Page 28 of Valpar

Words were exchanged, but I barely registered them.

He. Was. Touching. Touching what was mine.

After making sure my female was safe, her sweet and small voice confirming it, I pulled my arm back and landed my knuckles straight into my brother’s face.

With the rest of the tribe drunk, they found it fun, and it was the perfect escape for taking my miresa away from the party. I grabbed her by her waist and threw her over my shoulder. I tried to ignore the heat that ran up my arms and straight to my shaft.

I groaned, my shaft leaking and soaking my pants as I adjusted myself. This was why we wore basic cloth instead of pants. I’d be chafing until my skin was raw.

“Oh heckers! Sugha!” my miresa screamed, and I growled, flipping a table closest to me. Food fell to the floor, and thecrowd screamed, running away from me and the orcs brawling behind me.

My miresa will never speak my brother’s name, not after tonight. She will only scream mine.

“Wait, let me go!” My miresa shouted as I hoisted her up and threw her over my shoulder.

“I’m fine!” Sugha shouted. I snarled and held onto my miresa’s back-side.Mine.

I sucked in a breath and turned before I departed through the doors. I tilted my chin up, happy to claim my prize. “She’s mine!” I announced to the room.

The clashing orcs abruptly halted, their bellowing cheers echoing through the air, before the resounding thud of one striking another in the face reverberated amidst the chaos. I stormed away, grasping my miresa’s ass, carrying her away from the clamor, and seeking a moment of solitude to have her all to myself.

Finally, I had her and I would not let her out of my sight—ever!

Chapter Nine

Valpar

I kept one armwrapped around her legs, the other arm free to push away anyone I needed to. The guards were compliant as I stomped down the halls and found my way to the front entrance. I didn’t want anyone to think I was ashamed of claiming my mate. They needed to see that I had taken her from the ball, that I had claimed Calliope, and she was mine.

The front doors stood wide open, inviting in the soft glow of the radiant blue moon. The guards cast wary glances in mydirection, and their hands gripped the hilt of their swords, ready for any potential threat.

Behind me a hoard of creatures were stampeding in either their animal forms or flying out with their wings. The vampires strode quietly, their expensive leather footwear clicking down the hallway.

I hated those blood-sucking…

“Hey! I can walk!” My miresa poked my lower cheek and took a tentative grab. “It's both squishy and muscly, and I can’t decide which it is.”

I tried to hide the smile that settled on my face while I carried her. I needed the other creatures to stare at me with fear. I couldn’t break character while I carried my precious cargo.

The echoes of my tribe reverberated through the hallways, accompanied by the shattering of glass and the forceful slamming of food against the windows. Amidst the chaos, I’m sure Osirus didn’t attempt to halt the commotion. The mischievous fae likely found delight in the spectacle.

“Where are we going?” My miresa placed her hands on my lower back and pushed away from my body to look around. “Hi, Simon! You stay there, okay! I’ll come back and get you in a second! Melina might have a treat for you if you are good!”

Simon? Who the bassza is Simon?

I pulled my mate from my shoulder and carried her in my arms. Her hair fell into her face and she hastily pushed it away from her vision. “Hey, what’s all with this man-, er, orc-handling? You can’t be doing that, I might throw up!”

“Throw up?” I stopped in my tracks and stared down at her. “What does this mean?”

She huffed and crossed her arms. “I have a high-sugar diet. If you keep throwing me around, it might come out of my mouth and get your clothes all dirty. That wouldn’t be sexy at all, and then how else are you gonna continue to like me?”

I raised an eyebrow. “There is not much you could do to make me not like you. You are mine, Calliope.”

I could feel her frail drum beat faster in her chest as I held onto her. “Now, who is Simon?” I continued our walk to the courtyard that the tribe had taken over. Away from prying eyes, so I could grab my belongings and take her away from my own species.

“Simon’s my best friend. I’m his person. I help protect him and he probably protects me, too. He’s got this condition, and I’m there to help him as much as I can. We do everything together—”

As my miresa talked, I listened intently, but also made a list in my head. I must gather my tent, my belongings, grab Ulam and then we will make the trek back to the Monktona Wood tonight. We will sprint back to the cabin, and even if it is less than desirable for my miresa to be there, I will make it to her liking.

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