Page 5 of Orc’s Promise (Knotty Monsters #3)

It’s the perfect opportunity to run. A week of walking through dangerous territory is one thing, but I have no idea which way to go. I remember a lot of twists and turns through heavily forested terrain and not even the slightest idea of what direction we traveled.

“You were ordered to move the female into the larger quarters, with the other human females,” Verig switches to Common, for my benefit, I suppose.

He seems like a fair orc. It’s not as if he let me return to New Earth when he had the chance, though.

I’ll never forgive him for that. I’ll never forgive any of them for taking me from Ethan.

“You only ordered that because you want her. She’s mine, Verig. I’ve followed our grak’s orders and haven’t forced her. She will follow my rules and sleep in my quarters. With me.”

Verig punches Baloq in the face, followed by another fist to his belly, before Baloq raises his hands to defend himself.

I’m shocked and horrified, but relieved that Verig’s standing up for me.

And that he didn’t use one of his many knives.

Baloq repulses me, but that doesn’t mean I want to see him dead.

When Baloq sweeps Verig’s legs, toppling him, I quickly change my mind, hoping Verig pulls a knife. I don’t know the male, but he’s the only one trying to protect me from Baloq, though his rank certainly hasn’t deterred Baloq from making me a prisoner.

“Enough!” a male roars, emerging from the woods on a gorja. He slides off and stomps his way over and pushes the orcs apart. I’ve seen this orc twice now. Their king, another massive male, though not quite as tall as Verig. Or as handsome.

What the fuck am I thinking?

“Vekk derrin bunasop human asuka!” their king verbally lashes out at both males.

“Suf, Grak.” Verig stands tall and proud, his lower lip fully curled back as he glares at Baloq.

“Jeva neld sulla tris,” Baloq barks in a tone that makes me inhale sharply. Talking back to one’s king, no matter the language, doesn’t seem like a smart move.

Good. I pray their king locks up Baloq and keeps him away from me.

“Tansey?” a woman says as a small hand lands on my shoulder. I turn swiftly, too swiftly, nearly knocking a very pregnant Paloma over.

“Paloma?” I say, surprised she’s here and looking healthier, sturdy, compared to the last time I saw her, wasting away in a jail cell in New Earth.

I hug her because she’s the only lifeline I have to home. I haven’t been allowed to talk to the other human women since I’ve been here.

“Avuka, huuman,” an orc woman standing behind Paloma says, her words squarely targeting me.

I eye the orc as I release Paloma and step back.

The female is a few years older than Paloma, if an orc’s age is comparable to humans.

She wears her hair in a long braid down the middle of her back, as most of the female orcs do.

Her height makes her almost as intimidating as the males, but it’s that ax dangling at her side that catches my eye.

She has a weapon. A serious, no-nonsense weapon.

Then I spot a knife sheath on her left. Two weapons.

That’s some serious shit in a colony ruled by males.

A female guard.

Despite the serious expression on her face, I’d gladly swap her out with Baloq in a heartbeat.

“I’m sorry they kidnapped you, too,” I say to Paloma as my eyes fall to her very large middle. Proof that humans can conceive with orcs. Proof that they’ll never let me go.

“Oh, Tansey, you’ve been lied to on so many levels. This is my home. My mate rescued me from New Earth. I’m free again.” She points to the orc king standing between Baloq and Verig.

“Your mate is the king?” She’s more screwed than I realized. “You don’t look so free.” I nod toward the female guard behind her.

Paloma motions the woman forward. “This is Ossa. My sister-in-law.” Dark green eyes run down the length of me, and the woman scowls.

At least it’s an honest reaction, one I understand.

She doesn’t care for me any more than I care for her.

I can deal with that. Just another brute among a colony of them.

I’d still take her over Baloq any day of the week.

“Try to be open-minded about this situation, Tansey. The orcs are not bad people. They’re rough around the edges, certainly, but loyal, hardworking, and fair. Though their methods of getting women needs work. A lot of work.”

“You really want to be here?” I ask.

