He whispers, “I’m Ethan. If I promise to be really quiet, will you bring me to my mommy?”
“No one will stop me from taking you to her,” I vow, and not because I wish to please her, but I hear the need in this youngling’s voice. He misses her. “Come, Ethan,” I say as I scoop him into my arms.
Little arms wrap around my neck, and I’m lost in a haze of love I haven’t felt since I lost my Veeya.
When we leave the home, cool air strikes, as does the smoke from the fire. Kodex stands guard outside the home, providing cover. I thrust Ethan into his arms. “This is Kodex, Ethan. He will take you to my gorja and then we ride to take you to your mother.”
“Neld?” Kodex asks as he takes the youngling in his arms.
“I must retrieve one last item,” I say as I dart back into the house and quickly scoop up the youngling’s blanket. That’s when I see the toy on the ground. I snatch it, too.
I will not have the opportunity to return to New Earth when my grak discovers what I’ve done.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
TANSEY
“Riders, Grak,” one of the warriors I don’t know announces in Common. He’s diligent about speaking Common anytime a human woman is nearby. I wonder if that’s his way of impressing the unmated captives. Not that any of them look any more impressed now than they did two months ago when we were taken.
“Maybe it’s Verig,” Paloma says as she carries her daughter. I’m carrying her son. These orcs need to invent a stroller. Then again, they’re new to the concept of twins, so hauling around one baby at a time hasn’t been an issue for them.
“I hope so,” I say, letting down my guard in front of her, and only her. I don’t think the other women are ready to know how I feel about Verig. They know I sleep in his quarters, and some cast disapproving looks, but they also know what Baloq did, so no one says anything to me.
I’m sure they talk behind my back, speculating about what I must endure sleeping with an orc. They don’t know Verig like I do. He’s a protective, smart, caring, and aggravatingly persistent male. I often wonder if their prejudice keeps them from seeinghow handsome he is. Maybe it’s the tusks that disgust them. I get flushed just thinking about what he does with them.
“You’re smiling,” Paloma says. “That’s the first I’ve seen you smile in, well, since I met you.”
“You weren’t exactly smiling back then either.”
“I thought I was going to die in that jail cell. There’s nothing but hopelessness inside a cell when the universe appears determined to destroy you. It’s hard to hang on to life when you never think you’re going to see your loved one again.”
“I know the feeling.”
She elbows me. “Spill, already. You and Verig. You like him, don’t you? I mean,reallylike him.”
“He’s a good guy,” I say, keeping my reply low-key.
“I’m glad you see through his standoffish exterior. That took me a while. But I also had to deal with Atox at the time. I swear, all of these orcs, the women included, have this outer layer that’s made of steel, three feet thick.”
“Not Verig. He’s not afraid to be himself with me. Though I admit, there are times he shuts down. I think when he’s thinking about his first wife.”
“First? Has he claimed you, Tansey?”
Fuck, I shouldn’t have said ‘first’, as if I’ll be his second. “I misspoke. Nothing more,” I say, brushing it off. Paloma’s expression says she doesn’t buy it. Just then, Reina begins to fuss.
“Nap time,” Paloma announces. “For them and me. Evve?” she calls her niece over and says something in Orcan. The little girl holds out her hands for me to hand Rennix to her. “Evve will help me put them down for their nap.”
“I don’t mind helping you.” I like holding the baby. It’s been a long time since I’ve held one, and there’s no better feeling in the world.
“If that’s Verig returning, as I suspect, you’ll want to greet him. Best sex of my life is when Atox returns after days away, hyped up on adrenaline and all.”
I laugh. “Good to know.” I hand the baby to Evve and watch her and Paloma head inside the mountain with the twins.
“Mommy!” a tiny voice calls out.
Phoebe, Amara, and Seraphina lift their heads and look past me.
I want to turn around, but I can’t. Because if I do and it’s not my Ethan, I’ll be crushed. I close my eyes, remembering that voice that’s only been in my head for months.
