Page 18 of X’nath (Dark Orcs of Helfallow)

18

Unyielding Pursuit

X’NATH

T he laughter and loud chatter echoed around the communal house, the fire crackling merrily in the center, sending flickering shadows across the walls. The heavy scent of roasted meat and freshly baked bread filled the air as the men sat around the fire with mugs of fermented fruit and meat in hand. The tension of the day had finally loosened its grip, and everyone was in a more relaxed mood—everyone except me, apparently.

I leaned back in my seat, a mug of thick, strong drink in my hand, swirling it idly as I watched my crew joke and banter around me. Despite my outward calm, my thoughts kept drifting back to Gracie.

“You’ve been after her for weeks, X’nath,” Karg teased from across the fire, his wide grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “What’s it going to take, huh? A whole damn tribe to convince her?”

I raised an eyebrow at him, not at all bothered, tossing a piece of meat from my plate to Yargol. “You think I’m going to back down just because she’s a little more difficult?” I shot back. “You underestimate me.”

Vakgar leaned forward from the opposite side of the fire, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Ha! Maybe you’ll have to offer her your bed, X’nath. Something about you makes her think you’re not worth the trouble.” He chuckled. “She looks like the type who likes something... more comfortable than this rough life.”

I smirked, glancing over at Gracie where she sat with some of the other women, her body language still guarded but slightly more relaxed than before. I couldn’t fault her for that. Her distance was something I had to work with, not against.

“Comfortable, huh? You think she’d go for someone more like you, Vakgar? She needs someone who’s more than just soft words and a cozy bed.”

The men laughed at that, but I could see the way they glanced at her when they thought I wasn’t looking.

Greag chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Is it worth it, though, X’nath?” he asked, his tone a little more serious now. “Chasing a human who’s set on staying alone. The one who thinks she can do everything herself?” He leaned back in his seat, watching me closely. “You’re not worried you’ll get burned?”

I grinned at his comment, not missing a beat. “You can’t burn what’s already been tempered by fire. She’ll come around.” The words left my mouth easily, but a deeper part of me knew that there was more to it than just her warming to me. Gracie wasn’t a woman who simply softened over time. She was a challenge, and I loved that.

Deep within me, I longed for the timeless love my father and mother shared. Their unwavering dedication, through every high and low, was something extraordinary. Perhaps our stubbornness was legendary, but I like to believe it was a fierce loyalty—a devotion to those we chose to share our lives with.

“She’s a tough one, I’ll give you that,” Greag continued, raising his mug to his lips. “But you’re walking a fine line, X’nath. This could turn into more than you bargained for.”

I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “What’s life without a little risk? Besides, I like tough women.”

The men exchanged knowing looks. They had seen me chase a few women in my day, but they hadn’t seen me this interested before. This... persistent. I wasn’t backing down from Gracie, not when I claimed her as mine the moment I saw her.

“She’s definitely a hard one to figure out. Most of them are. Human females are different,” Karg chimed in, his voice teasing. “You sure you know what you’re doing with her? She doesn’t seem like the type to just fall at your feet.”

I smirked, leaning forward. “I don’t need her to fall at my feet. I just need her to stop running.”

The men snorted with laughter, but I could see the subtle shift in their expressions. For once, they weren’t just teasing me. They were intrigued. Gracie was unlike the women they were used to, and they could sense that. The tension in the air was palpable, like the sound of gears slowly turning in the heart of a well-built clock, ticking steadily toward some inevitable conclusion.

There was a slight hum in the air, a soft and almost imperceptible noise that seemed to come from deep within the heart of the mountain. It filled the quiet gaps between conversations, the gentle whirr of the primitive machines the clan had cobbled together from the spoils of past raids. Much of the technology in their homes—rudimentary systems, water flow devices, and other makeshift contraptions—had been scavenged from human villages during their raids. We had a talent for repurposing what we looted, melding their old traditions with pieces of the outside world to create something uniquely our own. It was a curious mix of their ancestral customs and the innovation born from the spoils of battle.

“Well, good luck with that,” Vakgar said, breaking the silence, though his tone was more curious than mocking now. “But I think you’re wasting your time. She’s a stubborn one. I’d bet she’d rather chop off her hair than admit she wants anything to do with you.”

I smiled, but there was no humor in it. “Then I’ll just have to make sure she doesn’t have to admit it. She’ll just know.”

The men laughed again, but the tension I felt in my chest didn’t ease. There was more to Gracie than any of them could see, and I was the one who would uncover it, layer by layer.

As I looked across the room, catching Gracie’s gaze for just a moment, I knew. It was going to take time, patience, and maybe a little bit of my stubbornness, but I wasn’t backing down.

Not now. Not ever.

I was going to get through to her.

Sophie, who had been sitting across the room, walked toward Greag with that glint of mischief in her eye. The small, light-haired human was the first to take the lead, helping the men gain acceptance. Bolg, Greag’s weasel, weaved around her ankles playfully. Without a word, she settled herself into Greag’s lap, her arms slipping around his neck with an almost casual air.

