The Goblin Bride (Beneath Sands Book 1) by Emma Hamm (good short books TXT) 📕

she would understand. That someday her quick actions would hold meaning.

He watched over her for the rest of the night, dark eyes following her movements. The other goblins were infatuated with her. Jane was very patient with them, not complaining when they tugged at her hair or hands. They were curious and Ruric thought she understood that.

Much had changed since she was kneeling before the queen. He shuddered to think what would have happened if she had been sent deep into those mines with the other humans.

The humans were worked hard. Miners at the core, they did their job well under the tutelage of the goblins. Ruric had trained them himself a few times, though he did not care for the work.

In his experience, the miners had been taught a certain way and they didn’t want to change. Goblins were viewed as nothing more than animals, dogs that they could spit and swear at. Many a miner had been killed for this behavior. They were volatile and frequently violent.

Ruric rarely looked at it as the same behavior he would have exhibited if he were captured. To the goblins, humans were little more than animals as well. Two species who did not have high opinions of each other were never going to make peace.

But this woman, this beacon of golden light, did not appear to see the goblins the way the miners did. She had in the beginning. Even he knew that when she started bathing in front of him it was not because she trusted him. She allowed him to dress her because she thought of him the same way someone would a pet.

Three weeks and she was starting to understand their ways. She was slowly adjusting to the differences between their peoples. There were moments when he saw frustration dance across her features. But she always seemed to pull it together at the very last moment.

As far as brides went, he was a very lucky goblin.

“Congratulations.”

He looked to his right, unease making him shift. Dumar was the only court member who continually left a bad taste in Ruric’s mouth.

“My thanks to you.” He inclined his head, a motion he hated to do for the other goblin. The man did not deserve the respect.

“She is a feisty one, is she not?” Dumar asked.

“She is learning our ways. The humans have different opinions.”

“Perhaps.” Dumar crossed his arms, the smile on his face making Ruric uncomfortable. “The council has a message for you.”

Ruric gritted his teeth. He could hardly ignore a message from the council, no matter how much of a favorite he was of the queen.

“Human gestation period is nine months. We shall give you twelve. If there is no child at that point, she will be given to another. If she still fails to produce a hybrid, she will go to the mines with the rest of them and we will deem this experiment a failure.”

“What?” He could not contain the snapped word, the anger in his voice evident even to those around them. A few goblins took a step away from them.

“Are you questioning the council?” Dumar asked, a gleam in his eye making Ruric realize that he needed to tread carefully. He could say no and risk punishment from the council. Or he could agree to it and do his best to ensure that there was some kind of possibility for children.

He knew Jane was not going to like this. If she found out, she would use this as fuel for her twisted view of his species. In that moment, he decided he would never tell her this. Not unless he was forced to do so. Her trust was too fragile.

So he inclined his head towards the other goblin, barely contained rage making him shake.

“As the council wishes.”

It was the most that he would ever bow to Dumar, and it was clear to him that the other goblin was enjoying the right to bask in that knowledge.

He could not ask her to leave the celebration. They were meant to stay until the last goblin left. This ceremony was a gift to them and a way to show Jane to the rest of the tribe. They should have enjoyed what was given to them and the work that the others had put into it. However now he knew the real agenda here.

He had been foolish to believe that his people could truly be pleased for him. The highest of their warriors, the commander of their military, and yet they were only interested in the hybrid. The well wishes were for themselves, for the hope for their species.

Perhaps it was selfish of him to want at least one of them to be happy for him.

Ruric had never been in the running to have a bride. He was too large and too aggressive to be considered a good match for any of their females. They were weak and fragile. It was why many of the goblins that were now being born were thin pale creatures.He was the odd goblin among the now smaller norm.

In that way, he and Jane were similar.

Suddenly the other goblins around him seemed different. They were not interested in either of them. They were interested in what this union meant. He and Jane were nothing more than the night’s entertainment.

When their hands lingered on her, he saw it now for what it was. Curiosity yes, but a morbid kind that was wondering what parts of her would remain and what wouldn’t.

Muscles tense, he moved towards her. Ruric was unusually attuned to where she was. Perhaps it was that she was so weak that he felt as though he needed to protect her more than the others. He refused to consider that he was growing fond of the stubborn and unusual human that had been thrust into his care.

“Jane.” His hand scooped underneath her elbow. The other goblins squawked complaints as his big body forced space between them and her.

“Ruric.” She replied, an eyebrow arching at him.

He had