Page 28 of Orc's Claim
He moves to the center of the square, ignoring my rebuff. All these males think they own us. Owen, more than the others.
“Orcs in the market,” he announces. “For your safety, stay in the square where we can see you at all times.”
My heart thunders and sweat dances across my forehead, but not because of the hot morning sun. What if Ryko is one of the orcs?
I don’t want to see him. I can’t bear the embarrassment, not after the way he discarded me.Usedme.
It is the least I can do… as payment for your services.
For the last three weeks, I’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster, trying to understand what happened between us. Everything had felt real to me. At times, it still does.
At first, I convinced myself those words were not spoken inanger or hate, but to protect me, to cover for our actions in front of the other orc.
But then Ryko never returned to Pen’Kesh. Or if he did, he certainly never entered the square where I have my table. Or sought me out on the trails during any of my breaks.
In my heart, I still want him. Which is why I don’t want to believe his words were filled with truth and he never loved me.
“Watch your wares and your mouths.” Owen’s warning continues as he passes each of the dozen tables, wrapping his knuckles against rough wood to gain our attention. To make himself appear more important than he is.
“You have nothing to fear if you obey us.” He indicates the other seven guards here today. More than usual.
His words, grandiose and ripe with self-importance, reflect the status of relations between New Earth and the orcs of Kovos. We don’t even know what the name of their colony is. Or where it is. Because the orcs share nothing with us. They don’t trust us, and we don’t trust them.
But do I trust Ryko?
I don’t know.
I want you in my furs beneath Mount Racha, beneath me.
Yes, I do know the name of his colony. He told me!
I gaze at the entrance to our sector, hoping to glimpse a muscular green figure with wild hair and a charming smile hovering in the market’s center.
“The monsters are now moving in packs. No longer one at a time.” Owen’s voice dips low, intentionally trying to scare us. And from the terrified expressions on the faces of the other women, it’s working.
I turn my eyes away from Owen, wishing I could shut my ears from hearing him, too. Besides, I’m more interested in finding Ryko, if he’s here. I need to find out the truth, even if… even if he meant what he said.
“One of them is bad enough. While I doubt you’ll succeed,there is always a chance you can outrun a single monster. But when they’re moving in a pack like this?—”
“Pack?” The word catches my attention. “Is he talking about the vints now?” I ask Paloma. Her table got moved to the back of the square with mine, as far from the entrance as possible. The men decided to situate theprettywomen closer to the entrance to draw more customers in. Rather, the ones they consider pretty.
Pay attention,”Paloma scolds. “For once, he’s saying stuff we need to hear. Apparently, there was some dust-up between Council and the orc king.”
“And?”
“Owen said the orcs could attack any one of us. We’re not to leave our sector. And if any orcs enter, then call a guard over.”
“We cannot ban the orcs from our sector,” I reply. “That could cause issues with the other species here. Alliances shift all the time.”As do relationships, I add silently as I picture myself on my knees looking up at Ryko with his cock in my mouth. Could I have been so wrong about him?
“It’s a miracle relative peace has been maintained in Pen’Kesh this long,” Paloma says.
Politics. A dirty, ugly, breathing entity.
“Orcs, ladies. Remember what they’ll do to you if you’re caught outside our sector.”
Like a hot abrasive storm sweeping across the square, a shudder goes through every woman here, one by one.
My stomach rises and falls with Owen’s words. Or maybe it’s the thought—or hope—that I might see Ryko again.
