“Atox,” I call to my grak, who appears at a loss for what to do. Very uncharacteristic of him, but this is his first youngling about to be born. “I recommend you carry your female to your chambers. You do not want her giving birth out here should the weather turn foul. I will search for Ossa myself.”
I jog away from them, the need to escape paramount. An impending birth and Tansey fighting to reach her child have brought up too many memories.
Watching the ships blow up. Balls of fire lighting the night sky. Racing to save Haaka and Veeya as metal, fire, and ash rained down on Orcos, forever blackening the hearts of those who witnessed the horror.
No bodies to light on the funeral pyres.
No time to mourn those we lost as we rushed to get the other survivors off Orcos before our planet splintered.
I find myself by the river, throwing up. When I sink to my knees to rinse my mouth and look at my reflection in the water, I see an older orc, with lines of age and sadness, staring back at me. Is this what Tansey sees when she looks at me? An orc who has given up?
I failed my family, and now the gods have given me a chance to have another female, one who stirs more than my cock. Vekk, I never considered taking another mate until I saw her, and now it’s all I think of.
She is my chance to live again, but if I am to claim herthrough risha, I must first prove myself to her. And there is only one way to do that. Return her to her son or bring him here. I cannot bear the thought of losing her. But taking her son from his home against orders and Tansey’s wishes…I’m vekked no matter what I do.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
TANSEY
Atox carries Paloma to their chambers. This is my first time in this section of the tunnels. A warrior guards the branch we now travel. I’ve passed by that guard dozens of times and never once thought to ask what was down this way. All the important orcs, I guess.
“We’ll need access to fresh water,” I say as the enormous leader gently sets an increasingly nervous and pain-ridden Paloma down on their bed.
He pulls a fur over her to keep her comfortable. It’s sweet, and a reminder that these orcs aren’t that different from humans. In some ways, they’re better. At least their customs are. They don’t subjugate their women. Even though they stole us, they haven’t forced us to do anything.
Or demeaned us because of who we are.
No, the ones they criticize are the human males. And while I often agree with their remarks about how our men can’t be trusted, how they’re deceitful cowards, every hateful word out of their mouths makes me grateful Ethan’s not here. I don’t want him growing up hated because of who he is.
“I will get the water. What else?” Atox asks.
“Some of those suede towels you use for drying.”
“She means the soft skins,” Paloma explains.
Atox nods. “You will stay with my mate and give her whatever she needs. I will return.”
“You can sit, Tansey,” Paloma says as he leaves. He didn’t shut the door. I guess he doesn’t fully trust me with his mate. The guard at the end of the tunnel will hear her scream for help if she needs it.
“I’m not a doctor,” I explain. “Or a nurse. But I have experience giving birth and assisting a few others.”
“I’m scared,” she says.
I sit beside her and hold her hand. “Don’t be. This is all normal,” I push out, sounding totally confident, which I’m not. I hope Ossa gets here soon. She’s a healer, and from what I understand, she’s delivered many babies. “Rest between contractions. This could be a long night.”
“Rest? Seriously?”
“Gotta grab those Zs while you can. You’ll appreciate any chance to sleep once this baby starts waking you up a thousand times in the middle of the night to be fed or changed.”
She cracks a smile. “I can’t wait to be a mother. But I’m scared about giving birth. What if something goes wrong?”
“This is as natural as…conceiving the little bugger, though admittedly not as much fun.”
Paloma closes her eyes. “You’ll be fine. Both of you,” I add as my eyes wander around the room.
It doesn’t have many comforts. Weapons line a wall, with a trunk beneath and a table to the side. There’s a fur on the floor. If I’d had that last night, then I wouldn’t have ended up in Verig’s bed, I’m sure. The bed…Paloma’s bed frame is made from the same wood as Verig’s, though larger, as if built for two.
Verig never expected to take a mate, I realize. Because there are so few orc females. And now he wants to marry me. He’s been obsessed with me since our eyes met the night of the raid.
