Page 25 of Fated to the Orc

“Dr. Carter?”

I nearly jump out of my chair. My heart pounds in my chest as my head snaps up.

Dr. Kelly stands in the doorway of the lab, watching me. A small, smug smile curves his thin lips.

I swallow hard, trying to look neutral.

“How are we doing?” He asks casually, stepping inside.

“Fine.”

He studies me. “You seem tired. Are you sleeping well?”

I stiffen. I haven’t slept in days. Every time I close my eyes, I see him. Varkul.

His face twisted in pain. His roar cut short by bullets tearing into him.

They shot him like a wild animal, right in front of me. For a moment, I thought I had lost him.

But orcs are resilient.

He survived. Barely. He’s in the med-bay now, guarded around the clock, slowly recovering. I know because I’ve been checking on him. Sneaking in when I can, watching his chest rise and fall, making sure he’s still breathing.

I force a tight smile. “I’m fine, really.”

His sharp eyes flicker. “Any news to report? Any progress being made in the exciting field of orc-human fertility?”

“No.”

His smile fades. “No? Nothing at all?”

“Nope. I’m afraid not.”

“Are you sure, Dr. Carter?”

I hold his gaze. “Yep.”

For a long moment, we just stare at each other. Then, Dr. Kelly sighs and clasps his hands behind his back.

“That’s disappointing.”

Good.

“Well,” he continues. “I’m afraid we’ll have to accelerate our research, then.”

My stomach knots.

“Accelerate?”

I don’t think I like the sound of that.

Dr. Kelly nods. “We don’t have time to waste. I’m getting impatient. I want results. And if we can’t get them the scientific way…” His voice trails off, his meaning crystal clear.

Ice trickles down my spine.

He’s talking aboutforced breeding. About giving me to the orc and letting him have his way with me, whether I like it or not.

And if not me, then some other poor girl. That thought makes me sick to my stomach.

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