30. Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty

Valpar

My mate was trouble. I knew that from the very beginning, but she continued to surprise me. She could distract me and help forget the people outside, with her delicious body and her arousing scent, but apparently it was nothing to worry about, anyway.

When I stepped out of the tent the next morning, leaving my exhausted female to rest, there was no sign of any of the king's subjects. Just the tribe on the far side of the courtyard, sick from their drinking of ale and overstuffing themselves with meat and sweets. If they continued to act in such a manner, they would have a rounded belly such as myself.

Once they woke, Olur informed me that there was nothing to be seen nor heard from the tent the night before. The lantern that hung had fallen and our bodies could not be seen. The king's subjects soon left afterwards, groaning in disappointment and sought their entertainment elsewhere.

My body felt lighter after that fact. No one saw the outline of my female's body. No one knows how our bodies moved.

As for any sound, that sound that came from my female, the tribe could not hear it. They were upset they could see or hear nothing, so drunk amongst themselves.

The tribe dared to question if anything happened at all, but it was quickly dismissed with the gentle breeze and my stepping forward. Being coated with your miresa's arousal was certainly an impressive achievement.

Pride washed over me. I had satisfied my female, and they were indeed jealous.

Their joyful laughter and rambunctious attitudes from yesterday were long gone. They were forlorn and a hint of jealousy was in their gazes. They spoke little, but congratulated me once more before they packed their things and all decided to take the long trek home.

They'd been away from their homes for a long while. They also had been together in the presence of many other males. Most of us were lonely creatures who only wanted a female at our side, not another male, to fight for land and possessions. Yet, they stayed to find a female, like did.

Most males had gardens, animals and traps that needed tending. They had their own duties to their homes and baskets, plus, leather and food to trade when we gathered once a month. They needed to get away from here, away from the brightness and light of the light sources. It would only make them more irritable as time went on. Even I was tired of being in the open and not shaded by the trees.

Part of me was jealous of them. I longed to take my female back to my home, even if it was not ready like it was once was.

I had abandoned, half made furniture, such as a sofa for comfortable sitting, a half-completed bathroom and trunks of cloth for me to make her clothing.

I groaned. Will I be able to make her pretty things?

There were many things I needed to accomplish, but the only thing my body wanted, what I wanted, was to be with my female.

My cock would not allow for anything else.

She was devilish, a temptress, and I could not withhold myself from her body.

This communication she wanted was important, that much I knew. How could I tell her in the tent, with her half-naked body on top of mine and her arousing scent surrounding me, that her past was what was holding me back?

I would always have her, keep her. She was mine and I would never let her go. To have her suffer every day and it be my fault, that I would never allow. Luckily, I could hold myself from branding her. My brand was far too large to force that inside her. I would have to put in more effort for our bond to take place. For how long I would be able to withhold myself, I wasn't sure. The want to plant my cock completely inside her, so her bones lined up with mine, sent shivers down my body I couldn't ignore.

I wanted it, to claim her fully, but I would not put my miresa's happiness at risk. Ultimately, it would need to be her decision if she wanted her memories back.

I swallowed heavily. Yes, her decision. No more letting others decide for her, even me, when I was trying to protect her.

The tribe left my horse at the palace stables. When it was time for my female and I to return to the Wood we would take him with us. I knew Ulam would be unhappy with me not spending time with him, but being a horse, they were not the smartest of creatures, anyway. As long as he were fed, cleaned and had the accompaniment of other horses in the fields, he would be happy.

When my female emerged from the tent, her hair was tangled, her eyes swollen and my smile emerged so wide, my lips hurt from my tusks tugging at the skin. She wore a silk blanket covering her body. I narrowed my eyes and took another look around the courtyard to make sure there were no wandering eyes to behold her body, then, softening again once I approached her.

My miresa gives me a lazy smile, leaning her head far back, as the sun cast a warm golden glow on her face. I could hear the soft rustle of her hair as a gentle breeze brushed against it. "Hi," she whispered, her voice as delicate as a feather, and her cheeks flush a lovely shade of pink, mirroring the vibrant hue of her hair.

I took my claws and ran them through her hair, taking out some knots that gathered there. A rumble of pride erupted from my chest. "Female, you look thoroughly sated this morning."

She playfully bit her bottom lip and shyly buried her blushing face in the soft fabric on my chest. I couldn't help but chuckle, taking over the role of the amused.

I wrapped her in the blankets, covering her from head to toe. She grumbled about being too hot, but my grip on her tightened and I shook my head at her request to take some of the clothing away.

