It was soon after, we were freed and on ships back to earth. The orc I saved that day was Cardan. Vlog’s father and once back on earth our path’s crossed and he did not forget what I did for him that day.
“Father.” Vlog steps back, narrowing his red eyes at me. “Making sure he knows she is valuable.”
Cardan steps our way, shooting a look into the pit. He is wearing a suit like his son, his hair still in the traditional style, shaved sides with leather straps holding his braid down his back.
“You the big shit in this chicken shit outfit?” Ivy shouts. “I’ll come for you, too.”
“She’s loud,” Vlog hisses. “Gag her.” He nods my way but I do not move. I will not touch her for him.
“No one can hear. Let her wear herself out.” Cardan says, acknowledging me with a look. “All in a day’s work, right, Oran? That’s what the humans say. We will have no problem with a tiny female.”
I grit my teeth, I want them gone. I do not want them looking at her, thinking about her.
Shame gnashes in my gut. The emotion like a parasite growing inside me.
“There will be no problem,” I manage, the pounding from between my legs impossible to ignore.
“Of course not.” Cardan gestures toward the door, pointing at Vlog who glares at me, then moves away. “As I told you, this is where you prove your loyalty. You will secure your place beside me, bring our clans together. Or, push them apart, but that will not be good for you, your family, or hers.”
“This is my work, this does not touch my family.” I stare into the pit. The little human’s arms crossed, she listens, processing, planning. I see it in her thunder-blue eyes as my heart thumps in my chest.
“No, this ismywork. The usual supplies are in the storage room. As well, in the back bedroom there is something for you. Just a taste of what’s to come.” He reaches out, hands lifting to my shoulders as I wince at the contact. “You are a prize among our kind, Oran. I want you beside me.” He glances over his shoulder to see Vlog moving out the doorway. “More than my own son. Now, do your job, it could take longer this time, the stakes higher. Do not bring suspicion. Go to your clan, let them see you, do not have them come looking. This female is just a bargaining chip, a means to an end. A very prosperous end for us. For you.”
I nod, conflict roiling inside me. Cardan has been good to me. His son might be an asshole of the highest order, but he’s treated me well ever since I saved his life. He’s repaid that, given me work, sponsored me to fight for him in the cage. He sees the world as I do, that we need to start taking the fight back to the humans. They’ve given us this small corner of the country as though we should be thankful.
But, as he turns away and I glance into the pit, I’m reminded of the other side of that.
I guard the humans Vlog brings here. I ask no questions. I get paid and paid well. And now that human is her. The one human besides my family that I would protect with my life. She’s glaring at me, but even in that glare I see something. A slight softness. Or perhaps I’m blinded by my feelings for her.
I already know, this little human is not weak. Small, but strong.
“Whereare we?” she asks again. I should answer, but even if I did, she’s not getting out of here without help.
“Do your job,” Cardan repeats, then walks away with Vlog and Naarsh.
I watch them go, waiting until both cars leave, then meet the eyes of my little human. I’m not sure what these feelings are, but I do know she would never return them. Not before and certainly not now. She wants to kill me. Of that there is no doubt.
“You need anything, you tell me. I get it for you,” I pound my fist to my chest, promising on my honor, in my own way.
“What is this, good cop, bad cop?”
I shrug. “I don’t know this good cop, bad cop.”
She shakes her head. I’m impressed that she’s keeping her eyes on me, most look away as quickly as possible. “They tell me I’m going to die here, you offer to get me anything I need. Trying to make me like you so I’ll give in and give you whatever you…want.”
I growl at her words. “You’re not going to die here.”
It’s as much for my benefit as hers. A promise to myself. No fucking way would I let anything like that happen to her. Whatever Cardan and Vlog have planned, it doesn’t come to that. Not while I draw breath.
She stares at me for a moment, then shifts from one foot to the other. “You’re not like them, are you? Why are you following their orders?”
“I am Oran,” I growl. “Nobody orders me.”
“Really? Because it looked like that guy thinks you’re his lap dog.” She claps her hands, mocking me. “Go fetch, play dead, roll over.”
My muscles tighten as her words cut through me like little knives. Why do I care? I’ve never cared what anyone thinks, least of all a tiny human female I’m supposed to guard. “He doesn’t order me. I do as I want to do.”
“And what is it you want to do right now,Oran?” She licks her lips, and my own mouth goes dry. Fuck. The thought of that tongue touching me, of her lips wrapped around my cock as her blue eyes stare up into mine. I’ve heard of this oral from orc and humans in the fighting places I go. The thought makes me stall, I’ve never imagined anything like that before, even when I watched her all those days and nights. Something is changing inside me and it feels dangerous.