Chapter 38

ATOX

The moment the humans shoot me with a blast of water, I consider turning my gorja toward them and beheading them. But Verig’s voice shook in a way I’ve never heard. Something is very wrong.

As I swing down from my gorja, he blocks the door to the building. One draw of the air into my lungs and I know instantly my female, the one who said she loved me and then later left me, is inside.

Love is a human emotion, one I nearly succumbed to. I let her weaken me. Everyone saw it. Verig, my warriors, my people. Even Ossa. Though for the past month she’s chastised me daily for not attacking New Earth and reclaiming my female.

While I lay in bed healing, the few unmated orc females in Mount Racha presented themselves to me. All assumed I’d forget about my human.

I don’t want an orc female. I want the female who burrowed her way into my soul. The one I pledged myself to. The one who pledged herself to me.

Except she walked away.

“Our graka’s inside. In a cell,” Verig says.

Despite all the pain I suffered watching her walk away, I still worry about her. It’s because of the risha. Our souls entwined that night, and we will always be connected.

As I near the door, I hear her talking. “Who’s with her?”

“No one.”

I edge the door open, a fraction of an inch, to spy on her. She’s rubbing her belly.

“Don’t worry, little one. Verig’s gone to get help or to find a blaster. He doesn’t have the key and his knives won’t work against the metal bars. I’m sure he’s a fine grak and will accept you. If not, we’ll find another colony. We don’t give up. Like your father. He never gave up. I can’t wait to tell you about him. He was a strong warrior, a wise grak, and an even better mate.”

With the back of a grimy hand, she brushes away her tears. “No more crying. Atox wouldn’t like that.” Then she clamps her hand over her mouth, stifling a cry so deep and pained it reminds me of a death rattle.

“I’m trying, baby. I’m really trying to be strong, but I can’t forget that awful day they killed him. I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t even run to him.”

“Why?” I ask as I fling the door open. My eyes shoot from my female’s belly, from the swell of my youngling in her womb, to her face. I need to know the truth, the full truth.

Her eyes widen with shock and her mouth falls open, then the biggest smile I’ve ever seen fills her beautiful face.

Gods, she’s gorgeous. Though she appears smaller, as if she hasn’t been eating. Something isn’t right here. She carries my youngling, and speaks to him or her with love, like any mother would. Yet she sits in a prison.

“Atox? Is it really you?” she asks, then wavers and grabs hold of the chipped wall. Her eyes roll to the back of her head as she sinks to the floor, unconscious.

I roar my anger, grief, and confusion. Whatever brought her to be in a prison, I know part of the truth now. She left with the other humans because she thought I was dead.

I grip the iron bars of the cell and pull with all of my strength until they begin to bend. This is taking too long. My female, my pregnant mate, lies on the ground unconscious.

“Verig!”

My second races in and immediately adds his strength to mine.

“Find the keys or a blaster,” I order as I continue bending the iron.

Moments later, Verig returns with a blaster. With only one shot, the locking mechanism bursts apart. I swing the door open and lift my female, placing her on the meager bed. My hands move over her face and arms, seeking but finding no injury.

As my fingers curve over her belly, I rest my palm there. A youngling. My youngling.

“Atox?” she asks, as her eyes flutter open. Her shaking hand touches my cheek.

My eyes close as I take in the familiar touch, the warmth and love there. Gods, I never thought I’d see her again.

When I press my lips to hers, her tongue delves into my mouth with a fierceness I’ve missed. My soul awakens to her touch, and life courses through me once again. That blaster damaged me, but thinking she no longer wanted me nearly killed me.

“Paloma, I love you,” I whisper in her ear. The meaning of the word evaded me before this moment.

“That’s nice, my grak,” she says, her voice weak. “Because we’re going to have a baby.”

Does she not realize my hand already rests on her belly? I glance behind me at Verig. He looks concerned.

“We should go, Atox. I’ll clear the area, to ensure there’s no more blaster fire near our graka.”

Her eyes close again and her hand falls to her side. My female is dying. I scoop her up and exit the building.

“Level the colony. All of it!” I rage. They will pay for what they’ve done to my mate.