Page 19 of Claimed By the Orc

So, snarling and frustrated, I stepped back out onto the arena sands. A roar of approval greeted me, people chanting my name. I gave it no attention, turning instead to the owners’ box to look for my mate.

Sure enough, there she was, at Captain Vaher’s side. He lounged comfortably in his chair, utterly at ease with the world. But Abigail? I’d expected grief or anger if she knew the plan, hope if she did not. Instead, her eyes were full of determination, a hardness I’d not known she had in her.

A shame I would never get to appreciate it close up. Behind me, the second hatch opened, a platform rising slowly, bearing a Drall warrior into view. He was huge, muscular even by thatspecies’ standards, and even on all fours, he stood as tall as me. Korsar.

The Guild champion wore little more than a leather harness, showing off intricate Guild tattoos. No weapons, but his claws and teeth were weapon enough. He stepped off the platform, he moved with a grace I’d only seen on the most skilled of fighters.

The Guildfather was worried I’d beatthis?I snorted and shook my head.Could have saved himself the trouble of fixing the fight. I’m not sure how I’d go about winning if I tried.

The announcer was still listing victories, whether mine or my opponents I didn’t care. I turned back to offer what farewells I could from this distance, catching Abigail’s eye.

She shook her head, mouthing a single word clearly.Win.

I frowned, and she repeated herself emphatically. My frown deepened.Does she know the danger she’s in? What will happen to us all if I defeat that beast?

Every fiber of my being cried out to trust my mate. But, if she didn’t have all the facts, she couldn’t know the right course to take.

What if she had information I didn’t? Doubt paralyzed me, doubt and frustration. Abigail obviously shared that—even at this distance, I recognized her frustrated eye roll for what it was. As discretely as possible, she gestured to Captain Vaher.

No, past him, to a figure almost invisible in the shadows behind him. Jarchess! They’d brought her up as well. I suppose it made sense to let her watch the fight that would win her freedom, and in her place, I’d have done the same.

Except I’d plan on joining in the fight as soon as possible. My sister showed no signs of leaping into action.Good. It would suck to fight for her freedom, only for her to die in the brawl.But something still felt wrong. Jarchess didn’t seem happy at her impending freedom, or sad at my immanent demise. She lookedangry.

As though we were being cheated…

“The Guildfather sends his regards.” Korsar’s rumble pulled me out of my thoughts. Technically, it might qualify as a whisper, if one was generous or deaf. “Make it good and I promise, the end will be quick and painless. I don’t mind if you get a couple of good hits in first, make the thing look real.”

The consummate professional.I choked down the impulse to laugh. Here he was, talking as though I was a colleague, when he was planning on ending my life. He wouldn’t be rude about it, though.

It made my decision easier, at least. The Drall, no less than the Guildfather, saw lives as mere bargaining chips. My lips curled in what my enemy probably thought was a smile, and I nodded.

“No hard feelings,” I said. “If we’re going to do this, let’s do it as professionals.”

Korsar raised a forelimb, offering it to me. Taking his hand in mine, I shook it once, hard.

I will bathe in your rancid blood, Drall. And offer your still-beating heart to my mate.

18

ABIGAIL

The bell chimed, and the two warriors charged. I set down the glass I’d been fidgeting with and tried to keep my hands shaking from being visible. Clasping them behind my back felt odd and awkward.

Holding them in front of me seemed weirdly formal. And the maker-printed dress I wore had no pockets, of course.

And if you think I was avoiding thinking about the fight going on in the arena below me, then you’re damned right.

“Your orc is putting on a good show,” Vaher said, popping a sliver of something blue and crunchy into his mouth. “Pity, really. He’s got a lot of talent, a shame I won’t be making any money off him after this.”

One way or another, that’s true.I didn’t trust myself to say anything, so I made a noncommital noise and hoped that would do. It was a safe bet. Vaher didn’t talk to hear someone else’s voice.

All around the crowd let out a gasp of surprise, and I couldn’t help myself. I looked out in time to catch the slow motion hologram replay of Korsar charging, Gragash caught out by his surprising turn of speed, only to throw himself under the Drall. Lightning cracked in the dust cloud the Drall kicked up, and themonster stumbled and fell. Both rose as the dust settled, neither quite as graceful as they’d been before the clash.

I looked away from the next exchange, then peeked out to see Gragash pulling himself to his feet again. Korsar circled him, careful not to get too close. At least Gragash had frightened him. It wasn’t much, but I’d take what hope I found.

Korsar charged, then dropped and skidded across the sand, taking Gragash by surprise. He got a solid punch in, but the impact sent him flying against the arena wall, and while he pulled himself to his feet, Korsar bounced up and charged again. I saw what would happen as plain as anything.

The Drall would take a hit, but he’d crush Gragash between his weight and the unyielding wall. Slowed as he was, Gragash wouldn’t get out of the way in time.

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