Page 32 of Orc's Possession
“Of course I’m troubled. I’m lying half-naked against a fully naked orc.”
“That is troubling. You should be fully naked, too.”
I try not to laugh and fail.
“You think I am not serious?”
“I think you are very serious, Atox. About everything. Me, especially.”
“I told you to call me Grak.”
“You’ve called me female more times than I can count. That gives me the right to call you what I want for at least a few days.” Weeks, really, but I don’t plan to be here that long.
“I will not stand for you or anyone else disrespecting me.”
“We’ve had this conversation.”
“I did not force you, female. I would never force a female. I’ve never had to. All have been happy to please me.”
“Then go find one of them.”
“They are dead.”
That makes me sit up or try to. That iron cage he calls an arm keeps me locked in place. “What do you mean dead? Did you kill them?”
He falls silent, and my stomach turns, but not in fear. Disgust at myself. That comment was uncalled for. The man kept his promise not to claim me and here I am questioning if he murdered his past lovers.
“I’m sorry, Grak.” I use his title so he knows I do respect him. That doesn’t mean I’ll give him what he wants ultimately. Me. And kids.
“I shouldn’t have said that,” I apologize. “You said they were dead. I don’t understand how all of them could be dead.”
“What do you think I do to those who disrespect me, female?”
I don’t want to know. “Maybe we should go to sleep.”
“I’ve been with three females since coming of age. All three were killed in the war back on Orcos.”
“I had no idea your world was attacked, too. That’s why my family came to Kovos.”
I relax in his arms, even let myself sink back against his chestas it dawns on me that we are not that different in many ways. Maybe we can bridge the divide between us.
“The grud invaded and then the Coalition took over. The cendagi gave some families the opportunity to leave a world we no longer controlled. Where my people would become slaves or worse.”
“And you wish to return to Earth?”
“Don’t you want to go home?”
“Very much, but we cannot. When orcs fight, nothing and no one is left standing.”
“Did the invaders have better technology?”
“We were not invaded. There was a rift that formed two factions.”
“I’m sorry you lost.”
“We won, Paloma. That is why we are here.”
“If you won, why didn’t you stay on Orcos?”
