Page 120 of Orc's Possession
“Not yet. I can’t just walk away when she’s scared. All the women taken are terrified. I have to reassure them. Explain what’s happened,” I say to Ossa in Orcan.
“You speak their language,” Phoebe says, her eyes narrowing as if I’ve lied yet again.
“Their leader, his title is Grak, which is similar to king, bought me a language implant so I could communicate with his people. Phoebe, it’s a really long story. Can you please gather the other women and we’ll meet back here in two hours? Outside, in the fresh air. Let them see the orcs, ask questions, have a chance to understand what is happening.”
“How? The other orcs are as possessive as this brute,” she points to Kodex. “They say webelongto them, like we’re shoes. They’ll never let them leave.”
I translate for Ossa and we discuss logistics.
“I will take care of it, Graka,” Ossa says.
“Phoebe, go with Ossa, please. She’ll make sure the warriors let the women leave, but you’ll have to talk to the women, advise them to go with you so we can all talk.”
“I don’t trust you.” She folds her arms over her chest.
“Then what do you propose? The orcs won’t take you back. I might be able to convince them, but I’ll need time to do that, if that’s what everyone wants. Until then, we need to ensure some peace between the women and the orcs. If nothing more, to make it clear to the orcs they are not to touch any of you. Kicking, punching, and running will only increase their determination to dominate. They… like a challenge.”
Her eyes widen, then she nods. Just in time, too. I’m ready tocollapse. Ossa grips me and holds me up, calling Briza over to walk me to my quarters. I’m thankful for the help. Atox was right. I’m doing too much. But he didn’t tell me everything that had been happening with the women. We have a lot to discuss.
“You’ve takenthe females and gathered them in a room intended for younglings in training. My men are upset with you,” Atox says as he enters our chamber later that evening.
“No hello?”
“Unnecessary words. You’ve caused trouble in my absence.”
“No, you caused trouble by how you took those women. I’m trying to make this better for them, as much as is possible under the circumstances.”
“None was harmed.”
“Not physically, but they’re scared, Atox. More than I was even. I knew I was coming here, but I was still terrified. They were stolen from their homes and witnessed the mayhem I could only hear from my cell. I smelled smoke, heard screaming… I still don’t know all the details, but I’m telling you, it traumatized them. Add to that the fact that they don’t speak Orcan, know nothing about your culture, and expect to be used against their will. Just as I expected.”
His hand curves over my belly. “Do you regret my taking you, female?”
“You know I don’t. Not now. You are my future, Atox, but women are imagining the worst and will continue rebelling and acting out of fear. If you want them to accept being here, to take mates from among your people, then you need to see this from their perspective. Imagine if someone took Evve. What would she go through?”
“If someone stole my niece, I’d hunt them down, kill them, and bring her home.”
“Of course you would, but what would happen to her before you found her? Weeks. Months could pass. Like with me, Atox. Did you ever think what was happening to me when my father forced me to return to New Earth?”
“Vek, you’re all I thought about, female. The only solace I had was believing you returned to your people of your own will. Because you wanted to be there.”
I shake my head, too emotional to speak. He pulls me against his chest and holds me, reminding me I’m safe. And loved. Very loved.
“I was terrified, and that was among my own people.” I need him to understand what these women are going through. That’s hard for an orc warrior, even one abused by his father.
“Imagine if the vints took Evve. She wouldn’t speak the language, and she could be thrust into the quarters of a male or several males intending to breed her. Males who care nothing about what she wants or that she’s terrified. What if we have a girl, and that becomes her future?”
I see genuine worry his eyes. “Guide me in the way of humans, my graka. Tell me how to make them understand this is their home.”
“Treat them like they are equals to the other orcs here. Give them the same rights and opportunities. Assign jobs and the freedom to move about at will.”
“They’ll run.”
“Some, yes. Maybe all. Or maybe if we handle this right, we can prevent that.”
“Any who run could die.”
I remember the day the racanna dragged me under the water. That is but one of many deadly beasts on Kovos.
