Page 85 of Orc's Possession
“You repeated my words.”
“They were good words. I meant every one of them. I love you, Atox.”
He blows out air. “Love is a human sentiment.”
“But you love me too, right?”
“It would change nothing if I did.”
“I notice you didn’t say you don’t.”
“Why are you smiling, female?” he asks with his usual gruffvoice, the one I’ve come to know has as many layers as the male himself.
“Because I’ve gotten to you. You care about me. Maybe you even love me.”
“I have to care about you. You are my female.”
Rolling my eyes would be wasted on him, so I deliver an exaggerated sigh. Which turns into a full body shiver as a gust of wind strikes us. Atox picks me up, in his arms this time and not slung over his shoulder, and he carries me toward the mountain.
“You need more meat on you, female. So you will not be cold.”
I laugh. “No one has ever, and I meanever, told me I need to gain weight. Unless you have an ice cream store around here, I don’t think that’s going to happen. There’s only so much meat a human can eat before getting sick of it. I need vegetables and fruit.”
“I do not know what ice cream is, but if they have it in Pen’Kesh, then I will trade for it.”
“Grak?” Verig calls as we reach the tunnel entrance. Atox swings around to see four warriors shoulder to shoulder, with Verig standing in front, as if he’s been elected spokesperson.
“You would keep me from taking my female to our chamber, Verig? After the risha?”
“No, Grak. But Brix has a request.”
The vibrations of Atox’s growl moves through me, raising the tiny hairs on my arms. A broad warrior with braided black hair steps forward and slaps a knife against his chest. “I volunteer, Grak.”
“For what?” Atox asks.
“I was wrong before. I thought the humans weak of body and mind. Your female has much strength, Grak. I volunteer to take the next human.”
“I will consider it,” Atox says as he turns and carries me into the tunnel.
Brix’s words both flatter and worry me as Atox navigates thedark passageways. “Was that the reason for this public display? To convince your warriors to mate human women?”
“No, the risha is as I said. A bonding ceremony for graks. You are bonded to me now, Paloma. Even if you leave me, I will come for you. You are mine.”
“And you are mine, Atox.”
He grunts at that, as if there isn’t anything more to say.
“Now that we officially belong to each other, will you tell me why you didn’t say yes to Brix’s request?”
“I must consider the female, too,” he says as he pushes the door to our chamber open and lays me down on the bed. “You did not want me. I suspect the next females the humans give us will not want to be here either.”
Once he drops his weapons harness on the table by the wall, he joins me on the bed. I quickly swipe at the tears pooling in my eyes, hoping he won’t notice. But Atox notices everything.
He grips my chin. “Happy or sad tears?”
“Tears of pride. I’m proud to call you my mate. My grak.”
His lower lip slides back, revealing most of his tusks. “Of course you are proud to call me your mate. No one can fuck as well as me.”
