River

Oakrun hasn't changed a bit. The entire town was still a stinking pile of shit, and now, it had a large piece of shit running it.

I'd expected Khol to take me straight to the Breeding Den, but he passed right by it, and headed instead towards the large house that overlooked the town.

Of course he'd want to show off his new mansion.

He always said that one day he'd be the one running things, but non of had actually believed him. I mean, how could a man who owned the local Breeding Den become the governor of the town?

If I had to guess? He probably killed the last governor.

I feel the edge of the broken plate and suppress my grin, history will be repeating itself and Oakrun will need a new governor by the weeks end.

As we pull up to the house, I peak out of the back just in time to see the large iron gates close behind us and the guard that locks them. Great, so even once I kill the bastard I won't be able to leave the premises.

Hopefully Tuluk comes for me before then. Knowing my mate he's already on his way. Unless.. unless Raine doesn't tell them that we switched.

I hadn't considered that.

But no, she wouldn't do that to me. She wouldn't leave me here. Besides, as soon as she had the baby they'd know that she wasn't me. And judging by the false labor from a few days ago, it wouldn't be long until we both had our babies.

The wagon stops and the back is pulled open, revealing Khol's face, "home sweet home," he tells me with a grin.

"What do you mean home?" I ask as he pulls me from the wagon and nearly tosses me to the ground.

"You'll be staying with me until that little bastard is here," he spits out. "That way you're close in case your mate decides to do anything stupid." I can't help the laugh that escapes me, Tuluk would absolutely do something stupid. Khol tightens his grip on my arm, "what's funny?"

"Nothing," I tell him hastily, silent chastising myself for laughing. I was supposed to be Raine and she never laughed or talked back. Although maybe she did before she escaped. Khol had said she'd tried to kill him, and while I'd thought we'd told each other everything, she'd never mentioned that.

He grumbles but doesn't press it, not that I could technically tell him anything without giving away that he's stolen the wrong sister.

He pulls me up the steps and shoves open the large door, closing it behind us before he finally lets me go, "welcome home wife."

"Don't call me that," I bite out.

He grins sickly, "why not? You are technically my wife. You signed the paper, don't you remember? It was the same night I killed the old governor and we conceived our son on his desk." He leans in close, "I'd be glad to remind you if you've forgotten."

I step back, "no. You don't get to touch me ever again."

He straightens back up and pats his pocket, "these papers say that I can. Who would have thought that two tiny pieces of paper would stop an orc princess from killing me? Maybe they aren't beasts after all. Not that you'll ever see them again, so let's not talk any more of them."

You're the only one talking about them, I mused.

He pauses as if he can hear my thoughts, "did you sleep with the orc princess?"

"No." At least this was one truth I could tell him.

He shakes his head slowly, "what have I always told you about lying?"

"I'm not," I tell him as I step back. "I've never slept with the princess."

His eyes narrow dangerously, "don't lie to me girl."

"I'm not.. master," I tell him as weakly as I can. The use of that word made my stomach turn but it shocked him enough to make him stop questioning me.

"It's nice to hear you remembering your place," he says happily. "Maybe you won't need retraining after all." He shrugs, "then again maybe I'll do it just for fun. Either way, don't think that just because you're playing nice now, that it means I've forgotten or forgiven what you've done."

I keep silent, unsure of what he wants me to say. Not that I knew what he was talking about. Unless he meant when I- no Raine, stabbed him.

He steps closer as confusion dances on my face. "Don't tell me you've forgotten? It wasn't that long ago." He takes another step closer and another until he's right in front of me and he grins before leaning down and whispering in my ear, "you left me the night that I told you I loved you, River."