I understand. More than anyone.
The unexpected softness in her voice makes me consider doing as she requests. Letting her leave.
That would solve my problem. I do not deserve another female.
And this one doesn’t want me.
Convincing her to let me claim her will not undo the past. The moment I open my mouth to tell her she may leave, her eyes veer past me and widen with fear. We’re not alone.
Silently, I draw my sword from the leather scabbard on my back and swing with all my might as I turn to strike down the enemy. The clank of metal echoes around us as Baloq’s sword stops me from removing his head.
I step back immediately, stunned it’s Baloq and not a human. “You did not signal,” I scold him in Orcan. “Protocol, Baloq. I could have killed you.”
“I thought you were a human, Neld. I did not catch your scent. Only that of my female and another human in the area.”
My female.Not his.
“How does one of my best warriors lose a mere female, Baloq?” I say with a growl born of frustration. He’s here to claim her, and I cannot stop him.
“She’s slippery, Neld. I let down my guard when I tried to mate her.”
Vekk him, I should raise my sword and decapitate him. “You were told not to mate any female.”
He grips her upper arm. Fear fills her entire face as she struggles against his hold. Not fear of me. Baloq. And he didn’t see it. Or care.
“Our grak said we could choose the female we want. I want this one. I’ve taken her, and I will mate her.”
The thought of him mating her makes my lower lip peel away from my tusks. “You will not touch her. Those are our grak’s orders.”
“I captured her, Neld. She’s mine.”
“She escaped you, making her open to being claimed.” I remind him, stepping so close that he will not mistake my intent. “I’m claiming her.”
The ridges on Baloq’s forehead rise as he flashes his tusks. “She’s mine, Neld,” he says with a long growl that doesn’t end. “In the battle area, I declared to you and our grak that this female belongs to me.”
Vekk! He’s right.
“I recall.” By law, I cannot take her as mine, even though I found her in the woods after she escaped him. He learned from Yanzu’s mistake. Yanzu failed to declare her his when he first captured her. If he had, then Baloq would not have been allowed to keep her, and she’d now be in Yanzu’s possession. I’m not sure which is worse. I only know I have no legal claim to her.
Vekk them both.
“As Neld, I recognize your claim, but know your place, Baloq.” I rotate the sword still in my hand. “You have the law on your side, but that doesn’t mean I can’t or won’t slay you if you continue to challenge or disrespect me.”
Baloq’s growl ceases abruptly, and he pulls Tansey against his side, another reminder that by law, she is his.
With subtle glances left, then right, she gauges her chance of escape.
“We will cease speaking Orcan in front of the human,” I say in Common, so the female can understand she is safe with us. Or rather, with me. I do not trust Baloq. Per his own admission, he tried to mate her. And he will do so again, unless I make the rules clear to him.
“You will not mate her,” I order.
“She belongs to me. I must make her mine permanently, so no other male questions my claim. Like you, Neld.”
In an instant, my sword snaps to his throat, the point breaking his skin. I should end him, except he’s done nothing wrong. He’sasserting his right to take what is lawfully his. I’m the one who cannot accept defeat.
My hand holds steady as I debate my options. Kill a loyal warrior, one of our best, or let him take my female. Vekk, this is not a position I ever expected to be in.
She’s not yours. She cannot be yours.
