Page 17 of Orc’s Promise (Knotty Monsters #3)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

TANSEY

A tox carries Paloma to their chambers. This is my first time in this section of the tunnels. A warrior guards the branch we now travel. I’ve passed by that guard dozens of times and never once thought to ask what was down this way. All the important orcs, I guess.

“We’ll need access to fresh water,” I say as the enormous leader gently sets an increasingly nervous and pain-ridden Paloma down on their bed.

He pulls a fur over her to keep her comfortable. It’s sweet, and a reminder that these orcs aren’t that different from humans. In some ways, they’re better. At least their customs are. They don’t subjugate their women. Even though they stole us, they haven’t forced us to do anything.

Or demeaned us because of who we are.

No, the ones they criticize are the human males. And while I often agree with their remarks about how our men can’t be trusted, how they’re deceitful cowards, every hateful word out of their mouths makes me grateful Ethan’s not here. I don’t want him growing up hated because of who he is.

“I will get the water. What else?” Atox asks .

“Some of those suede towels you use for drying.”

“She means the soft skins,” Paloma explains.

Atox nods. “You will stay with my mate and give her whatever she needs. I will return.”

“You can sit, Tansey,” Paloma says as he leaves. He didn’t shut the door. I guess he doesn’t fully trust me with his mate. The guard at the end of the tunnel will hear her scream for help if she needs it.

“I’m not a doctor,” I explain. “Or a nurse. But I have experience giving birth and assisting a few others.”

“I’m scared,” she says.

I sit beside her and hold her hand. “Don’t be. This is all normal,” I push out, sounding totally confident, which I’m not. I hope Ossa gets here soon. She’s a healer, and from what I understand, she’s delivered many babies. “Rest between contractions. This could be a long night.”

“Rest? Seriously?”

“Gotta grab those Zs while you can. You’ll appreciate any chance to sleep once this baby starts waking you up a thousand times in the middle of the night to be fed or changed.”

She cracks a smile. “I can’t wait to be a mother. But I’m scared about giving birth. What if something goes wrong?”

“This is as natural as…conceiving the little bugger, though admittedly not as much fun.”

Paloma closes her eyes. “You’ll be fine. Both of you,” I add as my eyes wander around the room.

It doesn’t have many comforts. Weapons line a wall, with a trunk beneath and a table to the side.

There’s a fur on the floor. If I’d had that last night, then I wouldn’t have ended up in Verig’s bed, I’m sure.

The bed…Paloma’s bed frame is made from the same wood as Verig’s, though larger, as if built for two.

Verig never expected to take a mate, I realize. Because there are so few orc females. And now he wants to marry me. He’s been obsessed with me since our eyes met the night of the raid .

He doesn’t know me. Doesn’t care to know Ethan.

How stupid of me to sleep with him! He’s a selfish prick who only wants me for sex. No wonder he wants me to forget about Ethan. No matter how long the orcs keep me here, I’ll never forget about my little guy.

Paloma lets out a scream, bringing me back to what I should be doing. I grab her hand. “Focus on the breathing. In and out. In and out.”

I look at her belly. She’s huge, not surprising for having an orc baby in there, but five months…That’s awfully short for a pregnancy. What if this baby doesn’t survive? The orcs could blame me. Kill me.

Verig flashes in my mind. He’d never let them harm me. He thinks I’m his, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned about these orcs in the time I’ve been here, it’s that they don’t allow anyone to take anything from them. Not without a fight.

It’s odd how I haven’t given Baloq a second thought until now. I haven’t been worried about him. My spine stiffens as I realize why. I feel safe with Verig. Something I never experienced with Nash or when I was locked in my cell, where I could be cornered—trapped—too easily.

Verig may want me and only me, but he hasn’t taken any of my freedoms away. If anything, he’s returned them. I can roam this entire camp without being followed by him or anyone else.

“He only watched over me when Baloq had me,” I mutter. “Because he didn’t trust him.”

“What?” Paloma says. She’s breathing easier now. She must be between contractions.

“Nothing,” I say. “I wish I had a watch or some way of timing the contractions.”

“They’re coming closer together.”

“Are you sure?”

She glares at me.

“Right. You’d know better than anyone.” I exhale slowly, thinking of what to do next. “Not much to do at this point except time the contractions, keep you comfortable, and distracted.”

“Distracted?”

“To reduce your anxiety.”

“Let’s talk about Verig,” she suggests.

“Great. My favorite subject.” I roll my eyes.

She laughs. “You’re being too hard on him. He’s a nice guy, just reserved. It took me a while to get used to him. Though that went both ways. He didn’t like me at first. Probably still doesn’t, but he supports me and Atox.”

“I can’t imagine you had an easy time with Atox, especially since you were the first human here.”

“Don’t let Atox hear you address him by his first name. Only a few have permission to use it. It would be seen as disrespectful. Has Verig said you can call him by his name, or does he insist you use his title?”

I blow out air. “I don’t give a flying fuck what Verig wants.”

“Okay, touchy subject, then. We could talk about what you’ve been doing in camp. I haven’t been getting around as much lately.”

“I get it. Late-stage pregnancy is uncomfortable. Dealing with Phoebe, even more so.”

She laughs again. “She is outspoken, isn’t she?”

She rules the women’s quarters like she’s a drill sergeant.

“That’s not a bad thing. The women need someone to lead them. I thought that would be me, but some of them see me as a traitor. They don’t trust me, not like you do.”

“They’re adjusting, for the most part. Phoebe complains about the women who don’t do what she says.”

“Leadership isn’t always easy. I see when Atox struggles over making the right decisions, especially when it comes to things like exiling a warrior. They have hard choices to make. Verig included. ”

Paloma lets out a huge wail at that point, and I jump off the bed.

“Ferila foni abus, Pawloma,” Ossa says as she rushes in, Atox right behind her.

I step aside for her to work and head for the door. Her hand on my arm stops me. “Stay, huuman.”

“You will assist my sister with my mate and youngling,” Atox orders.

Alrighty then. I’ve got nowhere else to be.

Ossa and her brother start arguing in Orcan. I wish I had one of those translation chips.

Fuck, what am I saying? I don’t need anything that will further ensconce me in orc life. I’m happy to help with the delivery in any way I can, but after that, I need to get home…to my own baby.

Ossa literally pushes her brother out of the room and shuts the door in his face before she starts organizing the room, moving the towels, water, Paloma, and me precisely where she wants everything and everyone.

Maybe that’s what I should do. Take control of my surroundings—at least one specific orc—until I get what I want.