If it were ever possible, my possessiveness with her had doubled overnight. I did not know if it was because my cock had met her cunt or, simply, because I had to take her within the sight of my tribe the night before. Nevertheless, I would keep her covered until we reached the cave, where I could pamper her.

"Does your cunt hurt?" I whispered, as we entered the forest.

She lifted the blanket and covered her face. "You can't just say things out loud like that!" She squealed and shook her head. I smiled and I leisurely I took our time through the forest, waiting for the sound of rolling waves to fill my ears.

I felt calm, even though I had nudging in the back of my mind that I needed to speak to my mate about her past. This communication she wanted would be done. Now that I was of somewhat sound mind, I intended to give her what she wanted.

Before I opened my mouth to speak, she leaned her head on my chest and blurted, "Tell me more about your family." I stopped in surprise and gazed down at the bundle in my arms. This was sudden, but by the bright smile she gave me, I knew I could not deny her.

I continued walking. "You already know Sugha. He is my brother, a half-brother, as your kind would say. Another male seeded him to my ogamie—mother." I tried to remember the words from the book bestowed upon the orcs. "I also have another brother, Thorn. He is the eldest brother of the clan."

My miresa's lips parted. "You lost me."

For the rest of our pleasant walk, I explained about the purpose of a clan. How the females were so few among the orcs and that females would choose their males through a ceremony similar to what my female had endured. Each male had their own cabin, each had their own time with their female. They were very much like a mated couple, as the Bergarians would say, but she had many males that took care of her. This was a clan—a family.

"Like a reverse harem," my miresa whispered.

I did not know about this reverse harem she spoke of, but as I continued to speak about how my ogamie got sicker and sicker over the years after each orcling was born, her face grew somber.

"She was cared for. So very much," I told my miresa as we came to the cave.

The mighty waves crashed forcefully onto the sandy shoreline, their frothy white crests reaching towards the heavens. Above, a symphony of bird cries echoed over the vast expanse of the sea, their calls blending with the gentle whistling of the wind. As I stood there, I could sense the approaching storm, carried by the salty breeze that brushed against my skin. A shiver traveled through my entire being, like the creaking of timbers on a weathered ship.

I made my little fairy stand as I took the boulders and locked us inside, leaving the smallest of gaps so her companion could slip away if we rutted again.

Which we would.

"That's so sad, and I'm guessing there weren't any girls born, either?"

I shook my head. "Never, at least to my knowledge. My seeded orgamo doesn't even remember his father. As far as we know, my brothers and I may be the first generation."

My miresa gaped in surprise.

"Or, they are just so old, they do not remember. We live for a long time. I do not believe the moss in our head can hold that much memory." She laughed when I picked her up, her legs kicking when I brought her deeper into the cavern until we reached the opening of our living area.

The torches flickered alive, their warm glow guiding us towards home. The air carried a hint of fae, a cloyingly sweet fragrance that lingered. A fresh basket rested on the table, while delicate flower petals led a trail into the bathroom. I shook my head in disbelief and gently carried my precious miresa to her intended destination, for a soothing bath.

I know the king was trying to help our joining, but I did not like him to meddle in my affairs. I was perfectly cable taking care of my female. Once we got back to the Wood, I would show my little fairy how good of a male I could be.

"So, you have three dads. That's so lucky. What are their names? What are they like?"

I set her down on the edge of the massive tub, which looked like it was carved right into the stone, and when I twisted the knobs, water came pouring out. I found glass bottles on the shelves. I took a tentative sniff of each one and poured them in the bath.

"Thorn's father is Zarfu. He was the first chosen of my ogamie's clan. I guess you could say he was the more level-headed one. Thorn takes after him. Sugha's father is Eman, and he is— different—just like Sugha. They always joke, get into trouble and like to cook and make sweets far too much." I rubbed my stomach. "They are very good sweets."

My little fairy laughed and nodded. "I like Sugha. He was fun to talk to, and what about your dad?"

"His name is Azuk, the best of all the males my ogamie picked." My miresa smiled as I dragged the blankets from around her body. I took my time unwrapping her, like a beautiful present just for me.

I continued to tell her how orcs were very possessive, how the males could not spend a lot of time with one another while they knew they were with the same female. They each cared for her, wanted her for themselves but they never fought in front of her, knowing it would upset her.

Eventually, all the males cared for one another over the years. It took time, but still they did not sleep under the same roof. They understand one another from a distance.

After I pulled the blankets away, I inspected my miresa's body. She wouldn't look at me and crossed her arms to hide. My gaze on her was not for lust, though I knew my body reacted as such, but I wanted to check the marks I'd left on her body, to make sure I had not hurt her.

