Page 28 of X’nath (Dark Orcs of Helfallow)

28

Scars of Valor

X’NATH

T he sun dipped low in the sky, and brought with it a cool breeze from the direction of the mountains. I sat in my home on my bed, applying a fresh bandage to the cut on my thigh. The injury was worse than I imagined, initially starting a small wound and now growing into something more.

Memories of the night I brought back the Nightshade lingered in my mind. I had been excited—genuinely excited—to have something useful to offer her, something tangible I could do to care for her, even if she didn’t yet realize she needed me.

Gracie was always fiercely independent, especially when it came to accepting help or gifts. She had a tendency to shy away from anything that might feel like a debt, so I knew I had to be careful. Instead of delivering the tea myself, I had Garbok bring it to her. It was a risk, I knew, but it felt like the right gamble given the delicate balance of our situation. If she refused it from me directly, it would only push her further away. But with Garbok as the messenger, I could still give her something of value without triggering her pride.

I threatened to string his balls from the trees if he even thought of trying to take her from me, and it had to be enough for the time being.

It wasn’t the ideal solution, but in our world, sometimes you had to play the hand you were dealt. And right now, I was determined to make sure that Gracie knew, in some way, that I was here. Even if she couldn’t see it yet.

With my hands clasped behind my head, I leaned back and imagined her face and long, dark hair. As the adrenaline from the battles in the mines began to fade, my thoughts turned fully to little human female—specific thoughts I had been desperately trying to push away and keep under control.

It was no secret that others from her group were having sexual relations with their chosen mates, some more frequently than others. It was widely rumored that orcs and humans were compatible, a notion I had never given much thought to—until the moment Gracie appeared before me, emerging from the sea like a water goddess, her wet form seared into my mind, haunting my every dream.

The clouds obscured the moonlight filtering through my window as my hand traveled down, between my legs to my jutting cock, weeping for attention. This torture has plagued me for the past few weeks—every time I thought about the way she moved as she laid out the upper planks of her home, the way she was covered in the blood of her enemies, plastering her coverings to her shapely body.

Gripping my hard flesh in my fist, I ran my palm up and down, feeling the ridges of my warrior marks and piercings toward the crown. The scars on the body of a warrior was a testament to his battles, but the scars on his cock was a testament to the rewards of his victories by willing female bodies.

Since the last of the orc women had mated, I hadn’t had a chance to release the pent-up energy from all the battles I’d won. I growled as my fist began to move faster and twist around my swollen crown.

Images of her honed muscles washing her hair in the lake, her slender back as the water tracks down the slopes of her light skin.

My body temperature rose beyond comfort despite the lack of clothing. Imagining her hairless body against mine, sliding against my tense muscles only made the torture worse. How hot would she be against me? How slick would she be as I drove my cock between her legs? The scent of her skin haunted my waking hours, cursing my cock to stand at attention at all times of the day.

I squeezed my heavy sack as I continued to slide and twist my right hand against my hard flesh, the veins popping out prominently with every pass.

“Gracie…” I grunted and trailed off as pleasure began to climb.

Closing my eyes and leaning my head back, I imagined her supple but strong body riding me, her dainty little fingers digging into my chest as I drove my cock into her hungry womb.

The thought of her screaming out my name in ecstasy threw me over the edge and I growled as my hot release shot out in spurts onto my stomach, my hand never stopping its torture, milking my pleasure until the very last drop.

With a stuttering sigh, I rubbed it into my skin lazily as I slowly caught my breath. I should be scent marking her as a claim. She should be here with me but she wasn’t. As the sound of the night crept through the window, I reluctantly got up and grabbed a wash rag to clean myself before returning to sit on my bed and recheck the wound on my thigh with a wince.

“Stop wincing like a youngling, X’nath,” came a masculine voice from outside. IT was the criss crossed scars I saw first. Gorruk, one of the older warriors that accompanied our mission in retrieving the human women. “You’d think you were nursing a love bite instead of a battle scar.”

Images of Gracie’s lips and teeth on my body made my cock stir once again and I grimaced.

“Shut it,” I replied, my voice gruff but the corners of my mouth twitching up. “I’ll show you a real love bite if you don’t keep it down.”

