Page 22 of Loved By The Orc (Monster Orc Brides #4)

Varguk:

THE ENTIRE VILLAGE sits around the center of a platform when my cage is brought out, carried by two males with a pole between them like I’m an animal.

King Brachard stands in the middle. Off to the side is his personal guard. Next to him is Negan’s father, who is surrounded by his own Blackheart males.

And further down… my father and his protective guard along with our Clan-King Agor.

Quickly I scan the crowd to find Negan but I don’t see her anywhere.

The entire group is dead quiet until a booming voice rings out. “Varguk of the Southpeaks—King Vronas’s line, correct?” King Brachard asks.

I nod once.

“You were supposed to protect Negan. You swore your life for hers. Yet she went missing while under your care. Now your life belongs to me. What do you have to say?”

“I do not deny this.”

Negan’s voice rings out. “He’s my guard. He protected me and got me out from the Southpeak mating hut before I could be hurt.” She steps up toward the front, surrounded by her friends, Shalia and Hisa .

“’Tis no secret you are an innocent, Negan. Protected and revered by two powerful clans.” Her father scowls. “Are you still untouched and unmated?”

“Nay, Daddy.”

The village breaks out in rapid whispers, assuming it wasn’t willing, probably, considering she’s too good for a male like me.

“The Southpeaks owe us retribution!” Brachard bellows. “Our own fairest maiden, deflowered! King Vronas promised she would be returned untouched.”

Negan raises her brows. “King Vronas? He promised me to his sons. I escaped that night.”

“I was told they were in love.” My own father shrugs, thinking it’s no big deal. He has no idea how much weight Negan’s words carry. In our world, the king’s word is final and he is a selfish king.

“Yes. To Varguk. But you tried to mate me with your other two sons.”

He scowls. “’Tis our way. If something happens to Levi, Auglesh is still your mate.”

But then King Jacovi of the Blackhearts steps up to where Brachard and Oshin stand. The two Blackhearts standing side by side are vicious, their faces blackened with warpaint.

Brachard acknowledges him with a silent nod of his head.

“This is war,” Brachard says grimly. “You better hope Negan does carry a brat because it will be the last one of your line. You kidnapped and forcibly mated a member of the fierce Blackhearts—my own goddaughter—to the Southpeaks. In retribution, we will wipe out every member of your clan, not just King Vronas’s line.

Every man, woman, and child. The only hint left of your DNA will be through Negan’s offspring. ”

I can feel the shock that rolls through our people.

“Wait.” King Agor steps forward. “You have King Vronas’s son as payment. Surely his firstborn’s life is enough reparation for that which all his sons caused? ”

“We have Varguk imprisoned because he was her guard—who failed to protect her from being kidnapped. What of the actual kidnappers?” Oshin asks.

“You dare suggest my own sons—” My father is livid.

“We all know who was to blame if something happened. A son of the royal line. Bastard or not, they’ll find themselves at war for touching one of ours,” Brachard says. “And King Vronas, yours touched. My. Precious. Goddaughter.”

“You have my firstborn to punish—”

“Silence!” King Agor shouts at him.

“Yes.” Brachard’s voice is cold when it quiets. “I do. But I want more.”

“What is it you wish?” Agor asks Brachard.

“A fate worse than death,” Brachard says. “Your sons were competing to be leader of King Vronas’s group, aye? I wish that chance stripped from both.”

My father sucks in his breath.

“You know that means they must be maimed?” King Agor asks.

“Aye, I’m aware. You do it or I shall. I want all three punished.

Varguk—the one who gave his oath—will spend a lifetime of servitude to my clan.

The other two will be maimed, preventing them from ever competing for rule.

And none of King Vronas’s sons will ever take over his rule.

” He shrugs. “Which son has it worse? The lifetime sentence? Or the maiming? In any case, it’s three sons’ lives or the lives of your entire people. You pick.”

I have no doubt my father will pick the lives of his sons—though, to be fair, his legitimate sons having such a punishment will be a slap in the face for him.

Not that he cares that much, but without an heir, he is at a disadvantage to remain ruler of his line.

He can be challenged by any male for his throne.

In many ways, the clever West Mountain king is taking out a king without trying .

“Surely this is too harsh,” my father says in a more cajoling tone. “The maiden looks well. Untouched except for one, who will pay with his life. You may even take it, if you so desire. He knew what he was doing when he made the royal oath to her.”

“We all know who to blame when something happens. A son of the royal line. Bastard or not, they’ll find themselves at war for touching one of ours.” Oshin cracks his knuckles. “I say we wipe out all of them. It was a King’s son who dared touch her.”

“Well, now, we’re willing to have Varguk take the punishment—”

“Wait!” Jacovi says.

The entire Royal Guard turn their heads to look toward him.

“Should the Southpeak prisoner be Blackheart property?” he asks, tilting his head toward Brachard.

Brachard taps his temple. “I’m considering it. As I think about it, it was a deal Varguk of the Southpeaks made with West Mountain orcs. Varguk is a prisoner because he failed in his duty of keeping my goddaughter safe.”

Negan steps forward. “As your goddaughter, is it within my right to request a boon?”

“Aye, my child,” Brachard replies. “However, your boon should have nothing to do with the Southpeak. We do not play with our toys. You should know that since your own father was a prisoner here.”

“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 orcs who 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 their voice 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 me as anything than other a little sister when I’ve been under their noses this entire time?

“But—”