Page 5 of Loved By The Orc (Monster Orc Brides #4)

Varguk of the Southpeak Orcs:

THE brIDGE OF THE Blackheart and West Mountain orcs has the grown males wrapped around her finger. ‘Tis nearly impossible to believe, had I not seen it with my own eyes.

But the grandson of the West Mountains did owe me a boon. How it went awry so fast is beyond me.

My father expects me to mate the Blackheart’s daughter to create an alliance between our people.

I’m sure he wants the alliance as insurance, since the West Mountain orcs are so powerful.

But of course, with them, the marriage was not guaranteed.

Naturally. No male would ever promise the daughter of another clan away.

So technically, Bakog followed through by allowing me to be at the mating where I met Negan instead of misleading me to believe he’d give her to me as a mating contract.

That Levi thought to sneak in weeks earlier and gain his way in through the human female who sells in the market never occurred to me.

Just as I didn’t expect the bridge to be beautiful. To stand tall and strong and yet somehow still appear delicate and graceful. To handle her father with ease and unconditional love.

Unconditional . What would it be like to earn that love ?

The thoughts confuse me. This is a job, nothing more. A chance to prove to my king I could strengthen the clan. An alliance with the Blackhearts? Our status would be right up there with West Mountains.

But I should have known Levi was listening when I approached Bakog. Had overheard the whole conversation and thought to infiltrate my plans.

He disappeared nearly a week earlier. Now I know he was in Creede, schmoozing his way into the trust of the human female who is somehow related to the West Mountain clan.

The female that the maidens visit each summer.

Inserting himself into her life, angling for an invite to guard her house and home by seeking a weak spot.

Knowing the mate of Bakog was taken from there.

Everything fell into his lap. Until he threatened Negan and I saw red.

Mayhap the female didn’t understand the threat, but any Southpeak would.

My brother isn’t known for loving females.

He enjoys hurting them. When he said she would have preferred him?

He meant in bed because he thinks females want him because he is the king’s son.

The rightful heir. He gets countless bedmates, or did until the rumors of being hurt got out.

I’ll never let him hurt this wild, gorgeous orc. She deserves to be unbroken. To always speak her mind.

“Quit wiggling,” the female says.

“Ice is painful,” I grit.

“Stop being a wee brat.” She rolls her eyes and I have an urge to play it up more. Mayhap… to flirt with her.

After all, that’s what I should be doing. But knowing I should do it and wanting to are two very different things.

“Females in my clan would kiss it better. Not torture a male with even more pain.”

“You’re asking me to kiss a bloody, swollen lump of eyeball?” she asks, an elegant brow arching.

Her eyebrows are amazing. So delicate. Graceful .

“Would prefer if you kissed the injury of my lip instead,” I whisper.

And is that a delicate blush that hits her cheekbones? That darkens the light green tint of her skin? Aye, this female is stunning. Should be a queen.

She doesn’t respond, but takes the ice cube and gently rubs away the blood on my mouth.

Finally, she says, “You’re a bit numb, orc. You wouldn’t know what to do with a kiss right now anyway.”

I’m left in stupefied silence. She would consider it, then?

With… me?

She takes the napkin, wet now from the melting ice, and cleans the rest of my face.

But then I’m aware of the noises around us—of Bakog, whispering husky words as he kisses his mate. Of the other male, Tok, doing the same to the female in the peach gown.

And of the others making their way through the various tables. Her father, looking our way from across the yard with a scowl on his face.

“Thank you, m’kirn. I’ll get back to my position.” I slip away from her touch and assume my spot near the trees.

She’s safe with her family present. My services are needed when they leave. Besides which, they will not want me intruding on their mating feast.

“Varguk.”

I freeze halfway across the way, turning slightly to look over my shoulder.

“I invited you and your clan as guests,” Bakog says.

“‘Tis not your fault they started a challenge and were expelled from the village. Please come back to the table. Let us get to know you.” There isn’t anything friendly in his tone and I take it for what it is.

A test, a lesson that I am the only Southpeak facing two powerful clans.

That I have a duty to them .

Her father has returned to her side, glaring at me from his position, so I take a seat a few chairs down, which puts me in place to watch her.

It’s odd to watch the two of them interact.

To see his face soften when she speaks to him.

They’re closer than most. They tease each other and whisper together.

