Page 56 of Orc's Claim
“You can help me, Lily,” Owen says, running a hand down her back to her ass. “We can help each other. I’ll keep quiet about the orc. Once you’re with me, you’ll forget all about that animal.”
I swat his hand off her. “Get out of here, Owen.”
“Watch how you talk to me, Paloma. I can tell the Council about how you’ve been spending your time here with an orcanda pair of vints. Blowing them for money.”
My mouth drops open. I’m shocked he’d spread such blatant lies. Though I shouldn’t be surprised given how he just threatened Lily. The bastard is power hungry. He’ll say anything to get what he wants.
“Go ahead. Spread whatever lies you want. Lily and I will vouch for each other.”
“Except she hasn’t been here,” he says, quite certain of himself.
I place my hands on my hips. “I can lie as well as you. Better. Want to test me on it? We’ll see what Council thinks about you blackmailing Forsythe’s daughter into blowing you.”
“You wouldn’t,” he says, raising a hand.
He doesn’t get the chance to hit me as Lily pulls me away from him. “Why won’t anyone listen to me? Ryko needs help. There are six vints out there beating him up!”
“You mean those?” I ask as a group of four vints drag an orc into the center of the market. I’ve seen that orc before, always watching Lily from a distance. He’s outnumbered, bloodied and bruised, but damn, the male hasn’t given up. He takes every opening to punch one of the vints or reach for one of their knives. Those spiked tails bat him back, like a horse’s tail swatting flies.
“No, no, no!” Lily says when two vints finally restrain the orc and a third starts punching him, repeatedly.
I wince, hating the violence, and worse, hating that I’m starting to feel sorry for an orc.
When Lily tries to run toward the fight, I grab her. Owen was right. She’s more than a mere acquaintance of that orc.
“Let go! I’ve got to help Ryko!”
“He’s an orc. They’re indestructible.” I don’t believe what I’m saying, but if Lily intervenes, she’ll end up hurt or killed.
“Please, Paloma. He doesn’t deserve this,” Lily begs.
“He really means something to you,” I whisper, too low for Owen to hear.
“Yes,” she says, tears streaming down her face.
Regardless of how I feel about the monsters, I hate how everyone’s standing around watching as if this is a sporting event. All except Lily. She’s pleading with me, knowing full well she’s outed her secret, something she’ll pay dearly for when Owen tells our council.
The crowd gathering around the fight cheers when another vint strikes the orc’s chest with the spikes on his tail. I wince as blood streams down his chest.
Four to one. Fuck.
“Maybe we could create a diversion?” I can’t believe I’m going to help an orc. “If we distract the vints, then the orc will have a chance to escape.”
“I’ll do anything,” Lily says, calming quickly as she focuses on me, as if I’m the key to the orc’s survival. Damn, I hope not, because this is hardly my bailiwick. When I’m not selling goods in Pen’Kesh, I’m working in the fields of New Earth.
“He means a lot to you, doesn’t he?” I ask because I have to be sure before I risk both of us.
Lily’s beautiful tight curls bounce as she nods. I can tell she’s eager to look back at the fight, to check on the orc, but her eyes lock to mine. She’s desperate.
To save an orc.
Herorc.
I shudder at the mere thought of touching one of those green monsters. Their tusks that jut out from behind their lower lips unnerve me. I certainly can’t envision, let alone understand, sleeping with an orc.
But Lily… I don’t know, she’s always been a sweet woman who just never found her place in our colony.
“Get your ass in gear, Lily,” Owen calls over to her from where he’s standing atop a table, watching the fight. “I’m getting the cart and we’re going home.”
