths of my feelings, the sincerity of my remorse.

Tomorrow, I’ll take the first steps towards earning Mariah’s trust and forgiveness.

“As a businessman, I see significant growth potential in this market. It’s an untapped opportunity, a chance to be at the forefront of something truly unique.”

Watching a smart man confidently in his element does something to my insides that should be illegal.

“The way Thorak has incorporated magical elements into the brewing process is really innovative,” I tell Kingsley, genuinely meaning it. “It’s the kind of thing that could really set Orc’s Anvil apart in the market.”

Thorak flashes me a grin, his tusks glinting in the warm light. “Exactly. We’re not just another brewery—we’re creating something unique, something that celebrates the best of both the magical and human worlds.”

And I can’t ignore the heat that pools in my belly every time his eyes meet mine, the way my heart races when he leans in close to emphasize a point. It’s maddening, this attraction to the guy who once made my life hell.

“Mariah, I...” His deep voice is low and earnest, tinged with an unfamiliar hesitancy. “I want to apologize. Properly. For how I treated you growing up.”

He forges ahead, refusing to break eye contact. “I’m not going to make excuses for my behavior. Nothing can justify the pain I caused you.” Thorak swallows hard, his hands trembling slightly at his sides.

“I was an asshole. A complete and utter asshole. I’m not that guy anymore, and for years, it’s eaten away at me, knowing the suffering I inflicted on you.”

Tears sting my eyes as I listen in stunned silence. I never expected this—never thought Thorak would dredge up our painful history, let alone acknowledge the hurt that still simmers beneath the surface. But the genuine remorse shining in his eyes, how his usual gruffnes...

“Thank you,” I manage to whisper, my voice soft and unsteady. “For the apolog...

Nestled on a bed of black velvet is a delicate silver chain with a familiar, intricately carved pendant. The pendant is a beautiful, iridescent stone that seems to glow with an inner light, catching the rays of the sun streaming through the window and scattering them in a dazzling display of color. It’s breathtaking, and for a moment, I’m speechless. I thought this was lost forever.

“I want you to have it, Mariah. To remember that no matter what, you always have a piece of us with you.”

I was walking down the hallway, the necklace glinting at my throat, when suddenly Thorak’s friend Zara appeared in front of me, a cruel sneer twisting her beautiful face.

Before I could react, she reached out and grabbed the necklace, yanking it roughly from my neck. I cried out in pain and shock, my hand flying to my throat as I tried to stop her. But she was too fast, dangling the necklace in front of my face with a vicious smirk.

“This is what you call jewelry?” she scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain. “It’s nothing but a cheap, tacky piece of human trash.”

I felt hot tears stinging my eyes as I watched helplessly, unable to stop her as she threw the necklace to the floor and ground it under her boot. The crunch of metal and stone was like a physical blow, and I felt like a ...

He traces a large finger over the intricate carvings on the stone, his gaze distant as if lost in memory. “I used every bit of skill I had, all the orcish craftsmanship I could muster, to restore it to its former beauty.”

“I did it for you, Mariah,” he says softly, earnestly. “To try to make things right, even if I didn’t know how to tell you back then. Fixing this necklace, it was my way of promising myself that one day, I would find a way to mend the hurt I caused you, too.”

Thorak kept my necklace. He painstakingly pieced it back together, pouring his heart into restoring this precious item. And he did it all for me.