Page 21 of The Grinch Who Stole Orcmas

As we make our way through the crowd, I can’t help but notice the stark contrast between the opulent ballroom and the world outside. Between Labyrinth playing—God knows how much this international sensation charges to play for a private party—and the bowls heaping with caviar and Wagyu beef sliders, this shindig must have cost several hundred dollars a person. It’s a far cry from the Integration Zone, where many struggle to put food on the table.

Grum must sense my sudden discomfort because he leans close, his breath warm against my ear. “You okay?”

I nod, forcing a smile. “Just… taking it all in. It’s a lot, you know?”

His amber eyes scan the room, a hint of understanding in their depths. “Yeah, I know. Makes you wonder how much good all this money could do if it was used differently.”

His words surprise me, and I find myself looking at him with new appreciation. There’s more to this gruff orc than meets the eye.

“Come on,” I say, tugging gently on his arm. “Let’s see if we can overhear anything useful.”

As we mingle, pretending to be just another couple enjoying the festivities, I notice how Grum’s presence affects those around us.Some guests eye him warily, while others seem fascinated. A few even approach us, curious about the imposing orc in a tuxedo, his ivory tusks gleaming even in the low light.

To my surprise, Grum handles the attention with unexpected grace. He’s polite, if a bit gruff, and I find myself impressed by his ability to navigate this unfamiliar social terrain.

“You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?” I murmur as we step away from a particularly chatty couple.

“Mmm.” He’s not paying attention, focused as he is on our target. “Sykes is there, on the move,” Grum’s tone is deep, serious.

My eyes narrow as I spot Sykes. As much as I want to be the one in the thick of things, Sykes is much closer to Thornn and Sarah.

When I use the walkie-talkies to inform everyone of Sykes’s location, Thornn’s deep voice grits out, “We’re already on it.”

“Should we follow?” I ask.

“I think having several huge orcs move in on him might spook him.” We have a brief confab with Kam and Emma and decide to meet up tomorrow to see what intel Thornn and Sarah gather.

“I guess that’s our cue to go?” My heart is thumping for a different reason than finding Sykes. Is it possible tonight might end with something more intimate than a gruff verbal exchange with the Grinch?

Chapter 12: Elevator Going Down

Grum

The champagne buzzes pleasantly in my system as Joy and I make our way to the elevator. Despite our best intentions, our efforts gathered no new info tonight. Now that the Frost King’s Gala is winding down, Sarah and Thornn will either find something out or we’re at another dead end. Either way, it’s time for us to go. I surprise myself as I realize I’m not ready for the night to end.

“Well, that was… not terrible,” I admit, pressing the down button.

Joy grins up at me, her eyes sparkling. “High praise indeed, coming from you. Admit it, you had fun.”

I grunt noncommittally but can’t quite hide my smirk. The elevator arrives with a soft ding, and we step inside.

As the doors close, I catch a whiff of Joy’s perfume—vanilla and something flowery. It’s so sexy. I lean in, although I’m not sure if it’s to get another sniff or to have an excuse to be closer to her. Since our dance, I’ve had trouble keeping my hands off her. We fit together perfectly as we danced, which makes me wonder how we would move together in bed.

Suddenly, the elevator lurches to a stop. The lights flicker once, twice, and then we’re plunged into darkness.

“Oh, no!” Joy’s voice is tight with alarm.

“It’s alright,” I say. “Orcs can see pretty well in the dark.” I can see her clearly, her expression is panicked. “It’s probably a power outage. Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.” Shit! This is what women hate, right? Orc females even more than human women. The whole Cro-Magnon, I’ll-take-care-of-you crap that went out of fashion decades ago.

Joy fumbles in her purse, pulling out her phone. The screen illuminates her face, casting eerie shadows. “No signal,” she mutters with a frown.

I reach for the emergency phone, but it’s dead. “The elevator phone’s out too. Must be a widespread blackout.”

Joy tries dialing 911 on her cell, but gets a circuit busy signal. “Even emergency services are swamped. This must be big, perhaps city-wide.” She turns the screen off. “I’m on low battery.As much as I’d like to keep the flashlight on, I’ll conserve power in case I can get through to 911 later.”

I sigh, shrugging off my tux jacket, then loosening this irritating tie. “Might as well get comfortable. We could be here a while.” I spread the jacket on the floor. “Here, sit. That dress looks too fancy to get filthy on this floor.”

Joy hesitates, then gingerly lowers herself onto the makeshift seat. “Such a gentleman,” she teases. “I didn’t know you had it in you.”

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