Page 35 of Orc’s Promise (Knotty Monsters #3)

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

VERIG

I never expected to feel such relief at finding the human youngling. He’s not mine, but I would work hard finding any youngling in danger. Orc, human, bantaran, moxxel…even vint. Younglings are innocent. They represent the goodness of their species until their elders poison their minds and hearts.

The more I speak with Tansey, the more I understand why she did not want me to bring Ethan to Mount Racha.

My people do not care for humans. We’ve only begrudgingly accepted the human females because they are the only means to continuing our species.

Even though we will no longer be pure orc over time, our traditions and culture will remain.

And yet we cannot ignore the culture of the females we accept into our settlement…and our beds. I look at Ethan and his bright blue eyes. He’s curious about the animals in Pen’Kesh and totally innocent of the dangers here, as any youngling would be.

I cup the back of his head as his mother hugs him to her. I cannot—will not—fail them.

You need to stop punishing yourself.

“Punishments make us stronger,” I whisper to Tansey as we walk through the market. “This is what I told your youngling. ”

“I think there’s truth in that, but there’s a point where we stop learning and we merely suffer. There’s nothing to be gained from perpetual suffering. I wish you’d understand that.”

“I’m not punishing myself.”

“Maybe you don’t see it, but others do. Me, even your grak.”

“Atox spoke to you of this?”

“It’s why he gave me that knife. Not to use against an enemy, but to get your attention.”

My grak employs interesting methods. But he has a human mate, so perhaps he understands them better than I do.

“I think you’re punishing yourself because it’s easier than moving on. I’ve been there. Blamed myself for the actions of another. Made excuses. Told myself everything I could because the idea of moving forward scared the shit out of me.”

I can’t imagine Tansey being afraid of any situation. She may appear human on the outside, but she’s very orc.

“Mommy said a bad word.”

“Cover your ears, Ethan. This is a private conversation,” Tansey says.

The youngling looks at me as if I can help him.

“Did I not just speak with you about listening to your mother?” I say.

He cups his hands over his ears.

“Oh, you’re good. He listens to you,” she says with a lilt to her voice that goes right to my cock.

“Unlike you. You, female. Do not listen.”

“What did I do?” she asks, her voice pitching high.

“You speak of moving forward, forgetting your past, and doing what is necessary, but you don’t consider performing risha with me.”

“I’ve considered it.”

She’s considered it? This surprises me. Perhaps I have a chance with her.

A lightning strike makes Tansey jump, and dark clouds roll in faster than usual. “Come. We will find shelter,” I say to Tansey and Ethan. “Sojek?—”

“Yes, Warrior. The gorjas.” He runs off before I finish ordering him to take our mounts away from the lake where he usually leaves them to graze.

“Where’s he going with them?” Tansey asks as I guide her toward our section of the market.

“He’ll take them to a nearby cave where they will be safe during the storm, but when they are kept penned in tight spaces, the spines on their heads stand up and they flail, especially at the sound of thunder and lightning.

We do not want to be near them when that happens.

Too easy to get gored. Sojek will join us in our quarter of the market after he moves them to the cave. ”

“Who’s in the orc quarter today? Anyone I’ll know?”

“No one will be there. We rarely use it. Orcs do not believe in standing in the hot sun, peddling their wares. Deals are made between leaders. One on one.”

“As long as we get out of the storm,” she says as the first raindrops strike my face. In seconds, the clouds blanket the sky completely.

I do not want my female or her youngling to ride back tonight soaked.

It’s a long ride when wet, especially as the night air cools.

I scoop up the youngling, and Tansey and I run to the orc sector as moxxels, bantarans, vints, and humans head to their areas.

Each quarter has a shelter, built because storms on Kovos can be vicious and deadly.

We make it inside only slightly wet.

“There’s nothing here,” Tansey says, surveying the concrete walls, wooden floor, and lack of windows.

When I shut the door to keep the heavy rain out, I unintentionally plunge us into darkness. Ethan’s arms tighten around my neck. “Mommy?” Ethan calls out, sounding scared.

“I’m right here, baby. I’m coming to you. ”

I hear Tansey trip and catch herself. She mutters what I believe is a curse. “I tripped on a loose floorboard.”

“We do not maintain the shelter. Usually, we go to the caves with the gorjas, but I will not risk either of you there.”

Ethan’s little arms cling to me tighter, and though I do not like to sense his fear, having him hold me gives me a peace I have not known on Kovos. “Youngling, if you do not like the dark, then turn on the lights,” I say, my voice steady but not harsh.

“I don’t want to get down.”

“You don’t need to. Just give the command. The word is ‘ves,’ but you must say it loud and clear, without any fear, or the discs will not light.”

“Ves,” he shouts, too close to my ear, but the discs light and the smile on his face when he sees his mother standing a mere five feet away make going deaf worth it. I set him down. “No running. This floor is old.”

He stops, hears a creak, then steps on a different plank. “Hopscotch, Mommy!”

“Without the jumping, Ethan,” she says as he makes his way to her and hugs her legs.

I return to the door and crack it open. The storm is worse than I expected, but I don’t say this.

“You’re really good with kids, Verig.”

“Younglings learn by watching those around them. Projecting fear only creates fearful younglings.”

“I do that a lot, don’t I?”

“You? No, you hide your fears from all, including me.”

She touches the cut along my arm. “I’m sorry about everything. Not making sure Ethan didn’t follow me. About coming on this trip in the first place. My presence has caused a lot of trouble for you, hasn’t it? I only wanted to have some time with you so we could talk.”

“We’ve talked.”

Slowly, she removes her hand. “You’re mad. ”

Vekk, I miss her touch already. “I’m frustrated. I don’t know how to give you what you want and keep you.”

“What if you’re what I want?”

“Does that mean you’ve given up on returning to New Earth?”

She looks at Ethan, then at me, and plasters her mouth to mine. The kiss isn’t long, but the passion there tells me all I need to know. She wants me as her mate.

“I have to do what’s best for him, but I don’t want to lose you,” she confirms.

“I would accept the youngling as my own.”

She leans her forehead against mine. “You are not the problem. It’s the rest of your people. They will never accept him, not in a way he deserves.”

I take her face in my hands so she will look at me and not misunderstand what I’m about to say. “Change will be slow, but I’ll never stop fighting for him.”

When she doesn’t respond, I narrow my eyes. “This isn’t about him, is it? You are not ready to accept me in risha. To form a permanent bond with me.”

When the door opens, a flash of lightning outside temporarily blinds me. “Sojek, close the vekking door.”

The door slams shut. But it’s not Sojek.

Five vints and two humans block our only escape. One by one, they draw their weapons. This time, they’re armed with more than knives.