Page 61 of Orc's Pretend Mate

The signal comes without warning and makes me jump. It’s a sudden burst of light and heat that paints the cavern walls in flickering orange hues. The explosion of noise and fire roars in the distance. The guards shout as they scramble toward the commotion with weapons drawn.

“Go!” the resistance Urr’ki hisses.

Vapas is already moving, slipping through the shadows with fluid grace. I dart out from the shelter and run after him. My heart is hammering as he weaves us through the chaos.

The cavern exit looms right ahead, a broad opening in the rock that should be a promise of freedom, but only if Vapas forgives me. We’re almost there. I’m right behind Vapas, running to keep up with all I have. My shorter legs forcing me to take two steps for every one he does.

He’s moving through the defensive barriers. Right as I pass the first one myself, a shout cuts through the noise, sharp and guttural. I don’t have to understand the words of it to know what it means. We’re caught. My breath catches as Vapas whirls, his eyes locking onto mine for the briefest moment.

“Run,” he growls as he spins and moves behind me.

I try, but my feet are frozen. The pounding of approaching boots echoes, closing the distance with terrifying speed. And then, without thinking, I grab his arm.

“No!” I scream, the word tearing past the lump in my throat. “Not without you.”

Vapas stares into my eyes, looking for something. I don’t know what he looks for or what he finds, but a heartbeat later, he grimaces and nods. We’re running. Side by side we sprint through the offset barriers that guard the tunnel exit. The shouts of pursuit grow louder and closer.

The cavern walls become narrower the further into the opening we go. For a fleeting moment, I think we might make it.

Until a shadow looms ahead, blocking our path.

38

PHOEBE

The shadow resolves into the figure of a towering Urr’ki. He’s huge. Even bigger than Vapas, his frame filling the passage. He wields a massive weapon that looks like a crude combination of blade and club, its jagged edges gleaming in the dim light.

Vapas doesn’t slow. Drawing his sword with a swift motion he raises it between them. The sharp edge catches the faint light as he charges.

The clash is immediate and violent. Metal crashing against metal as Vapas meets the Urr’ki’s attack. The tunnel reverberates with the force of their strikes, each blow sparking in the dimness.

The Urr’ki swings his blade in a wide arc. Vapas sidesteps, narrowly avoiding the strike, and counters with a quick slash that the Urr’ki blocks with a deafening clang. The strength of the Urr’ki’s block makes Vapas stagger back a step.

I press myself against the cavern wall, my breath caught somewhere between my throat and lungs. The fight is primal and brutal.

The Urr’ki laughs, his voice a guttural growl. He says something in their language. Vapas growls in response and swings again, but his opponent dodges.

The return swing comes in low, forcing Vapas to leap back to avoid being hit, but that brings the fight closer to me.

“Phoebe, stay back!” Vapas shouts, his tone harsh.

The Urr’ki’s gaze flicks to me. A smirk curls his lips as he says something. I don’t know the words he uses but it causes a cold chill to rush over my skin.

A surge of rage swallows my fear, burning away the paralysis that had gripped me. Sliding further down the wall, I scan the tunnel, frantically looking for something, anything, I can use.

I spot a jagged piece of rock with edges that look sharp and cruel.

Vapas lunges forward, his sword striking the Urr’ki’s shoulder. The blade cuts deep, but the Urr’ki roars and swings back. The blow lands, slicing Vapas across his side. Blood sprays, dark and vivid against the stone.

“No!” I scream, the sound ripping through the chaos.

I grab the rock, its rough surface biting into my palms, and dart forward before fear can stop me. The Urr’ki, focused on Vapas, doesn’t notice my approach.

“Phoebe, no!” Vapas shouts, but it’s too late.

I drive the rock into the back of the Urr’ki’s knee with every ounce of strength I have. He howls in pain, stumbling forward as his leg buckles beneath him.

Vapas acts. He surges forward and his sword flashes as he strikes. The blade cuts clean through, slicing across the Urr’ki’s throat in a single, decisive motion.

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