Page 35 of Orc's Claim
“I found a female I wish to mate,” I say swiftly, forcing the issue at last. “A human female.”
Slowly, his lips peel back, exposing his tusks down to their roots. “You will mate the female I choose for you. No other.”
“This female wants me and I want her.”
“Want?” He roars in laughter. “We are warriors. We don’t get what we want, not until we provide what our people need. You will do nothing to risk my plans, or I will gut you, Ryko. Youandany female who tempts you from your path.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
RYKO
“How will mating a human female I’ve already chosen risk your plans, Grak?” I dare ask as we head toward the human sector. “Is this not the reason you negotiate with the humans? To attain females for—” The blade of his knife lands against my throat before I finish the question.
“You continue to speak as if I invited your council. Has Verig been killed, and you elevated to neld in his place? I do not recall any such occurrence that would justify this continued disrespect from you.”
“I only meant?—”
“Your place is to follow my orders, and if I cannot rely on you to do so, then you are of no use to me or our people.”
When I growl at the slight, my grak’s knife bites into my skin. The next outburst will drive that knife deeper, so I hold my tongue.
“You are one of my best warriors... when you focus.” He removes the knife. “But you are still young. That is the only reason I’ve tolerated your disobedience thus far.”
Dark eyes narrow. “I’m at the end of my patience with you, Ryko.” With a deep breath, he adds, “You will be the first male to mate one of the human females. I’ve already chosen one for you. She will suit your needs, settle you.”
This news is not new, as Verig has already told me my grak chose a female for me. I know nothing about her, nor do I care to. I will have Lily, no other, but I remain composed, silent, as I look for a way to convince my grak that I should be with Lily.
“You will mate the blue-eyed female and she will end this restlessness in you or I will kill you. The risha will be in three days. With all warriors present to witness.”
Vekk!
“I formally claim the female known as Lily,” I announce, risking my very life with my defiance.
My grak’s eyes narrow in fury. “You’ve mated her?”
“Not yet.”
“You think announcing a claim will stop my plan? Make me change my mind?”
“She is mine, grak,” I say, tempering my voice. “I will perform risha with no other. If you ask the humans to add her to the list, there will be no further issues. ”
The tip of his knife presses against the base of my throat. I’ve spoken too brazenly. He may slit my throat if he wishes, but I will not back down.
“The humans pick which females. I will demand nothing of them more than the numbers agreed to. And you, Ryko, will make no demands of me. You will do as you’re told or—” My grak’s focus suddenly shifts to a group of human males entering Pen’Kesh’s center.
The three males halt when they spot us, then quickly avert their eyes.
With the presence of the enemy, our heated discussion abruptly ends. Whether he chooses to kill me later or not is irrelevant. In this moment, I’m a warrior, duty-bound to my grak andpeople. I shove all personal needs, wants, and concerns aside to deal with those who are not of our people.
We spread out, but only by a few feet, our hands on our knives as we glare at the humans, waiting for them to pass.
“I cannot let you risk our people,” Atox growls at me, too low for the humans to hear.
I won’t give up my Lily.
“Vekk. Vints, now, too.” Atox nods toward a group of vints entering from the opposite direction. “This could be interesting,” he adds as the humans and vints stop a mere ten feet from one another.
The vints have been raiding the humans’ food stockpiles for months, as well as damaging their farming equipment. Vints are useless. They only exist to cause trouble, but their nature works to our advantage. The humans need us for protection. That is what my grak has offered them in exchange for females.