A dark bruise marked her shoulder and neck where I sucked on her there. It was like a marking spot, but more pronounced, like most the creatures had on this side of the wall. They bite and rut, which was how they claimed. For orcs, it was much different.

I pushed my miresa's legs apart while she sat on the edge of the tub, and she snapped them back together. I raised my eyebrow and shook my head, placing my hand on her knee. "Let me see if I have hurt you, my mate."

Her cheeks turned a darker shade of pink, and she bit on her fingernail, slowly letting me part her legs.

"Mmm, good girl for listening so well." She put her hands on my shoulders to keep her balance, and I decided to continue to speak about my orgamo to keep her nervousness away.

"My father was head-strong and was not the most pleasant to be around."

"Oh, like you?" she quipped.

Her eyes widened as I parted her legs further, giving me the perfect view of her back-end's hole. I leaned in closer to inspect her lower lips. I could see fine before, but if she was going to sass me, I was going to make her more uncomfortable.

"Valpar!" she squeaked and tried to close her legs again.

Her efforts were useless, and my tongue licked at her swollen folds. She took in a shallow breath and held onto the side of the tub to keep her steady.

"Orc spit is known to help for cuts and sores. This will soothe your pussy."

I took a longer, tentative lick to the top part of her cunt, making her back arch and her hand land in my hair.

"Please?"

I laid my tongue flat against it, taking a long lick and stared up at her. "I do not know. You said I was not pleasant to be around."

"To other people, maybe! Not to me!" she argued, while trying to pull my head back to her pussy.

"You are a greedy female. So greedy your body accepted my cock fully." My shaft pressed against the side of the cool stone tub and my body shivered. "Now you are going to get into the tub, and I will treat you more afterwards."

She sighed deeply and nodded, and I carefully slipped her inside the warm waters.

"Good girl, now lean back and let me wash your hair." She turned toward me and cocked her head.

"You are…going to wash me?"

I grabbed the oils from the shelf and smelled each one to find the right one to put in her hair. "Of course, it's what a good male would do for his mate."

She sensuously licked her lips, and I gently ran my sharp claws through the tangle of her vibrant pink hair. The room filled with a faint scent of floral shampoo, as I massaged her scalp. Her eyelids fluttered shut, surrendering to the pleasurable sensation.

I should have done this from the beginning.

"Tell me more," she muttered under her breath as I poured water down her hair. "About your dads."

I hummed and watched the water droplets run down her arm. I don't know why I felt compelled to share with her, but the thoughts of my orgamos and their health flashed into my mind. "All the orgamos are sick," I spoke without really thinking. "I mean, they look weak. They have aged since the war. Their black hair is turning white and grey, and their strength is leaving. They also look tired."

My miresa licked her lips as the water ran down her cheek. "They are growing old," my miresa said without looking at me. "Like a human. Humans don't live long; their hair turns grey, and they get wrinkles on their faces." She patted her hands on her cheeks. "If a Bergarian saw a human — an older human — for the first time, they would think they were sick, too. Maybe your dads are getting old, like humans."

I raked my claws through her hair, which was now free of the tangles. "What happens after they get too old? " I asked, while I got a cloth from the table to wash her with.

My little fairy shuffled uncomfortably, so I took my claw and pulled her chin toward me. "Speak, what happens?"

Her lip wobbled. "They, go to sleep, but they don't wake back up. It will be like your mother and they will meet her in the stars."

The drumming in my chest slowed. This had come across my mind many times. All three had become sick, and Zarfu told my seeded orgamo that his time was short. Ogamie visited him in a dream and told him so.

My seeded orgamo had said nothing about Ogamie visiting him, so, I believed he would have more time, but I was not for certain. Nothing was for certain.

Perhaps it was my orgamo's time to meet Ogamie. He had been sad for many moons and, when I visited him, he talked of her often. It would not surprise me if Zarfu passed into the stars, that my seeded orgamo would follow him shortly after.

I did not know how to feel about this. I was a selfish orc and wanted him to stay, but I also wanted him to be free of pain and be near the female he cared for.

I let out a sigh, took the cloth and rubbed my miresa's back, cleaning her arms and her body. She watched me quietly. It was the quietest I had ever seen her and it worried me.

"What are you thinking?" I took the cloth and parted her legs. She gasped when I cleaned between her folds and her hands grabbed the tub.

Good, she knew not to push me away. Maybe time in the corner did do her good.

"What was it like?" She didn't look at me, but gazed off into the distance. "What was it like, when you were younger? With your brothers and growing up?" I paused my cleaning of her body and she turned to me. "What was it like, to be young?"