8. Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

Minutes before the Chaos

Valpar

"I knew she'd come," Queen Melina skipped joyfully toward me.

Osirus stood up, steadying himself after I almost knocked him over. He brushed off his arm, and his lip curled into a smile. "Indeed, but I have to say, even I did not see this little pairing coming."

Pairing? Did he really mean it? This woman attempted to deceive me, using enchantments or a fragrance that heightened desire to seduce me. And her feigned innocence only served to further infuriate me.

I could not bear to remain in this place for even a solitary minute longer. The thought of enduring another raucous mating ball was unbearable. Instead, I would find solace in the depths of the Wood. There, amidst the earthy scent of moss and damp leaves, I would spend my days as a solitary orc, finding solace in my own company. In the quiet solitude, I would find respite, allowing my hand to caress my own shaft for pleasure.

I brushed my arm against Osirus as I passed. The king was out of his mind. Perhaps too much of his female's scent has gone to his head. I'd heard of males being consumed once mated.

I would have done the same, but there would be no light source rising that will bring me my miresa. Not then, not ever.

Melina's small gasp reached my ears and muttered that small fae's name. I could smell a faint scent of Calliope on both of the royals, and I wondered if this was the niece who was visiting?

"I'll take care of her; you take care of that—" Melina spat at my back. I didn't know a queen could spout such hatred.

I didn't care in the slightest.

Osirus's unamused hum filled the air, as the sound of his wings fluttering echoed behind me. The guards, their trembling bodies a testament to their fear, became a spectacle as I approached the door. I let out a low grunt, feeling the weight of my presence intensify their unease. They put out their swords to block me, but one glare their way, they deflated and backed away.

"Let him go," Osirus said in a bored tone. "I'll take care of the stubborn goblin."

I let out a tired sigh as I stepped into the serene hallway just outside the bustling ballroom. The echoes of laughter and chatter had faded away, leaving behind a peaceful silence.

Finally.

The air was thick with the lingering scent of fresh flowers that sat on every table, their delicate fragrance filled my nostrils. A sudden sneeze escaped me, followed by a low groan of my annoyance as I used my arm to wipe my nose, while I felt the tickle of irritation.

"I knew you to be the most stubborn of your brothers, but I didn't know you could also be the most dense," Osirus drawled.

I had spent countless hours studying ancient picture texts of my people and honing my combat skills. My mind was sharp, my strategies were foolproof and my determination to protect my tribe was unwavering. While others may have faltered in the face of strong forces, I stood tall, ready to confront them head-on.

My ideas during the war proved tactful; I counted for every possible scenario, ensuring that no witch or warlock would escape my grasp. With precision and finesse, I dismantled their dark reign and helped bring peace back to our land. I was confident in my abilities.

Dense? He said I was dense.

I snarled, the anger flashing in my eyes, and swiftly turned to face him.

"That fae tricked me!" I balled my fists at my side. "She smells nothing like a fae. She used magic, a potion to hide her scent. She made me want her. She did things to my body!" My breath heaved and sweat beaded on my brow.

My body instantly remembered her touch, like it was supposed to be there. The drum in my chest thrummed like hundreds lived in there. My body shook, wanting to hold her body in my arms, to protect her, take her, rut her, and leave my marks on her clean, unmarked skin.

I let my fists relax, when I found a whiff of her scent on my tunic. My chest purred, a sound I had never made before, and my eyes widened as I placed my hand over my chest to feel the rumbling that I felt.

Osirus's lips curled into a smug smile, as he confidently adjusted the coat draped over his body. "You really believe magic would do that?" he taunted, gesturing towards my sturdy shaft.

I growled in warning, and he chuckled.

"Tell me, how did you help us win the war, Valpar? What was the turning point?"

I jutted out my chin, showing off my tusks. "Orcs are powerful, we have the strength of ten shifters. We can destroy anything in our way, we are immune to mag—"

Osirus perched his hand under his chin when the sudden realization hit me.

"Is that so? You are immune to magic." he said condescendingly.

Bassza!

All orcs are immune to magic, so then, why does my body react to this female? Why am I drawn to her? Why do I need her, want her? Why does my cock leak?

"She—she does not smell like a fae." I swallowed trying to keep Osirus' scrutinizing gaze away from me.

Osirus leaned on the wall, picking a flower up from a vase. "That is because she is not a fae, or a fairy, or any other creature of this realm. She is a human, