Page 13 of The Orc's Wife

Holding the man by the hair and dragging him behind him, Urgan turned back. His knees almost gave from the relief when he saw Una sitting on the street, pressing her hand to her face while Mina was fussing around her.

The street was filling with onlookers now. Carts were stopping in the middle of the street. One orc horse, abandoned by his rider who was gaping at the bodies, was drinking blood that had formed a puddle at the side of the street.

And then, a thunder of footsteps. Ten orc recruits from the nearby barracks had arrived, led by Durug, an officer who had Urgan’s trust.

“General,” he saluted. “I heard a commotion.”

Urgan thrust his prisoner at one of Durug’s men.

“I want him locked up. In the barracks, not in the city prison. I’ll come later today and question him myself.”

Durug saluted again. He ordered half of his men to dispose of the bodies, while the other half escorted the prisoner to the barracks. Durug followed them, giving Urgan one last nod.

The prisoner taken care of, Urgan could finally go to his mate. Walking to her now, he couldn’t decide what he wanted to do more: shout at her for disobeying him or hold her close, drinking in the relief that she was alive and whole.

When her tearful eyes turned up at him, her mouth quivering, he decided he could do both. But not here, with everyone staring. There was now a crowd of orcs around the scene, many of them from the palace. The court had finally woken, so late in the afternoon.

Urzulah was in that crowd. She was staring at him with a pleased smirk, and Urgan narrowed his eyes. Could she be the one responsible for the attack? It seemed much too subtle, too clever for Urzulah to employ resentful humans to do her dirty job for her. But he couldn’t dismiss this possibility.

Urgan was now very glad he had spared the last prisoner and left him in Durug’s care. If the man had answers, he would hear them.

“I’m sorry,” Una said when he looked back at her.

“Can you stand?” he asked, and she nodded, getting to her feet. He helped her up and bent his head low, looking into her eyes intently.

“I will claim you now, with the crowd watching. I thought it could wait, but now I know it must be done immediately. Trust me.”

Her eyes grew wide with fear, and for one wretched moment, he hesitated. Was he a monster to demand this of her only minutes after she had been attacked?

Urgan clenched his jaw. It had to be done. The sooner, the better.

“People of Dogar Val!” he shouted raising his head high, both his hands on Una’s shoulders, holding her in place. “I, Urgan the Bloodthirsty, have taken a mate! This is my female.”

He pushed Una in front of him, showing her off. Her cheek was red and swollen, her dress dusty, but she rose to the occasion. Urgan watched with vicious pride as she raised her head high, her long neck stretching, pale and smooth in the afternoon sunlight.

The crowd cheered. Everyone in the city loved a great performance, the bored, lazy courtiers most of all. Urzulah was no longer smiling.

“And this is my mark!”

Urgan gripped the neckline over Una’s left breast and tore it down with one powerful movement, baring her breast. Una gasped, swaying slightly, her neck instantly covered with a blush of shame. And yet, she didn’t look down. Urgan gripped her shoulder reassuringly, and she stopped moving. She stood now completely motionless, looking at the crowd, seemingly shameless.

“Every male who touches her will fall from my axe. Every female who challenges her will be challenging me. And everyone who disrespects my mate will meet with my wrath.”

There were scattered murmurs, and then the crowd exploded in another deafening cheer. Urgan scooped Una into his arms, taking care to put her naked side to his chest, hiding her breast from view.

“Everyone gets a drink in the Horseless Rider!” Urgan shouted over the crowd, nodding once to the man running the inn, who was standing in the crowd. He hurried off at once to prepare for the onslaught of guests. “Drink and be merry. I have my reward right here!”

Orcs shouted lewd words of encouragement. Some males were openly leering, while females cackled, but the crowd was already dispersing, hurrying to get their free drinks. Urzulah was nowhere to be seen.

Urgan was striding to the palace now, only Mina following him quietly. Everyone else was already outside the Rider, clamoring for their drinks.

“This was necessary,” Urgan said quietly, his claws tightening on Una.

“I can see why,” she said, looking up at his face. She was still flushed, and her body was trembling. She had been through a lot all at once, and all that excitement and fear was still coursing through her veins. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen, I…”

“Hush. We’ll speak about this when we’re alone.”

There was steel in his voice, cold anger that couldn’t be quelled with a mere apology. She flinched in his arms but nodded, even though that open, vulnerable expression was gone from her face. Her eyes were shuttered, her mouth pursed.

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