The others noticed, and the room seemed to come alive with a new energy. Vakgar grinned, leaning back in his chair, clearly enjoying the sight.

"Well, well," he said with a low chuckle, his arms crossed over his chest. "Looks like someone’s found herself a comfortable perch."

Greag just chuckled, his hands sliding around Sophie’s waist, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "I didn’t realize I was so irresistible," he teased, his voice warm, yet still laced with that same dominant confidence that always seemed to surround him.

"You’re not going to start laying claim to her already, are you?" I threw in, my grin sharp and teasing.

Greag met my gaze with a laugh. "Not unless she asks, X’nath," he said, tightening his hold on Sophie. She rolled her eyes and gave his chest a playful slap but didn’t pull away. A small smile tugged at her lips.

The others kept going, clearly enjoying the playful back-and-forth. Korrin, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, raised an eyebrow and spoke up. "Seems like Greag’s got a little soft spot for Sophie. Should we start calling him ‘the tame one’?" His voice was dry, but there was a hint of amusement in his gaze.

I raised an eyebrow and took a long drink from my mug. "I think we all know that Greag’s not so tame," I said, leaning back in my chair, a smirk playing on my lips. "But it’s good to see Sophie keeping him on his toes."

Vakgar chuckled. "Yeah, Greag’s got more than a few tricks up his sleeve, but it seems like Sophie’s got him wrapped around her finger."

Sophie leaned back against Greag’s chest, clearly enjoying the attention but playing along. "He’s not that wild, Vakgar," she replied, her voice light, though there was an edge to it. "But I suppose none of you would know that, would you?"

The table erupted in laughter, and even I let out a quiet chuckle. It was the kind of laughter that came from familiarity, from shared moments, from being a part of something that felt like it could last.

I stole a glance at Gracie, who had been quietly observing the scene. She seemed... distant, more so than usual. There was a quiet intensity in her gaze that made me wonder what she was thinking. Did she long for what they had? Did she not realize that I could offer her everything, if only she'd let me in?

What was the real reason behind her wariness? It had to be more than just caution. There was something deeper, something I wasn't picking up on yet. Even as the others found their place here, as Sophie and Greag, Kelly and Vakgar, even quiet Salma and Korrin, began to settle into their roles, Gracie remained a mystery to me. The walls she had built around herself were solid, and despite my best attempts, I was beginning to realize that breaking them down was going to take more than just a few teasing words.

Perhaps it was going to require more action.

With every hint of resistance she showed, it only fueled my determination to uncover what lay beneath the surface of the beautiful human female who chose to fight, instead of cowering like the others in the face of uncertainty.

"You think you’re going to keep this up, X’nath?" Vakgar’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. "You sure about chasing after Gracie? She’s not like the others."

I gave him a smirk, leaning forward on my elbows. "I’m not giving up," I said with quiet confidence. "She’s just got more layers than the rest of them."

The men exchanged looks, some skeptical, others amused, but I could tell they respected my determination. I wasn’t just after her for the chase. Gracie was different. There was something deeper than I could figure out with just a few words and a few gestures. I could sense it in the way she reacted to me—soft, but guarded. Cautious, yet not entirely closed off.

And that, more than anything, made her all the more captivating and worth it.

"She’s got a lot of walls up," I muttered, more to myself than anyone else. "But I’ll get through them."

Vakgar just chuckled, shaking his head. "You sure about that?"

I met his gaze, a small smile playing at the corner of my lips. "I never thought I’d see the day your ugly mug finally settled down." I chuckled. "Just proves that there’s a first time for everything."

"Who's he calling ugly?" Kelly's protective voice cut through the air. I turned to see her cradling Vakgar's face and pressing her lips to his. It was a curious human custom, one that had caught all of our attention the first time Sophie did it to Greag.

The first time I’d seen Sophie do that—pressing her lips to Greag's in front of all of us—it had caught him completely off guard. The big, intimidating warrior, usually so confident and in control, froze like prey. He stood there, stunned, his usual bravado replaced by an almost sheepish look. It was the first time I’d ever seen Greag look vulnerable.

It was in that moment that I realized—she had tamed him, in a way. The strong, fearless leader, who once commanded everyone with an iron fist, had softened beneath her touch. Sophie had cracked through his layers, breaking down that tough exterior, and now, every time they were together, I could see how much he’d changed.

Now here Kelly was, doing the same thing with Vakgar. I had to admit, it was amusing to see how quickly the big, tough orcs could be reduced to putty in the hands of these human women.

But there was something else there too, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. It wasn’t just about the kisses or the flirting. It was about something deeper—something these women were offering that none of us had ever really had before. Connection, warmth, tenderness—things that were foreign to us in a world of constant fighting and survival.

I glanced at Gracie across the room, watching her watch Kelly and Vakgar. She hadn’t moved, her gaze steady but distant, as if lost in thought.

I found myself wondering what was going through her mind. What was she hiding behind that calm, collected facade?

Just as I began to step closer to her, one of the younger males called my name with urgency. "X'nath, you need to come. There's something you need to see."

I gave Gracie one last look before following him out.