Page 102 of Orc's Possession
“Only the loss of his respect?” I say, stopping and turning to him.
Sojek nods, his eyes pleading with me. I won’t put him in a bad position. Not again.
“We’ll wait here.”
He releases a breath.
Before I can ask Sojek how long Atox will be, my father and four men surround us. Sojek draws his knife, but I put my hand on his. He’s outnumbered and I don’t know what my father wants.
“I heard everything you and Camila said,” my father says, a hardened look on his face.
“You were spying on us?”
“It’s not spying when it’s my children. I should have brought Marta. Camila never gets anything right.”
“What do you mean?”
“She was supposed to lead you back to Owen to take you home.”
“This whole damn thing was a set up? Even the message from Cami drawing me here?”
“You’re coming home.”
“New Earth is no longer my home, thanks to you. You sold me to the orcs. Remember?”
“And now I’m taking you back.”
“I’m not going with you.”
“Yes, you are. Don’t cause trouble, Paloma.”
“Cause trouble? You’re joking, right?” My voice is raised, but I don’t care who hears what a bastard he is. “I never started this. You did. But as the saying goes, I’m finishing it. I’m staying with the orcs.”
“You don’t understand the situation.”
“I understand plenty. You’ll do anything to be on Council, including selling your own daughter. You’re a power hungry?—”
He slaps me. Hard. Behind me, I hear Sojek fighting the otherfour men, but I can’t see what’s happening. With a bruising grip, my father pulls me away.
“Let go! I’m not going with you!” When I try to kick him, he yanks my arm behind me and up, nearly dislocating my shoulder.
“Behave yourself. You’re coming with me. Those monsters broke the treaty.”
“You broke it. Not them. And I won’t be bounced back and forth like a ping-pong ball. I’m staying with them.”
“The orcs are lying to you,” he scoffs. “A vint told us everything. Lily’s alive. Held captive by an orc. First we get you, then her.”
“She’s no one’s captive. I’ve spoken to her myself. You sold me to the orcs and agreed to give them more women. Just count me and Lily as part of the group you planned to trade.”
When he says nothing, I realize Atox was right. There’s more going on here. And the vints are in the middle of it. “You’re using Lily being with an orc as an excuse to break the treaty. What did the vints offer you?”
“You’re talking nonsense. The orcs failed to keep the vints out. The vints broke through our wall, unchecked by the orcs.”
“You’re lying. The vints suddenly giving you information, you dismissing the orcs from protecting the border... It’s clear as day. You’re dealing with the vints. What did they offer you?”
“Security,” he finally confesses.
“Which the orcs were giving you.”
