“And access to their rivers and mines. We’ll have all the water and raw minerals we can use.”
Water allows my people to grow crops… but the mines… Fuck, they’d have a lot of minerals the bantarans need. This is all making sense now. The bantarans have the knowledge and skills to build their technology, but no access to raw materials.
“Get in bed with the vints, if that’s what you want, but leave me the fuck out of your plans. I’m not yours to boss around and demean anymore.” I yank free of his hold but before I can stepaway from him, the tip of a knife presses against my belly, a canvas sack slung over his arm to hide the knife from view.
“Touch me and you’ll pay for it with your life,” I warn.
“The orcs broke the treaty. All our property reverts to us. Including you.”
“I’m no one’s property.”
“I disagree,” comes Atox’s voice. “You’re mine.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
PALOMA
My heart races when I hear Atox. He’s returned in time to save me.
The edge of my father’s knife presses against my abdomen and I suck in air as he slices into me. Not deep, but enough to deliver a message. He’s not only threatening my life but that of my unborn child. Atox’s child. A child my caring yet gruff orc longs for but doesn’t yet know exists.
“You’re coming with me,” my father repeats.
“You gave me away months ago. You didn’t want me. You never have.” I try to keep my tone respectful so I don’t anger him further.
His mouth lowers to my ear and he whispers, “You are my leverage. Tell that barbaric orc leader that you don’t want him. So we can get out of here alive. All of us.” He presses the knife against my baby.
The horror of what he’ll do strangles me.
“Now!” my father growls through clenched jaws.
“Grak?” I say, my eyes still on Atox. They’ve never left him, ashe’s a source of strength for me, one I desperately need in this moment.
“Come to me, mate.”
The knife presses into me, the blade making a shallow cut across my abdomen. I inhale sharply, but don’t move.
“I…I’m not your mate any longer,” I call out with determination, given the blade biting into me.
“You are my mate. You will always be mine. We performed the risha.”
I strain to hold it together, so I don’t cry out and cause my father to stab me. “Your custom. Not mine. It was meaningless to me,” I say the words as convincingly as I can, my heart clenching as I do. The risha held meaning to me, because it held meaning for Atox. We formed a bond that night, more than I realized was possible.
Atox’s lower lip pulls back in a half-snarl aimed not at me, but my father and the other men nearby. My eyes scan the scene quickly. Sojek’s on the ground, beaten, but alive. No other orcs nearby, not that Atox needs backup. He’s a trained fighter. He could defeat my father and his thugs, but at the cost of our child. I have to convince him to back off or my father will do as he threatens.
“You are mine. I’ve knotted you.”
“Filthy animal,” my father spits on the ground. My eyes wander from Atox, as my brain races through all the scenarios. My father’s men are armed with weapons our colony didn’t have previously, including several blasters. A weapon I’ve only seen once before. On a coalition soldier on Earth.
My orc is outnumbered and outgunned.
And yet he isn’t backing down. Pride fills me knowing he won’t leave without me. I take solace in that and try not to panic because of what that means, too. Danger for both him and our unborn baby. With that knife pressing against my belly, my father could kill my unborn child in seconds. I can’t risk that.
“I’m not yours anymore,” I shout to Atox. “You lied about everything.”
My orc’s face remains stoic, unyielding. Damn, he’s not buying this. I have to make him believe and hope that he figures out what I’m doing.
“This is not the time to discuss these issues, female. Come to me. Now.” A growl accompanies his words, one I believe is meant for me. I’m doing more than disobeying him. I’m making him look weak.