I can’t imagine having a relationship like that with King Vronas of the Southpeaks. I can’t imagine anyone having a bond with him.

I’m sure her father balks at the idea of leaving his precious daughter with a stranger. But on the other hand, he knows my status. There’s no way I could harm her now that everyone is aware who my father and line is. The repercussions would fall upon the entire clan.

Unlike Levi who was sidling into position without them knowing his identity.

“Don’t be silly,” Negan says to her father. “You will go. Not many people get a chance to visit Mont Grove.”

Naturally, I can’t hear their whispers… but I am able to read lips after a childhood fever left me without hearing for several moons.

When I regained it, I was sure to keep the practice of lip reading, often using melted wax in my ears to practice.

I didn’t ever want to be stranded again without sound, but if it were to happen, I’d want to be prepared.

“I don’t trust him.”

“You don’t trust anyone.”

“Aye, ‘tis true. But especially not a Southpeak. He killed his own brother.”

“His brother was about to kill him. He tried to castrate him.”

“My point exactly.”

“I trust Bakog. And Grandpa Brachard. Any Southpeak knows it’ll be a slaughter of their entire clan should they even think of harming a female. So, am I worried? Not at all.”

“But do you trust him to defend you from others?”

“Aye. I do. ”

Her father doesn’t speak for a moment. “I guess I do too. It doesn’t escape my notice that he fought harder when his brother taunted you.”

For one brief moment, I feel good inside. As if they recognize that maybe I am different than the others. A good person. Until I remember that it’s my job to bring an alliance between my people and the Blackhearts.

Only then can the West Mountain orcs be defeated.

That goodness inside me fizzles.

Concentrating on my food, I force myself to look down and stop eavesdropping. And by the time everyone has eaten, the dancing starts.

The three females, two of which are now mated, and the lovely Negan, stand in a line.

When the drum beats sound, they loop their arms and twirl about, their full skirts swishing to make elegant patterns.

They spin, going in opposite directions, their dresses hitting against each other like petals furling and unfurling.

It’s captivating until the music slows and the wenches catch their breath, cheeks warmed and eyes bright.

One by one, the other mated males step up to claim their brides until only Negan is left. Just when I think she’s about to leave the dance area to join her father, I step up.

And falter.

What am I doing? It was so automatic, my body jumped into action before my brain could catch up.

The female just raises her arms as if it is perfectly natural for me to claim her… for a dance.

“Thank you,” she says.

“My pleasure,” I murmur. I’m not foolish enough to give in to my desires and pull her close enough to pretend she’s mine. I keep a respectable space between us to show the relationship of guard to his charge, aware that her father and everyone else watches.

“Do you feel a bit better after eating?” she asks, peering at my swollen eye.

“Aye, I do,” I murmur, surprised that it’s true.

She smiles sweetly. “Had Mag slip a bit of valerian root into your food to ease the pain.”

I freeze for a brief second. They could just as easily have drugged me to my death.

“We would never do that,” Negan says, as if she knows what I think.

Another couple swings by us—one of the royal guards and his human mate. “Unless it is my sweet witch,” the male says, and they swing away.

Negan scowls after the couple. “Was once,” she calls out after them, then turns her attention back to me. “Don’t let Azorr make you worry. His mate is the niece of Rosemary, the woman I’ll stay with.”

“Then it was true. Poisoned four orc males once, didn’t she?” Southpeaks have told the tale so many times, I thought it was fabricated throughout the years.

“Only three. Azorr killed the last.” She says this matter-of-factly, as if killing one less male truly makes a difference.

I’ll make sure to watch my food from now on.

“I imagine you’ll have a lot to deal with when you return home,” Negan says.

“That I will.” My father won’t be happy that his favored son is dead, despite me being firstborn. After all, Leviton was firstborn from his queen.

The amazing female looks worried for a moment, then her face clears and she smiles. A beautiful, heart-melting smile that I’m sure has caught many males’ attention.

“You’ll have to just make the most of this moment, then, pretty boy.”

I blink at that endearment and her father bellows with laughter. “Sweet child, we need to get you glasses. That male wasn’t pretty before the fight.”

“Wasn’t he, though?” She smiles easily and slides a bit closer to me .

“Not a boy, m’kirn,” I mutter.

