Page 13 of Orc’s Promise (Knotty Monsters #3)

CHAPTER ELEVEN

VERIG

A heavy fist pounds on my door, waking me instantly. Tansey stirs slightly, but remains beneath my arm, under the furs.

“Announcement,” Kodex says outside my door.

“Tak,” I acknowledge. “Come, female, we’ve been summoned.” As reluctant as I am to release the soft female in my arms, I rise from the bed.

“Ves,” I command the lights. All three light discs turn on at the same time, making the room as bright as day.

Bantaran technology remains a mystery to us, but we are not fools who ignore the advantages.

We trade game as needed with them. It is the reason we tolerate the bantarans’ presence on Kovos, why we tolerate all four other species here.

They each have something of value that the others need.

I stare at Tansey’s bare back. The human females are compatible with orcs. It’s the only reason we do not completely destroy the human settlement. We need them, or rather their females, and must temper our actions against them. If we destroy their settlement, then no more will come from Earth.

How we acquire the females and what we do to acclimate them once we have them remain points of discord among our people and with the females.

From my time with Tansey, I see the error in our belief that letting our warriors take the females they desired, with the plan of mating them, lacked an understanding of the humans and their ways.

They fear us, and we’ve done nothing to eradicate that fear. They will never accept our males, not until we understand them, and they understand us.

On Orcos, a female would often turn away any male who offered to mate her until he proved his ability to protect her and future younglings.

Once she found a male worthy, a risha occurred, creating the unbreakable bond between the pair.

Unless they knot and have a youngling first, as happened with me and Haaka.

I question if Tansey will consent to risha. I cannot knot her; a male only knots one female in his lifetime, and that had been with Haaka.

I lean over and press my lips to the back of Tansey’s neck. My cock pulses as memories of last night return. It’s been years since I mated a female, and now that I have again, I do not want to return to my self-imposed isolation.

Tansey’s scent wraps around me, reminding me she is my future.

“Come, female.” I run my hand down her golden hair, appreciating its softness.

As soft as the rest of the female when she’s beneath me.

For a brief second, I think of ignoring the summons, then remember my responsibilities as a warrior and as neld.

“A warrior can never ignore his grak’s orders, especially in times of war. ”

One eye opens. “We’re at war?”

We. She spoke as if she’s orc now, but I do not point this out. She’d only deny it.

“We are continuously in a state of war. Though we do not always know who the enemy is or when they will come for us. ”

She turns her head away from me. “Being prepared isn’t the same as being in an active state of war.”

“You are like our graka, always debating nuances that do not change the reality.”

She faces me fully, pulling the furs up to cover her lovely breasts. Ones I cannot stop touching. “And you are like every other man, too stubborn to see any reality other than your own.”

I see her reality. She misses her son. He is her world.

My world is much larger than one youngling.

I have hundreds of orcs to protect, males, females, and younglings.

And several humans now, too, including her.

Her son is safe where he is. She has to accept that she may not see him again for a very long time.

“When we are summoned, we go.” I fasten my knife harness to my chest, even before securing my loincloth.

“You’re still naked,” she says, her eyes dragging down my body and stopping at my cock, which rises for her.

“There is no modesty in war, only weapons and death.”

“I’m not ready to get up. I’ll attend the next war.”

“Shall we use this time to mate, then?” I fling my body over her. Both eyes open wide, stunning blue orbs, unsure but without fear. “I’ve never ignored an order from my grak, but for you, I will make an exception.”

“Would you ignore your grak and let me return to my son?”

“Tansey—”

“Or did last night mean nothing to you?”

“Is that why you joined me in my furs? Did you expect I would let you go?”

“No,” she says softly. “I was… lonely. But sleeping with you means nothing, Verig. I will not give up my son for you or anyone else.”

“We will find a solution. I vow this.”

“The only solution is letting me go. This isn’t my home. You’re not my people.”

“We’ve wasted enough time discussing what will not change. Come.” As I slide my sword sheath over my neck and shoulder, then fasten my loincloth, I realize she’s not dressing. Her eyes follow me from the bed, but she has no intention of moving.

I toss one of my knives onto the bed for her.

“What’s this for?”

“The knife has my mark. Anyone who sees it will know I’ve mated you.”

She tosses the knife back. It lands on the edge of the bed. “We’re not married. We can’t be. This was sex. Nothing more.”

The harshness of her words does not deter me. Tansey is not unlike any orc female in this. I must prove myself to her. And I will.

“Would you consider risha with me? We are not bonded, not without performing risha.”

“Bonded? As in marriage?”

I’ve heard our graka use the term marriage. It is the human equivalent. “Yes.”

She shakes her head. “I’m returning to my son.”

That will never happen, but don’t tell her that again. She’s not ready to accept that harsh reality. I would not have accepted the deaths of my mate and daughter had I not witnessed the explosion.

“Life is not always as we plan,” I say, picking up the knife from the bed and holding it out to her. “Wear my knife, female. It will tell others that you are mine, even if you aren’t. Baloq will not go near you again.”

With a slight nod, she reaches forward and wraps her fingers around the hilt of the dagger, much as she gripped my cock last night. Both are a beautiful sight.

“I must go.”

As I reach for the door, my female jumps from the bed. “Wait, I’ll go with you.”

Kodex pounds on my door again. “Now, Neld. Our grak wishes to speak with you before the gathering. ”

I cup her chin and tip her head up to look at me. I could list all the reasons she should consent to risha with me, but I do not think she’s ready to hear them. “Dress,” I say instead. “I will return for you before Atox speaks with our people. Then we will break our fast with the others.”

“Good. I’m starved. I could eat a horse.”

“I would rather eat my female.”

Her eyes widen, making her look submissive in a way that stirs my cock. I’m hard again, without even touching her.

With one arm, I draw her against me so she can feel my hardness. “I’m not done with you, female. We will perform risha. If not tonight, then soon.”

“I…” She stops speaking. “I can’t.”

She’s a stubborn female, but I’m a patient male. “I will not force you, but you will come to me, begging for risha.”

“Verig, you’re making this, um…relationship…into something permanent. It was only one night. A simple release we both needed.” She speaks softly, with honesty in her heart, but she’s not pushing away from me. Her hands move along my arms as those plump pink lips purse.

“Neld?” Vekk. Kodex again.

I press my lips to hers and squeeze her bare bottom. “Dress. I will return.”

When I leave my quarters, Kodex is still in the tunnel, waiting for me. Atox must have ordered him not to return without me.

Nothing beyond my grak summoning me would have dragged me away from Tansey, given the look in her eyes. That female wants me. More than a simple release. Perhaps we won’t perform risha tonight. But soon. Very soon…