Her hand curves over her swollen belly. “I belong here. Give it time. You’ll see we’re better off here than in New Earth. Their grak, my mate Atox, is trying to improve life here for everyone, human women included. He considers us orc as much as those born orc.”

“Back home, I’m not forced to live with a male I don’t want to be near.” I point to Baloq. “Here, I am. That brute keeps telling me I’m his, that he’s going to mate me, Paloma!”

“He’s a warrior with orders not to touch you without your consent. He won’t defy those orders, Tansey.”

“Yeah, right,” I mutter under my breath.

“Has he forced you?” she asks.

“It’s only a matter of time.”

“Is that what they’re fighting about?” She points to Baloq and Verig, who resumed arguing while their king listens to both.

“I’ve been on bed rest since we returned last week, so I’m a bit behind on everything going on.

Ossa finally gave me permission for short walks yesterday.

I met with Phoebe and all the other women to straighten out this precise type of situation.

We’ve cleared out a large chamber that housed warriors so all the women could bunk together.

I didn’t even know you’d been taken. You weren’t in the group I met.

I guess you were showering at the time.”

“He doesn’t let me mingle with the others. And when he’s not with me, he locks me in his quarters.”

Paloma shakes her head, genuinely surprised. “I don’t understand how this happened. Verig?” she calls him over.

Since their king is presently arguing with Baloq, Verig joins us. He slaps a knife against his chest in greeting to her, a sign of respect I’ve only seen him offer their grak. No one else.

“Why isn’t Tansey living with the other women?”

“That is what Atox and I are discussing with Baloq. I told all the warriors of your decree that all females are to sleep in the women’s quarters unless they choose to be with a warrior.” His eyes shift to me. “I thought she’d chosen him. Of her own will.”

“Hardly,” I scoff.

“Did Baloq know you did not want him? ”

“I made that quite clear. Repeatedly. But what I wanted didn’t matter. Like my wanting to return to New Earth doesn’t matter.”

“This discussion is about Baloq, female. I did not realize he held you against your will, not until today. You should have spoken up sooner.”

“How could I? He hasn’t let me go near anyone,” I bark at Verig, taking my anger and frustration out on him. It’s undeserved; he’s not the problem here. If anything, he’s the solution. He listened to me and immediately freed me from Baloq.

The grak’s voice rises as he steps closer to Baloq, who’s smart enough to slam a knife over his chest to honor his king. Baloq stands there, not moving a muscle or arguing with Atox.

A sense of hope moves through me.

A moment later, Atox advances toward us, gently wraps his arms around Paloma, and tucks her safely against his side.

“Female,” he addresses me. “You will move into the females’ quarters immediately.

Baloq retains the right to pursue you, but he may not mate you without your permission. This is our law.”

“Court, Atox,” Paloma says. “The term is to court . Or date, even. Not pursue, like he plans to capture and force her.”

The orc king grunts in response to her correction, but doesn’t reprimand his mate. That is rather encouraging.

“What if Baloq doesn’t listen?” I ask.

“He will listen,” Verig growls, glaring at Baloq, who watches from a distance.

Paloma squeezes my hand. “See? Problem fixed. Try smiling, Tansey. I know this place is different from New Earth, but I promise you’ll learn to love it here, including the people.”

Despite Paloma’s good intentions, my plans haven’t changed. One way or another, I will find my way back to my son.

Paloma inhales sharply, holds her breath, then relaxes. “This baby’s got a powerful kick.”

Ethan. I miss my little boy .

“Ovakani beru Atox feratu Pawloma,” the female orc says to their king, who turns Paloma back in the direction she came.

“Sorry,” Paloma calls back to me. “Ossa wants me to rest. Everything will be fine. Give it time, okay? And visit me when you can. Ask any of the orcs, and they’ll lead you to my quarters.”

I’m left alone with Verig. His eyes rake over me slowly, and then he inhales deeply. His chest rises, muscles expand, and he looks larger than ever. As I’m about to look away, his lower lip curls back slowly, seductively, and he flashes his tusks at me.

God help me, I’ve traded one green devil for another.