Page 96 of Valpar

Before I opened my mouth to speak, she leaned her head on my chest and blurted, “Tell me more about your family.” I stopped in surprise and gazed down at the bundle in my arms. This was sudden, but by the bright smile she gave me, I knew I could not deny her.

I continued walking. “You already know Sugha. He is my brother, a half-brother, as your kind would say. Another male seeded him to my ogamie—mother.” I tried to remember the words from the book bestowed upon the orcs. “I also have another brother, Thorn. He is the eldest brother of the clan.”

My miresa’s lips parted. “You lost me.”

For the rest of our pleasant walk, I explained about the purpose of a clan. How the females were so few among the orcs and that females would choose their males through a ceremony similar to what my female had endured. Each male had their own cabin, each had their own time with their female. They were very much like a mated couple, as the Bergarians would say, but she had many males that took care of her. This was a clan—a family.

“Like a reverse harem,” my miresa whispered.

I did not know about this reverse harem she spoke of, but as I continued to speak about how my ogamie got sicker and sicker over the years after each orcling was born, her face grew somber.

“She was cared for. So very much,” I told my miresa as we came to the cave.

The mighty waves crashed forcefully onto the sandy shoreline, their frothy white crests reaching towards the heavens. Above, a symphony of bird cries echoed over the vast expanse of the sea, their calls blending with the gentle whistling of the wind. As I stood there, I could sense the approaching storm, carried by the salty breeze that brushed against my skin. A shiver traveled through my entire being, like the creaking of timbers on a weathered ship.

I made my little fairy stand as I took the boulders and locked us inside, leaving the smallest of gaps so her companion could slip away if we rutted again.

Which we would.

“That’s so sad, and I’m guessing there weren’t any girls born, either?”

I shook my head. “Never, at least to my knowledge. My seeded orgamo doesn’t even remember his father. As far as we know, my brothers and I may be the first generation.”

My miresa gaped in surprise.

“Or, they are just so old, they do not remember. We live for a long time. I do not believe the moss in our head can hold that much memory.” She laughed when I picked her up, her legs kicking when I brought her deeper into the cavern until we reached the opening of our living area.

The torches flickered alive, their warm glow guiding us towards home. The air carried a hint of fae, a cloyingly sweet fragrance that lingered. A fresh basket rested on the table, while delicate flower petals led a trail into the bathroom. I shook my head in disbelief and gently carried my precious miresa to her intended destination, for a soothing bath.

I know the king was trying to help our joining, but I did not like him to meddle in my affairs. I was perfectly cable taking care of my female. Once we got back to the Wood, I would show my little fairy how good of a male I could be.

“So, you have three dads. That’s so lucky. What are their names? What are they like?”

I set her down on the edge of the massive tub, which looked like it was carved right into the stone, and when I twisted the knobs, water came pouring out. I found glass bottles on the shelves. I took a tentative sniff of each one and poured them in the bath.

“Thorn’s father is Zarfu. He was the first chosen of my ogamie’s clan. I guess you could say he was the more level-headed one. Thorn takes after him. Sugha’s father is Eman, and he is— different—just like Sugha. They always joke, get into trouble and like to cook and make sweets far too much.” I rubbed my stomach. “They are very good sweets.”

My little fairy laughed and nodded. “I like Sugha. He was fun to talk to, and what about your dad?”

“His name is Azuk, the best of all the males my ogamie picked.” My miresa smiled as I dragged the blankets from around her body. I took my time unwrapping her, like a beautiful present just for me.

I continued to tell her how orcs were very possessive, how the males could not spend a lot of time with one another while they knew they were with the same female. They each cared for her, wanted her for themselves but they never fought in front of her, knowing it would upset her.

Eventually, all the males cared for one another over the years. It took time, but still they did not sleep under the same roof. They understand one another from a distance.

After I pulled the blankets away, I inspected my miresa’s body. She wouldn’t look at me and crossed her arms to hide. My gaze on her was not for lust, though I knew my body reacted as such, but I wanted to check the marks I’d left on her body, to make sure I had not hurt her.

A dark bruise marked her shoulder and neck where I sucked on her there. It was like a marking spot, but more pronounced, like most the creatures had on this side of the wall. They bite and rut, which was how they claimed. For orcs, it was much different.

I pushed my miresa’s legs apart while she sat on the edge of the tub, and she snapped them back together. I raised my eyebrow and shook my head, placing my hand on her knee. “Let me see if I have hurt you, my mate.”

Her cheeks turned a darker shade of pink, and she bit on her fingernail, slowly letting me part her legs.

“Mmm, good girl for listening so well.” She put her hands on my shoulders to keep her balance, and I decided to continue to speak about my orgamo to keep her nervousness away.

“My father was head-strong and was not the most pleasant to be around.”

“Oh, like you?” she quipped.

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