Page 40 of Orc's Claim
I nearly groan, thinking of how Ryko’s tusks makes all of me thrum. I bite my lip, reminding myself to be careful around Jessie.
“Maybe they think we’re the monsters. Or ugly compared to what they’re used to.”
“At least you agree they’re hideous.”
That’s not what I was saying, but I keep my mouth shut. Each time I speak, I risk blurting out that she doesn’t know what she’s talking about. I have to be smart here. If Council finds out about me and Ryko, they’ll auction me off like they plan to do with Tamara. One of these days, I’m going to slip up. I just know it.
“I bet if they smiled, they wouldn’t look so threatening.”
“Animals don’t smile.”
“Insulting them won’t help anyone,” I scold.
Jessie rolls her eyes. “Fine.Monstersdon’t smile.”
“Orcs. Not monsters.”
When we’re in private, the corners of Ryko’s mouth lift slowly, revealing the tops and middles of his tusks while his eyes soften. Orcsdefinitelysmile.
“Maybe the older orc is more like fifty and they’re father and son,” I ramble on, trying to deduce what’s going on over there. Ryko’s avoiding looking at me, I’m sure of it.
“Do you hear yourself?” Jen shakes her head as she searches for a larger needle in the sewing box. “You’re talking like they have families.”
“Of course, they do. Or do you need me to go over the birds and the bees with you?” I say, hoping to lighten the mood.
“Don’t make me gag. I’d slit my own throat before letting an orc touch me. Scratch that. I’d slithisthroat.” She shudders. “They belong in the pens over in the moxxel sector.”
I want to yell at her that the orcs are like everyone else, thatthey care about each other. But that will get me auctioned off along with Tamara. Maybe faster.
After a deep, calming breath, I say, “It wouldn’t hurt for us to get to know more about the other people on Kovos.”
“You’re right, to a certain extent. We need what the bantarans, vints, and moxxels sell here. But we don’t need a single thing from those dirty green monsters.” She rolls her eyes. “Excuse me.Orcs. I wish they’d all crawl back into their holes and stay there.”
“Cover for me if Owen shows up,” I push out in a flat voice, straining not to snap at her as I stand. I need a break from Jessie and her hatred. And I really need to see Ryko, to feel his arms around me, and to absorb his goodness.
“It’s too early for a break,” Jessie says.
“Tell that to my legs. I’m stiff from sitting too long.” I stretch, hoping to get Ryko’s attention. After smoothing out my skirt, I push back from the crate I use as a chair and head off toward the river.
After retying the laces of my boots, I look up and see Ryko and the other orc are gone. I hope he saw me get up and he’s heading to our spot.
My anxiety rockets as other thoughts toy with me. What if he’s leaving Pen’Kesh? What if another three weeks without knowing what is happening goes by? Or longer?
In a funk, I leave the market and head to the trail leading out of Pen’Kesh. I’ll have my answer soon enough.
When I reach the river’s edge, I plop down on the ground and remove my boots as I listen to the rushing water. Ryko’s not here, but I can’t bring myself to leave in the hope that he’ll show up before it’s time to return to the market. I love this spot. It’s beautiful, peaceful, like all of Kovos. The uninhabited areas, that is.
The water sparkles with a cleanliness I never saw back in Los Angeles. Sure, it’s not every day a person sees a two-headed bird standing on a rock on the river bank, but as long as I ignore theoddities in the flora and fauna here, I can imagine I’m still on Earth.
“There’s my lush female,” a male says behind me.
“Ryko!” I jump up, shrieking as I run to him.
He opens his arms as I launch myself against his broad chest. Massive arms close around me, cocooning me in safety and love.
I like to think of it as love, though he’s never said he loves me.
“I thought you’d left, that you were still mad at me.”
