Page 17 of Orc's Forbidden Claim

I am too late. He falls through and lands on top of me. My head cracks on the floor causing stars to dance in my vision.

“Oooph,” Sek’su grunts.

We are tangled with one another, and I struggle to get him off of me. It feels as if he weighs as much as the entire mountain. His tail slaps the side of my head, his wings flutter against my face. I push at him as I try to wriggle to the side. And he moves with me.

“Gah,” I grunt. “Get. Off. Idiot.”

“Grrr,” he growls then his fist strikes the side of my leg hard enough to numb the muscle.

I am as sure it was a fist as I am sure it was intentional. Rage fills my head, and I let my fists fly. I pound at him in the darkness, unsure where or what I am hitting, but hitting as hard as I can. I am beyond done with him. He has slowed me down long enough, stupid lizard.

He grasps my legs and rolls. We go over one another several times. Each of us punching and landing blows at any opportunity. We roll far enough down the new, regular tunnel until there is some glowing lichen giving me back sight.

He clamps his calves on either side of my head. He slaps his tail down on my forehead and I grunt in pain, but I see my opportunity. I punch. It’s an awkward angle so I can’t bring my full strength to bear but my target is sensitive, even on a lizard.

My fist slams into his crotch. His howl is so high-pitched that it is in the same range that Saylor cries out when she is having an orgasm. He rolls off of me until he comes up against the tunnel wall where he curls into a ball, protecting his balls.

“You…” he wheezes.

I climb to my feet, glaring down at him.

“You deserved such,” I say.

He is rocking side-to-side in pain, but he opens his eyes and glares.

“Asshole,” he says.

I snort. That’s a human word but I am familiar with it. They use it as a curse. Some of the human curses and the way they use anatomy to make them colorful are amusing. I shake my head and smile.

“Yes,” I agree, nodding my head. “Don’t hit me with your blasted tail again.”

He growls, slowly straightens himself out, and rises to his feet. One hand protectively covers his crotch, and he keeps a safe distance between me and himself. We stare at each other. I am ready. He wants to finish this, I am all in.

Khiara, you need him.

I inhale sharply. That was Saylor’s voice every bit as clear as if she were here, at my side, whispering in my ear. I blink and then look at Sek’su again.

I know there are at least four and maybe more who took Saylor and Wrenlee. And Wren is Sek’su’s mate. What kind of male am I if I don’t respect that? No, I don’t think a Zmaj can love as deeply or truly as an Urr’ki. They are a second-come people, they are not of Tajss as we are, but love is love. If I do not respect that, then I am disrespecting love itself and that makes me less worthy of my dragoste. Besides, he will be helpful in the fight to come.

“We must move,” he says, limping forward.

I frown as I struggle with what I know I must do, but not wanting to. I grit my teeth, clench my fists, then straighten up and own it.

“I am sorry,” I say.

“What?” he asks, stopping and blinking in surprise.

“Do not make me repeat it,” I say, growling at the end.

Despite the pain I know he must be in, a mischievous grin forms on his face. He tilts his head to one side and cups a hand behind his ear.

“One of those blows hit my head. My ears are ringing, could you say that again?”

“Asshole,” I say, using the human curse.

He laughs then shakes his head, dropping his eyes and staring at the ground between us. I am not sure what he is doing. I watch closely, unsure if this will end in an attack or something else. He is breathing heavily, and his tail is twitching, making a leathery dragging sound on the stone of the floor.

“Good,” he says, looking up at last.

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