I finished patching myself up once more, gritting my teeth against the sting, since my recent activity made me bleed through my bandage. The satisfaction of my work was short-lived as I stood, preparing for the night patrol ahead. We needed to secure the area against possible rival clans and, worse yet, the dragons that had been rumored to circle our skies.

“Ready to take on the world, eh?” Gorruk teased, leaning against the doorframe with a smirk. “Or at least, a few dragons?”

“Just keeping watch. You know how it is,” I said, my tone serious despite the banter. “We’ve got to set traps before those winged nuisances decide to drop in for a visit.”

“Right, because nothing says ‘welcome’ like a face full of spikes,” another voice chimed in. It was Greag, hefting a crude but sturdy spear. “You think they’ll fly down and ask for directions first?”

“Maybe they’ll offer us a nice meal in return,” Gorruk added, laughing heartily.

The mention of a meal reminded me of the one I had missed during my journey to find the Nightshade with Karg. I had heard that Gracie was the one who took charge of the effort, ensuring everything went smoothly to feed the clan. I felt a surge of pride at her resourcefulness, but then a bitter edge of anger crept in. I wasn’t there to be a part of it, to share in the blessing she had prepared. And worse, the other men—did they take that opportunity to court her while I wasn’t there to keep them at bay? The thought gnawed at me.

“Or we could just tell them to shove off,” I said, trying to maintain my focus as I strapped my belt on, readying my weapons. “Let’s get moving before we give them more ideas.”

It hadn’t been my intention to stay away from Gracie these past few days. The news of the dragons and the threat of a rival clan invasion had consumed my time. It was one problem after another, and I kept telling myself that once we got through it, I’d go see her.

As a few of the men and I descended into the lower areas of the mountain, the air grew cooler, the atmosphere thick with the scent of the forest. I could hear the distant rumble of thunder and feel the tension in the air. The dragons had been flying close, and we couldn’t afford to take any chances.

“X’nath, how’d you get that gash anyway?” Gorruk asked, his tone shifting to something more genuine as we reached our first trap site. “Did you forget to look behind you while you were off dreaming about our lady friend?”

“Not quite. Just got a little too close to a creature that didn’t appreciate my presence,” I replied, setting down my gear to prepare the trap. “Not that you’d know anything about that, considering you’re the one who usually gets caught in the snares with your old age.”

He let out a barking laugh. “But next time, don’t go risking life and limb for her. You’re just asking for trouble.”

“Yeah? And what’s wrong with that?” I shot back, irritation bubbling beneath the surface. “You think I should just sit back and let her fend for herself?”

“I think you should consider your own life first, my friend. We need you in one piece for this patrol,” Greag chimed in, a bit more serious. “Besides, what’s a few gifts when you could end up as dragon food?”

I scoffed, shaking my head as I prepared the makeshift booby trap. “You don’t understand. She deserves more than just a few tokens. She’s been through enough, and if I can help, then I will.”

“Whatever you say,” Gorruk said with a smirk. “Just remember, if you get yourself killed, she’ll have to find someone else to patch her up.”

“Speaking of which,” I cut him off, glancing at the dark sky where the shadows of dragons flitted against the clouds. “We need to be on high alert. Set the traps, and keep your eyes peeled. We don’t want to be caught off guard.”

As we worked, the banter continued, lightening the mood despite the looming threat. But in the back of my mind, I couldn’t shake the images of her face, the way her eyes lit up when she realized someone cared. That thought fueled my determination.

With each trap we set, I made a silent promise to her—to protect her no matter the cost. I might not have been good enough for her in my own eyes, but I would ensure she had the chance to thrive in this new life.

As we finished up the last trap, I glanced back at my friends, feeling the weight of camaraderie and unspoken bonds. I might have sustained injuries, but they were nothing compared to the scars we all carried—ones that could only be healed through courage, support, and a bit of mischief along the way.

“Alright, let’s get back before those dragons decide to drop by uninvited,” I said, leading the way back up the mountain. “And keep your heads low. We don’t want them thinking we’re offering ourselves as snacks.”

With a collective chuckle, we set off, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, fueled by laughter, purpose, and the hope of a brighter future for us all.