Page 19 of Orc's Forbidden Claim

I scooch close and lean onto her. The best and only support I can give her. It’s not much but it’s better than nothing. She rests her head on my shoulder. Our captors resume arguing amongst themselves. All but the three. Now that I’ve noticed those three, I do what I can to keep them at least in my peripheral vision. I don’t have a plan or any idea how to use the information, but a lifetime in the spotlight and as fuel for the rumor mill has taught me one thing beyond any doubt. Information is power. It’s all a matter of knowing when and how to use it.

“Earring,” I whisper without turning towards Wren.

“About?” she asks in a voice every bit as soft.

An Urr’ki turns and looks at us, eyes narrowing with suspicion. He takes a step towards us but one of the three, not knowing their names that’s my title for them, steps into his path and says something. Whatever he says distracts him and I almost shake with relief.

“Drop it,” I say.

“Oh,” she says, nodding.

She gets it. Wren is smart, honestly smarter, and tougher than me. I give the slightest nod of my head that I can. We’re doing all we can to help Khiara and Sek’su find us. I wish there was more but no matter how ‘equal’ women might be to men, neither of us is a physical match for our captors.

Our strength, right now, is in surviving. Stay alive and leave what clues we can in hopes that Khiara is not far behind. And he is bringing help. He and Sek’su alone will not be enough to take on all these Urr’ki.

No. Don’t think about that. He will come and he will win. As he says, Tajss provides. This will work out. Somehow.

They seem to resolve the argument which I assume is about which path to take. If it’s about something else, I have no idea what it would be. Hopefully, it’s not a debate about eating us. I don’t think the Urr’ki eat humans, but as soulless as most of this group looks in their dead eyes, I’m not ruling it out as a possibility.

We’re pulled to our feet, and they march us down the right tunnel. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Wren. She stumbles and falls to her knees. Before the guards can pull her back to her feet, I see the flash of silver as she drops the hoop.

Khiara, please be as good a tracker as I hope you are. We’re counting on you.

12

KHIARA

Iwill give Sek’su this. In the open tunnels, he is tireless. He’s kept up with the grueling pace I’ve set. I would go faster if I could, but I have to watch for any signs of traps. I assume they will have left some to slow down any pursuit. It’s what I would do.

“Wait,” I say, holding up my clenched fist.

Sek’su stops without argument. Another point in his favor. I kneel and run my hand across the floor. There is some dirt and loose gravel, but something caught my attention. I shift the dust and debris until a glint catches the light of the lantern Sek’su carries. I dig it out and hold it up. The memory comes unbidden.

“What is this?” I ask, kneeling before her.

There is a ring in her belly right where the cord would have been cut at her birth. It’s pretty, but even among my people who are well known for piercings and decorating our bodies, I have never seen one there.

“Hmm?” she asks, her hands running through my hair. “Oh. My belly ring? Your people don’t do that?”

I kiss all around the decoration, licking her soft skin. She giggles and wriggles under my gentle ministration.

“No,” I murmur. “Not there.”

“Do you like it?”

“I like everything about you,” I say.

She giggles, tugging my hair until I lean my head back. She leans down, claiming my lips and I give myself to her. Heart and soul.

Sek’su cuffs the back of my head, and I grunt then growl jumping to my feet.

“No time for dreaming,” he hisses.

I narrow my eyes, fighting the urge to punch him in the face. Idiot. He knows nothing. Getting control of my anger I raise the decoration, holding it between my thumb and index to show him.

“This is Saylor’s,” I say. “She left it for us. We are on the right track.”

He frowns, nods, then points the way ahead.

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