Chapter Eight

brEAC

T he morning sun barely pierced the forest canopy as we bid farewell to the village. Evie looked radiant in her new clothes, a simple dress that somehow made her even more beautiful, courtesy of the innkeeper's wife, a gift for saving their grandson. We also had supplies for the road, supplies the villagers could use with many of their food stores having been burned by the Kings' Guard, but they insisted on thanking us the only way they could. My chest tightened with a mix of desire and guilt.

We rode in companionable silence for most of the day, the weight of last night's intimacy hanging between us. I wanted to tell her everything, to confess my betrayal, but fear for my family kept me silent.

As dusk approached, I heard familiar voices ahead. My blood ran cold. Collectors.

Most collectors had started as a respectable branch of the Kings' Guard, helping the king find a female to fulfill the prophecy of having a female child, despite the fact that he already had a mate, the former king's mate. The prophecy had stated that only an orc that had a female child could remain on the throne. The previous king's mate had delivered a female orc, though no one had seen her since the coup. Most feared she was dead. King Gnarlug immediately wed her, intending to sire a female child on her, but she never had any orclings. The collector units were formed to help King Gnarlug find a female to carry his offspring. As the years have gone on, collectors vanished from service, rumored to have formed mate bonds with the females they found and fleeing the realm, or losing their life for betraying the king. King Gnarlug has never been known for benevolence. This group was a nasty bunch that I had tried to avoid.

"Stay close," I murmured to Evie. "Let me do the talking. And remember, you're my mate."

We rounded a bend to find a group of burly orcs lounging by the path, uniforms dirty and smelling of alcohol. I recognized Grokk, a brutal piece of work, as their leader.

"Well, well," Grokk sneered. "If it isn't Breac the Loyal."

I wanted to growl at the derogatory tone, but I had Evie to think of, so I plastered on a false grin. "Grokk. Didn't expect to see you lot out here."

Evie tensed in front of me. I placed a protective hand on her midsection, praying she'd stay quiet.

"Who's the pretty little thing?" another collector asked, eyeing Evie hungrily, not missing the gesture I made.

"My mate," I growled, injecting as much possessiveness into my voice as I could. Mankala danced under me, eager for bloodshed. He was a warhorse, after all.

Grokk's eyes narrowed. "Mate? You? That's rich, Breac. Last I checked, the king didn't allow his pet assassin to have a mate. Maybe we take her off your hands and bring her to the king ourselves. It's our job, after all."

Evie stiffened, her gaze darting between me and the collectors. I felt her panic rising and I prayed she would keep her sassy nature silent for once. These were not the males to anger. They were too quick to violence, and didn't distinguish between males or females.

"I don't think so," I said, trying to keep my tone light. "The king charged me with bringing her to him. I'll finish the job myself."

Grokk snarled and lunged forward, yanking Evie from me. She tumbled from Mankala, crying out in pain and fear. He dragged her several feet away, his arm gripped across her neck, holding her against his body painfully. She struggled but his grip was too firm.

"No!" I roared, leaping after her, my sword drawn, but I was outnumbered.

His colleagues quickly surrounded me and attacked, but didn't try to kill me. They saved that pleasure for the king. They beat me, using the flat of their swords, cudgels, and fists, overwhelming me with sheer numbers, eventually forcing me to my knees, binding my hands, a sword pressed against my throat. I stilled, my head bowed, defeated.

"Not so tough now, are ya? I've waited for this moment for a long time, ya bastard," Grokk taunted. He turned to Evie, who was struggling in another collector's grip, a scarred, mean looking orc who I didn't recognize. "Looks like your 'mate' has been lying to you, sweetheart. He was supposed to deliver you to the king's harem. But don't worry, we'll take good care of you now. Maybe have a little fun on the way." He stroked a finger along her cheek, leaving no doubt as to his intentions. The rest of the orcs chuckled evilly.

Evie's face paled and struggled in vain. "No, that's not true. Breac was taking me to the portal in the capital. I'm going home!"

The collectors erupted in cruel laughter. "Portal? Oh, honey," Grokk sneered. "The only place you're going is the king's bed."

"Evie, I'm sorry," I choked out, shame and rage burning through me. "I never meant to lie to you."

A brutal kick to my midsection and a second punch to my face silenced me. I tasted blood from a split lip, and nausea churned in my stomach.

"Breac!" Evie screamed. "Let him go! Please!"

Grokk advanced on her, his intent clear in his leering gaze. I thrashed against my bonds, desperate to protect her. Grokk yanked her to him, bending his head and burying his nose to her neck, his tusks too close to her throat for comfort. Evie froze, her terror a bitter scent to all.

Grokk gave a low, cruel laugh. "Breac, you've been a bad orc. Sorry, boys. This female is off the table. She's been claimed." He shot me a triumphant look, with Evie pressed to his front. "You couldn't resist, could you, Breac the Loyal ?" He sneered at the last word. "You just had to mate the female that the king wanted. You won't be able to talk your way out of this one, or save her. You've doomed yourself, her, and your family. I've waited a long time for this day."

"Let her go. She has nothing to do with this. She's not even the female in the prophecy. That female was claimed by another orc and taken far away. Evie deserves her freedom," I cried out, desperate to save her, even as I knew Grokk wouldn't care.

"You know the difference between you and me, Breac? You cling to some misguided sense of honor or whatever bullshit you want to call it. The reality is, you lost it a year ago, the day you razed that first village to the ground on King Gnarlug's orders. He's our king now. You need to accept it, accept your role and who you are. You could have a good life with the king."

He sounded resentful, almost jealous of me. I knew he hated my position and my role for the king. I had worked independently for years, but the orders I was given were things I'd never want any other orc to do. Now I realized Grokk would willingly do them, embrace them with enthusiasm. It made me sick.

As did Evie's expression as she looked at me. Horror, shock, betrayal.

"I will never willingly join Gnarlug's rule. I do what I have to so I can protect my family, and now Evie. No more, no less."

He gripped Evie's chin and forced her up to him. "What do you think of your mate now, little female? Maybe you wish you made a better choice, one that won't get you killed."

Her shoulders sagged and went limp in his arms. He relaxed, laughing a cruel laugh. Evie jerked her head back, the top of her skull crashing into his nose, breaking it, blood spurting everywhere, and his hold loosened. His raucous laugh turned to a bellow of rage. Evie had darted away, and he lunged for her, but the older, scarred orc smoothly stepped in between them.

"The king would not want his female harmed. She must remain undamaged to prove that Breac violated his orders. Do you not want Breac punished?"

Grokk snarled for a moment, rage filling him, then he stomped off. "We leave for the capital. Bind them both. Make sure they cannot escape."