Page 59 of Orc's Pretend Mate

There is yet another explosion outside. Dust comes down in a curtain between Vapas and I, briefly shielding me from the hurt in his eyes.

“There is no time,” Virodah interrupts. “We need to get you two out of the city before they can gather their forces.”

“No,” Vapas says. “I do not understand.”

Virodah grabs him by his shoulders, turning him so they’re eye to eye.

“Listen to me,” he says, his voice deep and growly. “You must go to the Zmaj. Some of our people are there already. The humans, your female among them, are working to bury the hatreds. If we do not stand up to the Shaman now, it will never happen.”

“But—”

“No!” Virodah cuts him off. “No. Vapas take your dragoste and go. You’re in the resistance now, like it or not. This is your mission. Get the Zmaj agreement to help us overthrow the Shaman.”

“How? How am I supposed to do that? They’ll kill me,” he says, shaking his head.

“No,” I say, stepping to his side. “They won’t if you’re with me.”

He gives me a look as if he doesn’t really know who I am, not any longer, and that hurts so much. I reach up to touch his face but he pulls away. I drop my hand, heart aching, tears swelling in my eyes.

Vapas growls and breaks free of Virodah’s grip, turning his back on me. The cold pain that closes over my chest is unlike anything I’ve ever felt. As much as it hurt when Todd abused me, that was nothing compared to this chill of being shut out by Vapas.

“Fine,” Vapas rumbles. “I’m in.”

He holds up his hands. The chains clink and clank as he moves. One of the Urr’ki unlocks the bindings and they clatter to the floor. The sound of their clinking contrasts with him being free. Is he free of me now too?

“Good,” Virodah says to Vapas’ back, looking from him to me.

I can’t meet Virodah’s gaze. The pain I’m feeling is too much to look at anyone. The weight on my chest makes it hard to breathe.

“Supplies?” Vapas asks looking around at the Urr’ki.

His eyes pass over, pausing for only a moment, and my heart lurches hoping he’s going to come to me. Say something. Anything. He doesn’t. Some of the Urr’ki hand him bags that he slings over his shoulder. One of them gives him a sword that he slips into his belt then he turns to Virodah.

“Tell them we are ready,” Virodah says. “But we cannot do it alone.”

“Ready?” Vapas asks, arching an eyebrow.

“We need them if we are going to overthrow the Shaman,” Virodah says.

“And you think the lizards are going to help?” Vapas asks.

“I do,” Virodah says. “We do. We know it.”

Vapas glances at me then back to Virodah.

“Seems there is a lot more going on then I knew,” he says, grunting at the end and shaking his head. “Let’s go before I change my mind.”

Virodah motions to one of the other Urr’ki. He steps forward and unslings two packs from over his shoulder and hands them to Vapas. Vapas slips the straps over his head to rest on opposite shoulders.

The Urr’ki nods and heads up the stairs. Vapas silently follows but his shoulders are hunched and his head down. I start after him but Virodah stops me with a hand on my arm.

“Give him time,” he whispers. “He will understand.”

I have to blink away the tears. I can’t speak around the lump in my throat so I nod and then head up the stairs.

36

VAPAS

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