Page 87 of Orc's Possession
“I have a new sister,” Ossa says, her eyes running up and down me scrutinizing how Atox’s shirt hangs on me. I could fit another person in here with me.
“A new sister,” I repeat, and suddenly my thoughts return to Camila, Marta, and Renata. I miss them so much.
“You’re not pleased to have me as a sister?” Ossa says.
“What? Oh! I am pleased. I was thinking about my sisters. I wonder if I’ll ever see them again.”
She nods. “Atox will not keep you from them.”
“What if he doesn’t like them and wants to keep them away from me?”
“Are they as stubborn as you?” Ossa asks.
“Cami can be. Marta and Renata not so much.”
“Then he will like them.”
“Excuse me?”
“You do not see it, do you, Pawloma? The reason Atox chose you.”
“He didn’t choose me. I was given to him as part of the agreement.”
“He could have given you to any of his warriors in his place. Instead, he chose to keep you for himself.”
“I assumed that’s because he’s a leader who doesn’t ask anything of his men that he won’t do himself.”
“Nonsense. A grak will send a warrior to his death if necessary and have no remorse. Atox saw something in you he needed, even if he didn’t understand what that was.”
“My stubbornness? I think that aggravates him more than anything.”
“It challenges him to be better. To do better. And that is what Atox wants more than anything.”
“He wants to be better than his father.”
Ossa nods, then lifts her chin. “Come, I will introduce you to Keenja who has returned from Totha.”
“Totha?”
“One of our other mountains.”
“This isn’t the only one where orcs live?”
“You humans are adaptable but limited in your thinking. We are thousands in number, Pawloma, and spread out among many mountains. It is a matter of safety and strategy.
We walk as I consider this new information. New Earth is small in comparison to the orc nation. The more I understand the orcs’ situation, the less I believe I’ll be able to stop the future trade of human women.
For the first time since having sex with Atox, I rub my belly truly hoping I can conceive and give him a child. Our child would grow up cherished here. And Atox would be a wonderful father because he truly cares about everyone, including me. But I can’t let anyone else go through what I did. There has to be a better way.
ATOX IM GRAK
“How many?”I ask Verig as I meet him on the southern border of our territory.
“Four, maybe five. Urik and Nevix chased but lost them.
I snarl. “Which colony?”
“They looked human, but bigger than most we’ve seen. It’s possible the cendagi have brought more humans to Kovos. More males this time.”
