Page 58 of Orc's Pretend Mate

Vapas takes a step forward, his chains clinking ominously.

“If you ever use her like that again, I will rip out your throat.”

Virodah doesn’t flinch, though the guards behind him shift uneasily.

“Calm yourself. You’re both alive aren’t you? That’s more than many can say.”

“You owe us more than excuses, Virodah,” Vapas bristles.

“I owe you nothing,” Virodah snaps, his composure cracking for the first time. “You oweusfor taking you in. Risking our own lives to keep you from the Shaman. And now, I owe it to my people to ensure the Maulavi don’t tear this city apart looking for you. You’re too dangerous to stay here.”

The words hit like a blow. My stomach sinks, and I glance at Vapas, who looks equally stunned.

“You’re sending us away,” I say softly.

“Yes.” Virodah crosses his arms, his expression hardening. “There’s no other choice. The Maulavi will stop at nothing to find you. If you stay, it can only mean death for all of us.”

“And where do you think we can go? Wander the tunnels alone until one of the beasts makes a meal of us?” Vapas growls.

“To the Zmaj,” Virodah says.

“You want us to go to the Zmaj compound?” I ask, feeling numb.

Vapas and he stare at one another. The tension is somehow even higher than it was.

“The lizards?” Vapas growls.

“Yes,” Virodah says every bit as aggressive as Vapas.

“What? You think we’re going to just waltz into their compound and be welcomed with open arms? They hate us,” Vapas says.

“Perhaps not,” Virodah says, looking at me.

My stomach flips and a shiver races down my spine. Vapas shifts his glare from Virodah to me.

“Dragoste?” he asks.

Chills race over my arms. I shake my head, unsure what to say. I think, I don’t know, but it feels like Virodah knows I was sent here. It’s the way he looks at me, but it’s something more than that too.

“I…”

I what? I’ve had this great big secret that I haven’t told you. You see there wasn’t time and I was… was what? Figuring out how I feel about you?

Vapas looks from me to Virodah and back.

“What is this? What do you know?” he asks, focusing on Virodah.

“The humans,” Virodah says, “they wer?—”

“I was sent here!”

It bursts out of me. Partly I don’t want him to say it for me, partly I don’t know, but it’s an explosion. Vapas turns his head, frowning deeply.

“Sent?” Vapas asks and I nod, biting my lower lip. “To me?”

“No, not to you, not… exactly, no.”

“Phoebe, what do you mean? What is this?” Vapas asks.

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