You had a mate.
And lost her.
This one is not yours.
And yet, I will have her. I vow this.
“She may belong to you, but that does not give you the right to mate her. Or will you disobey me, Baloq, and force a female against orders and our laws?”
“I belong to no one,” a slight voice says to my left. Tansey. Despite the desire to meet her eyes, I never take mine from Baloq.
“I claimed her,” Baloq persists. “You will not touch her, Neld,” Baloq reasserts with a growl.
“The female is of no consequence to me, but you will learn your place. I’m neld. One day I will be grak. Either way, I will not tolerate such disobedience. You will return to Mount Racha. Do not mate the female against her will. Is that clear?”
Dark green eyes level against mine as he slams the flat side of the blade over his heart. “Yes, Neld.”
With one quick thrust, I slide my sword into the scabbard and turn my back on Baloq, relinquishing the female to him. Baloq grabs Tansey by her upper arm and leads her away. Her words ring in my head.
I belong to no one.
She’s wrong about that. She belongs to me. And I will find a way to claim and mate her, despite Baloq.
CHAPTER FOUR
TANSEY
After a week living among the orcs, I’ve come to realize they are much like humans and very different at the same time. Respect for women exists here, even from the hulking monster Baloq, who keeps me in his chambers like a pet but hasn’t touched me. Though I don’t think that’s out of respect for me. He has orders not to touch me.
Orders I remind him of often enough.
Every morning, he brings me food, clothing, towels, and a basin to wash. During the day, while he performs his duties, he locks me inside his quarters. An eight-by-eight-foot cave with a low ceiling, stone walls, two light discs, and no windows. It reminds me of prison, except there’s no toilet in here. For that, he escorts me before he leaves and when he returns. Then we go outside, among his people. My chance to breathe fresh air and exercise. Again, much like prison. Though I must admit the scenery is beautiful here. No cement walls. No barbed wire.
Just orcs everywhere. Though I wouldn’t call them beautiful,they are muscular, fit, and impressive with their knives, swords, harnesses, and loincloths.
“You’ve been well-behaved this week, mate,” Baloq says as he leads me to one of the many campfires that dot the base of the mountain. As with every other night, he picks a fire with no people around it. He doesn’t want them near me. They watch us from nearby, but that doesn’t mean they want to meet the new human captives, so no chance to ask them for help. Even if I spoke their language, which I don’t.
A familiar shiver moves through me, similar to that sensation outside New Earth before their neld, Verig, confronted me. I’m being watched, I’m sure of it. I’d like to dismiss the feeling as paranoia, but I’ve already lived my worst nightmare. Fuck that, I’m still living it.
Baloq has no intention of releasing me. He thinks I will submit to his wishes. Consent and give myself to him, in time.
There’s no chance in hell of that happening.
My eyes scan the crowd. Verig’s leaning against a tree. Not hidden, but not standing among his people, either. He’s watching me in the open. It’s not the first time. Every time Baloq escorts me outside, I sense Verig’s eyes on me. Always watching, like Baloq. Only I don’t shiver when I see Verig. At least not in a way that makes my stomach clench in fear.
My anxiety level spikes when I don’t see him. It’s bad enough I have to worry about Baloq and when he’ll finally decide to disobey orders, but I find myself fantasizing about Verig when my focus should be on escaping.
Verig’s lower lip curls down, flashing me his tusks. A shiver travels right to my core. I wonder how he’d use his tusks on me.
Fuck! What am I doing?
I’m a fool, tempting fate. I need to get away from these orcs, Verig included. First, Baloq. And soon. He’s not going to be patient much longer.
In prison, the male guards often stared at me. Fortunately, they never touched me. I allied myself with the right prisoners and cleaned their toilets every day in return for protection from the guards. Worth every disgusting minute.
Here, I have no one to trade favors with. No way to keep Baloq from touching me.
All I have is what Verig said. That I’m not to be taken against my will. I remind Baloq about this. Daily. Sometimes two or three times a day.
