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

CHAPTER THREE

VERIG

I never intended to say those words again, especially to a female I don’t know. And a human one at that. But this female…Vekk, she has spirit, more than I’ve seen in any female, even my Haaka.

The pain of seeing that ship explode with my family aboard strikes hard. I release the female’s hand.

Delicate eyebrows purse together for a moment before her anger returns. “I’m your worst nightmare, Orc.”

“Not even close, female. Deny me if you must, but in time, you will see the gods have matched us for a reason.”

“I won’t be forced into any mating with a human or orc. Let me go,” she orders, as if she is a graka.

With three clicks of my tongue, my gorja trots into view. “You will either ride in front of me on my gorja or tied to his backside. How you ride is up to you, but you are coming with me.”

“You don’t want me, Orc. I will cause you more trouble than you can tolerate. I’m returning to my people. ”

“Your name,” I demand, trying to will my cock to soften, but I’m too drawn to her, and her defiance only hardens it further.

She lifts her chin. “None of your business.”

“Name,” I repeat, followed by a growl. I don’t like repeating myself to my men or any female, even one that will be mine.

She cocks her head, as if she recognizes this is not a battle worth fighting. “Tansey.”

“I am Verig im Neld, second to Atox im Grak.”

“Good for you,” she says in a tone that is anything but accepting.

“It is good for you as well. As the mate of a neld, you will be respected.”

“Again, I’m not your mate, and I don’t fucking care who respects me.

” She folds her arms over her chest in a very orc-like manner, though she is far from orc.

Her sand-colored skin, the lack of ridges on her brow, the lack of tusks, the larger breasts…

. All reminders that she is not orc. And yet I’m eager to explore her body, to experience those differences with my hands, my mouth, my cock.

First, she must accept me as her mate.

Vekk, I cannot take her. I will not lose another mate or youngling.

“Let me go,” she demands again.

“I cannot,” I say, unsure if it is the edict of our grak or my need to enjoy the softness of a female beneath me, which prevents me from releasing her.

The memory of waking beside a warm body, of feeling a female’s hand massage sore muscles, the need to know there is another who stands beside me, supporting me when I’m uncertain or angry.

Another I can trust as much as, if not more than, my grak even.

“Yes, you can,” she says, speaking in a low tone, as if speaking to a youngling. “I have family back there. Or is that a concept you orcs don’t understand?”

I understand. More than anyone .

The unexpected softness in her voice makes me consider doing as she requests. Letting her leave.

That would solve my problem. I do not deserve another female.

And this one doesn’t want me.

Convincing her to let me claim her will not undo the past. The moment I open my mouth to tell her she may leave, her eyes veer past me and widen with fear. We’re not alone.

Silently, I draw my sword from the leather scabbard on my back and swing with all my might as I turn to strike down the enemy. The clank of metal echoes around us as Baloq’s sword stops me from removing his head.

I step back immediately, stunned it’s Baloq and not a human. “You did not signal,” I scold him in Orcan. “Protocol, Baloq. I could have killed you.”

“I thought you were a human, Neld. I did not catch your scent. Only that of my female and another human in the area.”

My female. Not his.

“How does one of my best warriors lose a mere female, Baloq?” I say with a growl born of frustration. He’s here to claim her, and I cannot stop him.

“She’s slippery, Neld. I let down my guard when I tried to mate her.”

Vekk him, I should raise my sword and decapitate him. “You were told not to mate any female.”

He grips her upper arm. Fear fills her entire face as she struggles against his hold. Not fear of me. Baloq. And he didn’t see it. Or care.

“Our grak said we could choose the female we want. I want this one. I’ve taken her, and I will mate her.”

The thought of him mating her makes my lower lip peel away from my tusks. “You will not touch her. Those are our grak’s orders.”

“I captured her, Neld. She’s mine. ”

“She escaped you, making her open to being claimed.” I remind him, stepping so close that he will not mistake my intent. “I’m claiming her.”

The ridges on Baloq’s forehead rise as he flashes his tusks. “She’s mine, Neld,” he says with a long growl that doesn’t end. “In the battle area, I declared to you and our grak that this female belongs to me.”

Vekk! He’s right.

“I recall.” By law, I cannot take her as mine, even though I found her in the woods after she escaped him.

He learned from Yanzu’s mistake. Yanzu failed to declare her his when he first captured her.

If he had, then Baloq would not have been allowed to keep her, and she’d now be in Yanzu’s possession.

I’m not sure which is worse. I only know I have no legal claim to her.

Vekk them both.

“As Neld, I recognize your claim, but know your place, Baloq.” I rotate the sword still in my hand. “You have the law on your side, but that doesn’t mean I can’t or won’t slay you if you continue to challenge or disrespect me.”

Baloq’s growl ceases abruptly, and he pulls Tansey against his side, another reminder that by law, she is his.

With subtle glances left, then right, she gauges her chance of escape.

“We will cease speaking Orcan in front of the human,” I say in Common, so the female can understand she is safe with us. Or rather, with me. I do not trust Baloq. Per his own admission, he tried to mate her. And he will do so again, unless I make the rules clear to him.

“You will not mate her,” I order.

“She belongs to me. I must make her mine permanently, so no other male questions my claim. Like you, Neld.”

In an instant, my sword snaps to his throat, the point breaking his skin. I should end him, except he’s done nothing wrong. He’s asserting his right to take what is lawfully his. I’m the one who cannot accept defeat.

My hand holds steady as I debate my options. Kill a loyal warrior, one of our best, or let him take my female. Vekk, this is not a position I ever expected to be in.

She’s not yours. She cannot be yours.

You had a mate.

And lost her.

This one is not yours.

And yet, I will have her. I vow this.

“She may belong to you, but that does not give you the right to mate her. Or will you disobey me, Baloq, and force a female against orders and our laws?”

“I belong to no one,” a slight voice says to my left. Tansey. Despite the desire to meet her eyes, I never take mine from Baloq.

“I claimed her,” Baloq persists. “You will not touch her, Neld,” Baloq reasserts with a growl.

“The female is of no consequence to me, but you will learn your place. I’m neld. One day I will be grak. Either way, I will not tolerate such disobedience. You will return to Mount Racha. Do not mate the female against her will. Is that clear?”

Dark green eyes level against mine as he slams the flat side of the blade over his heart. “Yes, Neld.”

With one quick thrust, I slide my sword into the scabbard and turn my back on Baloq, relinquishing the female to him. Baloq grabs Tansey by her upper arm and leads her away. Her words ring in my head.

I belong to no one.

She’s wrong about that. She belongs to me. And I will find a way to claim and mate her, despite Baloq.