Page 39 of Loved By the Orc
Leviton shrugs. “He choked me until I passed out. I pretended to be dead while the others carried me out. That way no one would suspect me when you were kidnapped and Varguk came to your rescue. We figured you would be so grateful, you’d beg your father to allow you to mate Varguk. But the plan’s changed.” Levi reaches out and fingers a wisp of hair that’s escaped my braid. “You see, Varguk got stupid and thought he could rule instead of me. Decided the plan was all his. Good thing I have my full-blooded brother.”
My eyes fly to the male who’s been standing quiet this whole time. He grins, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
“Or you can choose me,” the look-alike snickers. “Though you probably don’t want a reminder of the face that looks like the one who betrayed you.” Very slowly, he skims his gaze down my body, which tells me that he doesn’t mind one whit. “By the way, my name is Auglesh. I’ll have you soon with your legs spread wide to welcome my thrust.”
“My father, my clans—both of them—will have your death.”
“Will they? We’re giving you a choice. Revenge on Varguk. Mate with me willingly.” He shrugs. “And you can go on your merry way. Back home to your father. Varguk will stay locked up.”
“What do you get out of it?”
“I’ll have accomplished my goal. I’ll have a mate and I’ll still be able to remain in my own clan after you leave.”
“You lie. Both of you. Varguk wouldn’t betray me.”
“He can and he did. The whole fight was designed to make him look like the hero, to get you to spread your legs. The entire world knows you’re frigid.”
The sound rips from my throat. I had been frigid and went the complete opposite with a Southpeak. An enemy.
“Does that hurt, wench? Knowing my brother was fucking the prize? Did he break your heart? I heard from your own clan you’re unapproachable. Did he manage to soften you up?” Leviton asks.
“Go to hell,” I snarl. “I don’t believe either of you.”
“Godsfire,” Auglesh grunts. “Did you fall in love with him? He was playing you for a fool.” Then he pounds Leviton on the back. “We should have thought of that. I just thought she was emotionless.”
“Aye, he’s not as dumb as he looks,” Leviton says. They both snicker, then he turns to me. “We’ll take you to our village and you’ll tell our father and the clan king you want to mate one of us. It’s your choice as to whom. Then we’ll bring you Varguk and you can have your revenge.”
“Don’t forget he played you, Bridge.” Auglesh’s voice is soft.
“You choose or the king will.” Leviton shrugs. “At least you’ll get to bargain for Varguk’s head our way. Still don’t believe us?”
I shake my head forcefully, but there is some doubt. How in the world is Levi alive unless he faked it and Varguk was in on it? How well do I really know Var?
I believed him. I trusted him. I…
Loved him.
“No one in either of my clans will believe that I am a willing mate for a stranger. You’ll cause a war.”
“Oh, you’ll convince them. You don’t want harm to come to your father and he’s alone right now, eh? Left early with Brachard, and all the rest of the Blackhearts went home. You know how we know? Our spy, Varguk. But guess what? Your father’s left Brachard too. We could intercept him and make it look like an accident way too easily.”
My father has already finished his visit to Mont Grove, then? They’ve been watching, enough to know he’s alone, which no one should have known unless they have a tail on him. Or, maybe Varguk was reporting to his clan.
Beyond everything else, my feelings, for Varguk, my own shame, my embarrassment… none of it matters. All that matters is my father’s safety.
“’Tis alright, little orcling,” Auglesh grins, and when he does, I realize he doesn’t look like Varguk at all. He’s a weak, flavorless imitation. “I trusted Varguk too. Blood is thicker than water, after all. Bear a brat and everything will be fine. You can go home, no harm, no foul.”
“Can’t get a female on your own, then?” I jeer.
“Sons of the line king? Of course, we can. But this will be a grand arrangement between our clans. I’ll just keep Varguk out of your hair because we all know how much my brother lies.”
Or mayhap he wants me to think so. In any case, I’ll see Varguk soon enough to find out.
“We’ll ride to our village, Lavisse, and the king will decide who gets the fair maiden among his three sons.” This time when he grins, I notice how his tusks don’t gleam as white. How his front tooth is crooked. How his nose is straighter than Varguk’s, and yet Var is more attractive with the added character to his face.
Despite the leftover effects of the chloroform, I’m trussed up and tossed on the back of a horse.
The ride to their village goes quickly, as if neither male wants to get caught out on the trails. But a sinking sensation fills me when I feel them relax… it’s the first sign we’re in Southpeak territory.
