Page 53 of Loved By the Orc
“Are you saying I’m not allowed to feed him?” she asks.
Brachard’s thick brows knit. “Nay, the male is well fed. For a prisoner.”
“Grumpy,” she says softly. “I love him.”
And while Brachard’s face softens, he’s a male in all-out king mode and refuses to appear weak before the leaders of the other clans. “Nay, my child. You cannot sway me, as sweet as you are, about punishing your guard. I will not consider giving you a boon to lessen his sentence. Just as I will not consider a lesser punishment for the other two orcswho kidnapped you. Each already claims that Varguk was in on the scheme.”
“But, Grumpy,” Negan continues. “We were all there in Creede. We know that the fight between Varguk and Leviton was real. No one can fake that viciousness, and everyone thought that Leviton was dead. Varguk was just a surprised as all of us to find his brother had been revived. I think it was the two brothers, Leviton and Auglesh, who masterminded my kidnapping. It was Varguk who saved me. Who rescued me deep in Southpeak territory.”
“It doesn’t matter, Negan,” Brachard says. “Varguk made a deal with Prince Bakog of the West Mountain Orcs. He agreed to keep you safe. He failed.”
“I am safe. There is not one scar on my body.” She raises her hands to the sky and then drops them, indicating her delectable body, which is whole and unblemished. The gorgeous female is dressed in the human style and looks more feminine and helpless than when she wears her Blackheart garb. In fact, she’s dressed similarly to Shalia and Hisa and probably does so to remind him of his own granddaughters. I would love to tear that dress from her body—
“Varguk of the Southpeaks,” Brachard booms, tearing me from my lustful thoughts. “You kneel before the mighty King Brachard of the West Mountain Orcs, a prisoner of mine. Do you realize that I hold your fate in my hands?”
Negan:
Silence reigns. Everyone holds their breath, waiting to see how Varguk responds. Not many males know that the tone of theirvoice will decide his fate. One wrong word and Brachard will drown him in the river. He’ll tie his feet and hands and throw him over the cliff. And thankfully, Varguk bites his tongue.
“Aye,” he says. “I am your prisoner.”
Brachard considers him carefully. The space is so quiet, we can hear a bird’s wings flap in the distance. Finally, he opens his mouth and bellows again. “You were trusted with my precious goddaughter. Do you admit that you failed in keeping her safe?”
And while I would argue again that I am safe, both Hisa and Shally squeeze my hands. They want me to be quiet for some odd reason.
“I am healthy,” I call out. Then wince, as heads turn and gazes flick to my bruised cheek.
“Do you claim to be untouched?” Brachard asks slyly. “In all ways?”
I freeze. This is what Mag warned me about. But I can’t lie to my godfather. Who, for all intents and purposes, is more like a grandfather. I know what he’s really asking and all at once I’m irritated. No one else in this village nor the Blackhearts has ever been asked if they’re a maiden. Why does the world know of my status?
“Nay. I’ve been touched,” I admit quietly. “But I chose it. I am a grown female. I am not a human who thinks I should save myself for a mating. A wedding.”
“Aye, you are not part human like my granddaughters, but still one of my own.” Brachard scowls. “However, you are unique in that you are the bridge between two clans. The alliance between the West Mountain and the Blackheart orcs. We all consider you special and keep you protected. Kept innocent by all. You had a gift to give to one male. And that gift was not bestowed upon the males of our own clans. That gift was stolen by a Southpeak.”
I want to snap that my father spent years fighting males who thought they’d obtain my “gift.” That no male, especially those in my clan, have any right to me. And how can anyone in his clan look at meas anything than other a little sister when I’ve been under their noses this entire time?
“But—”
My protest is cut off when Brachard raises his hand and stands abruptly. “No more, Negan.”
I open my mouth to protest again but my mouth clamps shut when Hisa and Shalia step forward and take my hands. They turn me away, bringing me out of Grumpy’s path as he heads toward the fire where the cage is placed. Tears fill my eyes as my two friends avoid my gaze. Why aren’t they helping me? I had their backs the entire time each of them had males they chased after. When Hisa wanted Tok, and Bakog didn’t approve because Tok was older than us despite being his best friend. And when Shalia wanted Bakog but he refused because of the vision he had as a child of his future mate being kidnapped. I commiserated with my sisters. We all cried together. We all bitched together. And we all declared West Mountain orcs fools. But now? Where is my sisterhood?
“Bring out the orc,” Brachard booms.
Ironically, it’s Bakog and Tok who drag him out of the cage and force him to his knees. Varguk’s eyes meet mine. They glitter with rage when he sees tears streaming down my face. I feel like I failed. How could I not convince my own godfather not to punish Varguk? How could I not convince him of our love? How could I not convince him that I chose to give the precious virginity that for some reason is considered some kind of weird gift. Truth is, I’m probably the only female who retained her virginity into adulthood.
“Now, once again, prisoner. Do you admit you failed in keeping her safe?”
Varguk doesn’t hesitate. “I failed,” he says.
“And were you the one who offered your Southpeak royal oath?My life for yours?”
“I made the promise. I don’t regret it. I would offer it again and I’m prepared to meet my consequences in the failing of that oath.”
There’s a snicker from somewhere in the Southpeak section. Someone is more than happy that Varguk will pay for his brothers’ kidnapping of me.
“Then it is I, King Brachard of the West Mountain Orcs, who hereby doles out your punishment. Varguk of the Southpeak clan, son of King Vronus, who shall dole his own punishment to your brothers.” He turns to the Southpeaks. “Because it does not escape our notice that while Varguk was foolish enough to swear his life away, it was your other sons who did the deed.”
