5. Olivia

Daria sat next to me in the waiting area as we prepared to go to the auction room. All the creatures from the reception had either paid their second fee to attend the formal auction or left. Now came the claiming. The whole horrifying afternoon played over and over in my head. No one had gotten overly friendly, no grabby hands or anything. I had worse in the bars back home, with men trying to touch me inappropriately or saying crude, suggestive things. No, these creatures had been on their best behavior, except the goblin leader. He never said anything overtly, but it was how he watched me. It was creepy, and I felt dirty being around him.

Daria had introduced me to her orc lordling so there was no doubt who I was to avoid in the claiming. I didn't have the heart to tell her that when she had done the required mingling, he had propositioned me, offered me a castle far beyond anything I could imagine, along with jewels and fine clothing, if I picked him. So much for true love. I probably should tell Daria, but she was convinced of their love. Who was I to destroy what happiness she could find? Besides, if I got lucky, I would find a portal and a way home before too long. Those portals were roving, right? One was bound to show up somewhere near me.

But for the short-term, I had to find my own happiness, whatever happiness I could find with a monster. Odelia had taken me aside after the reception to give me some friendly advice. She suggested that the two creatures I had spent time with, the minotaur and older orc, were not really worth my time as they were older and not as wealthy as some of the other bidders at the auction.

She reminded me that trolls mate in trios and had immense hordes of jewels to shower on their mates. They tended to be biddable and decent lovers with some direction.

Ogres, for all their looks, which were pretty hideous, were vigorous lovers and kept their mates well-satisfied, along with providing well.

Goblins might be a large horde, but only a few were allowed to mate the queen, and it was her choice. But something was off with this specific goblin horde. Their leader gave me the creeps, and I wasn't really into a gang bang, despite being told they had great stamina and were vigorous in the sack. But they still felt creepy to me and I didn't see them as a choice.

There were a few others I never got to meet thanks to my sudden attack of fear, so I'd have to make do with a sudden decision. Since my last sudden decision left me walking down the side of deserted highway, then walking through a portal here, I wasn't confident in my decision-making skills.

Odelia came into the room. "We've had a few last-minute additions, so there are plenty for all of you girls to choose from. A few more orcs have come from the orc lands, along with a second goblin horde. Be smart about it. Olivia? Let's go."

She held her hand out, and I stood on shaking legs. It was time to decide my future.

* * *

Iwalked into the room, where the bidders sat arrayed in a circle, though some stood because of their size, like the minotaur I met earlier, and the trolls, and the ogres. You would think, if Odelia held these auctions often, she would have seats more suited to all the species that came. But I was focusing on the wrong things. I didn't have much time.

Odelia told me earlier that I had limited amount of time to choose. If I didn't, she would award me to the bidder who had offered the most in a secret bid ahead of time. Judging by the avarice that gleamed in the goblin leader's bulging eyes, I feared he was the one who bid the most.

I was allowed to ask three bidders a question. No more than three. Minding Odelia's advice, I stopped in front of the troll brothers. Three of them, all easily seven feet and as big as linemen for the NFL.

I cocked my head up at them. "Why do you want a mate?"

The middle one stood gingerly. "Because we want young and it's time for us to settle down."

I sucked in a deep breath. They smelled of earth and dirt. Not exactly bad, but not something I wanted for the rest of my life. I nodded and walked on.

I stopped at an ogre I had seen earlier. This one was taller than the trolls and bigger, like a wrestler I had once seen, but much bigger. The money these males could make on earth!

"Why do you want a mate?"

He peered at me from his height. "Because it would please me to have a mate."

His scent was more like rock and stone. Again, nothing I was interested in long term.

A scent teased my memory. The warm, safe smell I had been teased with earlier in the day. Like a soft nest, warm, cozy, comfortable. And a second scent. That one was earthy but musky and had aroused me. Both scents had aroused me until I was wet between my thighs, more than I had ever been before. They had belonged to an orc and a minotaur, two kind monsters, though they had scary appearances. They had treated me kindly, and I felt safe with them. I didn't see them in the crowd, which disappointed me. But fear had frozen me and I was searching for the owners of that scent. They had to be here. The scent teased me, and I searched for it among the ones gazing at me hopefully.

A disturbance in the back of the room grabbed everyone's attention. "Sir, this is most unusual."

Odelia ran over and consulted the newcomer. "I apologize for my tardiness, but I believe I paid and am permitted entry."

"You're late, sir. I don't usually allow for lateness."

It was the orc from earlier. Kharag. He belonged to the warm, cozy scent, not the earthy one. That must have been the minotaur. I looked beyond him for his friend the minotaur, but I didn't see him. Odelia scowled and gestured to the room.

I started to move again, but someone grabbed my arm and yanked me down painfully to hiss in my ear. "If you know what's best for you, choose the goblins. Otherwise, we'll find you and steal you back. And things will get messy. Understood?"

Fear pierced me, not to mention the sour smell from the goblin, making me want to throw everything up. Odelia turned her attention back to the auction, and the goblin melted away into the crowd while I quaked in fear. Then I remembered what some of the girls had told me. Pick one of the biggest, baddest creatures for protection and you'll be safe. That was the goal in this world. Safety. These creatures all wanted a mate. Most of them wouldn't abuse me, though I wasn't sure about the nasty little goblins.

The trolls made sense. They were huge and there were three of them. But I couldn't imagine being with them forever. Ogres were also pretty strong, but the same problem. Sex was the key with both of them and I couldn't imagine it, even though some of the girls said it was great.

I locked eyes with the orc. Scarred body, broken tusk, fierce, protective. He had taken care of me at the reception. And he had felt safe.

"I choose the orc."