“I’ll give you that,” she whispers, her eyes drifting down my frame. “But I still insist on pretty.”

I fight the urge to puff out my chest but I don’t need to. With the gleam in her gaze, she likes what she sees.

Shalia, Bakog’s mate, leans over. “Get to know your guard, Negan. Easier for protection if you know each other’s fighting styles. In fact, you should probably spar. Get a feel for each other’s skills.”

Bakog doesn’t protest. Mayhap he thinks this is the introduction that fulfills the boon? But it does not.

All of that jumps right out of my head when Negan licks her lips.

“Will you go easy on me should we spar, orc?” she whispers.

My brain drops down to my cock. “Aye, wench.”

Her father guffaws. “You’re dumber than you look then, boy. My girl will take you down before you can blink. The point is to protect my daughter, so get a feel for how much she knows and she’ll study your skill level.”

Fuck, he’s right. I’m befuddled around her and from the sexy smile on her cheeks, she’s aware.

“I’ll keep you safe, m’kirn. My life for yours.” I’m not sure if she realizes the importance of the oath, but one day she will.

“Walk me home,” she says. “I’ll change clothes and we’ll spar while you’re tired and damaged. That way you won’t have too much of an edge.” She smiles impishly, and openly ogles my muscles.

“Your bags have been taken to Rosemary’s,” her father calls out, even as Negan stands.

My heart pounds like a wild beast in my chest and my mouth is suddenly dry. I’ll be alone with this female.

“I’ll show you the way to Rosemary’s house where I’ll be staying then,” she says .

She takes me through the streets of town, which is surprising. As an orc, I’d expect her to stick to the trees. But since Bakog’s mate was kidnapped from there, mayhap all the females are wary.

“I like that you stick to the roads and are safe.”

She harrumphs.

“What does that mean?” I ask.

“I’m not doing it for my safety, orc. I’m doing it for yours.”

I blink. “I don’t understand.”

She winks. “Clearly, you don’t understand what it would be like for a female to get you alone in the woods. Would you pick the woman or the bear, good sir?”

I gape for a moment, and then to my surprise, answer her silly question. “Are you the woman?”

“I am.”

“I’d pick you.”

She nods. “Good choice.”

I clear my throat, unsure of where this conversation is going. “Are you trying to get me in trouble with your father?”

“What? No.” She frowns. “I’m trying to lose my virginity.”

I quickly cover my surprise that she is untouched. “Aye, that’ll do it.” But surely, she jests. Orcs do not have the same prudish ways that humans do. Why would she be? “You’ve never had a male between your thighs?”

“Nay. The males of my clan aren’t worthy. And unfortunately, the males of the West Mountain clan paired up during the times I wasn’t there. Plus, the few around me felt like brothers. I fed from many of their mothers, you know.”

A ridiculous feeling surges through me. An urge to pound my chest. To be the first who licks her cunt would be an honor. A privilege.

“I will satisfy you like no other,” I assure her.

She smiles serenely. “I’m banking on that. ”

We finish the walk in silence. A cottage sits in a clearing of trees, off the beaten path. It’s cute, painted white with blue trim. There’s a wooden porch that wraps around the house.

Negan retrieves a key from the dirt of one of the many flower pots, and opens the door.

I wait, right in the doorway, as she heads toward a back bedroom to change.

Casually, I call out and ask her questions, making sure she’s okay.

Should she go silent, I’ll surge through the house like a force to be reckoned with.

But then it’s my turn for silence when she returns to the front in a familiar garb, a short leather skirt and halter top. Black with gold stitching.

A Blackheart has never looked so sexy.

Her legs are long and sweetly muscular. Her shoulders are square and elegant, she stands straight and tall and sure of herself, her breasts pushed together within the confines of the soft leather.

“You’re about to drool,” she says. “I like that.”

I snap my already aching jaws shut. This female makes a fool of me—and I find I’m proud of that. There’s something about her that’s beyond beauty alone. A quirk to her lips, a sparkle of intelligence in her gaze, the softness of her skin. Her quick wit and guileless demeanor.

I want her.

My voice is gravelly when I say, “Ready to get back to the party?” Before I lose my mind.

“Aye, pretty boy. But take it easy on me when we spar.”

I snort, unsure if it’s over her pretty comment or if she truly thinks I’ll beat her like I did my brother.