Page 99 of Orc's Possession
“It is mydutyas grak to do what my people need. You, female, are not thinking like an orc. Or a graka.”
“Maybe because I’m not meant to be either.”
My belly turns with what I’m about to ask. “Do you regret being my mate?”
She leans into me, pressing her face to my chest. “No regrets, Atox. But I’m worried about what’s going to happen. Innocents will die if this ends in war.”
Silently, I thank the gods above that I haven’t lost my mate. Holding her solves nothing, but it tells me we are stronger together now. As she shakes in my arms, I want to do as she asks and leave the humans alone. Anything to please her. But I am grak. It’s not the orc way to back down when challenged or crossed. Allowing others to see us as weak endangers all my people, including my mate.
“I’ll speak with Cami. Maybe she can convince some of the women to leave willingly. Then you wouldn’t need to attack.”
She’s giving me another option. My mate listened to me,heardme and my worries. Pride sweeps through me. Despite the obstacles in our way, we are becoming one.
“What do you think of that?” she asks.
If she can convince females to come willingly, I will wait to secure them… and spare the colony. But I will punish the colony’s leaders. On this, there can be no compromise.
“Convince your sister,” I urge, to give her suggestion a chance. My female is soft-hearted in many ways, but I’ve come to accept this. Her caring nature will be an asset to my people, as long as I don’t allow it to cloud my judgment. She does not see the deceptions swirling around us, even as we speak.
“Convince me of what?” a female says from my left.
Instinctively, I guide Paloma behind as I reach for a knife. Then Paloma pushes past me and runs to the human. A female with long dark hair that reaches the middle of her back. Her dark eyes alone tell me this is Paloma’s sister, despite the female being shorter and having a smaller frame. This female would break beneath one of my warriors, but I will still welcome her into our settlement, if she agrees to leave with us.
Both females screech and jump in place. I expect the animals in the area to flee in a mass exodus at the high-pitched sounds.
“Cami, I’ve missed you so much,” Paloma says, tears streaking her face as she hugs her sister.
“Who’s the green ape? Your guard?” the other female asks.
“Watch your mouth, Camila Garcia.” Paloma breaks away from the embrace long enough to reach for me.
When I step away from her, I see hurt in her face. And relief in her sister’s. Paloma will not be able to convince her if I remain here.
I motion Sojek to approach. “You will guard your graka. Do not fail me, Sojek.” I shove one of my daggers into his hands, one that is longer than the utility knives he wears.
His eyes widen, but only for a second before he slams the flat of the blade against his chest. “Yes, my grak.”
“You’re leaving?” Paloma asks, worry on her face.
“I have business in another area of Pen’Kesh. I will return for you when I’m done.” I walk away, but not after glancing back at my female. Her mouth hangs open and her hand goes to her stomach. At this moment, she looks more human than orc. Frail, crushed by my slight, showing her emotions to those who would use them against her. But I know her heart, her spirit.
She will agree with my actions in time. Until then, she can visit with her sister, convince the fragile female to return with us. Either way, my mate will be safe among the humans while I negotiate with the bantarans. Sojek is an additional safeguard, an orc presence meant to intimidate any who would approach my female. He’s not as large or skilled as my warriors, but the humans don’t know his skills.
I will not be gone long negotiating with the bantarans for language implants. We need them for the females we will soon have. And we will have more, regardless of method. I do not wish to disappoint my mate, but if she cannot convince other humans to come to us willingly, then my warriors will go to their colony and take them. I will pay the bantarans extra to travel to our settlement to conduct the procedure there, where we can ensure the females do not escape.
“Grak,” Paloma calls out to me. I stop without turning.
“Speak.”
“I love you,” she says, her voice shaking.
Love is a human concept, one that betrays weakness. I will speak my heart to my female in our chambers, but not here in the open, among the humans and other species who visit Pen’Kesh.
“Do not leave the human quarter,” I say, acknowledging that I heard her. Even as I walk away and humans fill the space between us, I know that I’ve hurt my female, but I could not avoid it. I must not allow her emotions to change my course.
PALOMA
Camila shakes her head.“You’re married to that piece of work?”
