Page 13 of Captured By the Orc

“Unless you’ve got a stash of fresh fruit hidden somewhere,” I retort, my attempt at nonchalance probably as convincing as a two-credit counterfeit.

Garoth’s lips twitch, almost a smile in this tin-can. “Maybe I do.”

“Sure, and maybe I’m the empress of the Andromeda sector.” I roll my eyes but can’t quite suppress a smile. The orc could probably charm a black hole into spitting out light.

“Would explain the attitude,” he says, and this time the smile breaks free, lighting up his face. And even his dual tusks pulling the sides of his mouth up even higher are oddly endearing.

“Careful, or I’ll demote you to scrubbing plasma conduits when we get to Kylor,” I warn, though the heat in my cheeks gives me away.

“Promises, promises,” he chuckles, and it’s a sound that shouldn’t belong on an orc. It’s warm, rich, and it does things to my insides that I can’t quite name.

“Keep it up and you’ll find out how serious I am.” I wink, enjoying this banter between us.

“Looking forward to it,” Garoth murmurs, and there’s a promise in his words that sends a shiver down my spine. Not of fear, but anticipation.

I break eye contact first, focusing on my meal as if it holds the secrets of the universe. Because if I keep looking at him, keep getting pulled into that smoldering gaze, I might just forget all the reasons we’re supposed to be on opposing sides.

“Finish your food,” he says. “We’ve got a long day ahead.”

“Every day’s long when you’re fighting a war.” I sigh, the words heavy on my tongue.

“That’s the universe we live in.”

And as we eat our tasteless breakfast, the silence isn’t just thick—it’s alive, pulsing with the unsaid, the unacknowledged. With a desire that’s as dark and deep as the space that surrounds us.

I steal glances at him. The harsh lines of his face, usually set in a scowl or a battle-hardened mask, are softened by the faintest hint of stubble. It’s a humanizing detail on the towering orc sitting across from me.

“Your beard,” I blurt out without thinking and immediately regret it. “It’s... different.”

Garoth raises an eyebrow, a small smirk playing on his lips. “Different good or different bad?”

“Good. It suits you.” My cheeks burn with the admission, feeling the traitorous heat even through my face must surely give away my inner turmoil.

“Didn’t think humans cared for such things—at least on an orc.”

“Maybe this human does.” I clear my throat, which suddenly feels as dry as the desert planets we navigate in our quests for diplomacy.

Garoth’s hand wraps around his mug, making the whole thing look like a child’s toy. The green skin stretches tight across his knuckles, revealing a network of veins that pulse with a power I can practically feel radiating across the table. It’s a primal reminder of the warrior beneath the gruff exterior.

“Our clan are not all barbarians like your histories claim.”

My gaze shifts to him, doubt clouding my features. “But the war, the raids...” How can I reconcile the orc in front of me with the orcish war machine I’ve been trained to fear? They’re just like the warlords who take what they want.

A wry smile plays on Garoth’s lips. “War is a hungry beast, always needs more,” he says, his tone laced with a hint of bitterness. “But there’s more to us than blades and bloodshed.”

He hesitates. “We have stories,” he says softer now, a contrast to the gruff bounty hunter I met just days ago. “Stories of courage are passed down through generations. Stories of loss, and the beauty that finds a way to bloom even in the harshest wastelands.”

This glimpse into his world, so different from the one I’ve always known, sparks a curiosity within me. Could there be truth to his words? Could there be peace not just between our planets, but between the warring parts within myself?

“And what of you, Lila?” Garoth asks, his dark eyes locking onto mine. “What drives the human diplomat to traverse the stars, seeking peace in a galaxy that knows only war?”

I hesitate, searching for the truth in myself. “Balance,” I confess, my heart guiding my words. “I believe there’s harmony to be found, even amidst chaos. But sometimes... I wonder if I’m just chasing starlight.”

“Starlight is worth the chase,” he says solemnly, and something shines behind those intense eyes. “Especially when it leads to understanding... and perhaps something more.”

“Something more?” I echo, my pulse quickening.

“Peace isn’t just treaties and handshakes,” Garoth explains, leaning forward slightly. “It’s about connections, bonds... between individuals, between cultures. Even between a human and an orc.”

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