Chapter 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

RYKO

" H ow will mating a human female I've already chosen risk your plans, Grak?" I dare ask as we head toward the human sector. "Is this not the reason you negotiate with the humans? To attain females for—" The blade of his knife lands against my throat before I finish the question.

"You continue to speak as if I invited your council. Has Verig been killed, and you elevated to neld in his place? I do not recall any such occurrence that would justify this continued disrespect from you."

"I only meant?—"

"Your place is to follow my orders, and if I cannot rely on you to do so, then you are of no use to me or our people."

When I growl at the slight, my grak's knife bites into my skin. The next outburst will drive that knife deeper, so I hold my tongue.

"You are one of my best warriors... when you focus." He removes the knife. "But you are still young. That is the only reason I've tolerated your disobedience thus far. "

Dark eyes narrow. "I'm at the end of my patience with you, Ryko." With a deep breath, he adds, "You will be the first male to mate one of the human females. I've already chosen one for you. She will suit your needs, settle you."

This news is not new, as Verig has already told me my grak chose a female for me. I know nothing about her, nor do I care to. I will have Lily, no other, but I remain composed, silent, as I look for a way to convince my grak that I should be with Lily.

"You will mate the blue-eyed female and she will end this restlessness in you or I will kill you. The risha will be in three days. With all warriors present to witness."

Vekk!

"I formally claim the female known as Lily," I announce, risking my very life with my defiance.

My grak's eyes narrow in fury. "You've mated her?"

"Not yet."

"You think announcing a claim will stop my plan? Make me change my mind?"

"She is mine, grak," I say, tempering my voice. "I will perform risha with no other. If you ask the humans to add her to the list, there will be no further issues. "

The tip of his knife presses against the base of my throat. I've spoken too brazenly. He may slit my throat if he wishes, but I will not back down.

"The humans pick which females. I will demand nothing of them more than the numbers agreed to. And you, Ryko, will make no demands of me. You will do as you're told or—" My grak's focus suddenly shifts to a group of human males entering Pen'Kesh's center.

The three males halt when they spot us, then quickly avert their eyes.

With the presence of the enemy, our heated discussion abruptly ends. Whether he chooses to kill me later or not is irrelevant. In this moment, I'm a warrior, duty-bound to my grak and people. I shove all personal needs, wants, and concerns aside to deal with those who are not of our people.

We spread out, but only by a few feet, our hands on our knives as we glare at the humans, waiting for them to pass.

"I cannot let you risk our people," Atox growls at me, too low for the humans to hear.

I won't give up my Lily.

"Vekk. Vints, now, too." Atox nods toward a group of vints entering from the opposite direction. "This could be interesting," he adds as the humans and vints stop a mere ten feet from one another.

The vints have been raiding the humans' food stockpiles for months, as well as damaging their farming equipment. Vints are useless. They only exist to cause trouble, but their nature works to our advantage. The humans need us for protection. That is what my grak has offered them in exchange for females.

"The vekkers have been unusually quiet these last few weeks," he says, speaking of the vints. "And the humans believe we're no longer needed."

"You sent us to their sector this morning, to remind them of their vulnerability," I guess.

"Yes," he confirms. "The humans are weak, but this is not Orcos. We can no longer take what we want from an enemy, not without repercussions."

The other species. And the cendagi who brought us here. Atox does not tell his warriors everything.

"Today's display convinced the humans to resume the talks, but they are uncertain about giving us females. Anything you do could destroy this deal. That is why I told you to stay away from the humans."

"I could incite the vints along the humans' border to convince them they need our protection." I've been itching for a good fight. Leaving my Lily in Pen Kesh, not knowing what was happening to her, has been maddening. And I must regain my grak's respect. This treaty could give me the opening to take Lily, even if he does not yet see that.

"And if the vints capture you?" he asks as we watch the humans change direction to avoid the vints.

I slide my knife free at the insult until I remember who is asking the question. My grak.

Once drawn, a knife must be used. Either I plunge it into my grak—an action I likely will not survive—or I apologize for drawing it against him.

I slap the flat of my blade against my chest, begging forgiveness.

Atox im Grak scowls but does not slit my throat. He's in a good mood.

"You will not return to the human sector again, Warrior."

"What?" The idea of leaving Lily, unprotected and vulnerable—again—twists my gut.

"Your mind is on mating a female and not your allegiance to me, Warrior. Stay clear of the humans. All of them." With a grunt, he walks toward the human sector.

A moment later, I find myself at the entrance. I don't even recall following him.

My grak glares at me, then a giggle inside the sector draws our attention. My sweet Lily is standing in the square smiling and talking to a tall, dark-haired human male.

A growl rises in my throat, but I squelch the warning to the male. Not with my grak here.

When Lily turns her head in my direction, our eyes meet. She glances to her right and I know precisely what she is thinking. She plans to take a break and wait for me in the woods.

Blood races through my entire body, my eagerness to meet her immense, but I must pretend she is nothing but another human female, one of no consequence. I turn my gaze from her, as if she is nothing.

It is the least I can do… as payment for your services .

Vekk, I cannot keep my promise and protect her at the same time!

"That one there…" My grak points in Lily's direction. "She doesn't look as breakable as some of the other human females. She could bear my younglings."

My grak wants Lily for himself!

My blood turns icy cold. I will not let another male touch her, even my grak!

"She has few skills," I say quickly, keeping my tone as even and disinterested as I can. "The female with hair the color of fire, in the back of the square, sharpens knives with the skills of a warrior. And she is tall, sturdy."

"You think like a neld wishing to increase the strength of his army, not a grak tasked with ensuring the survival of his people. This one, the one with the dark curly hair, obeys the males of her people and is sturdy enough to survive a good fucking. I do not need a female with the skills of a warrior, but a female who knows how to obey. One who will bear me an heir."

My grak makes the laws. His warriors enforce them. If I reveal he's talking about my Lily, he will take her, if nothing more than to punish me. My mind whirls, scrambling for a convincing lie that will turn his eyes to another.

Atox im Grak slaps his hand on my shoulder. "I must find Sojek. You stay here and watch my female for me. Kill anyone who touches her."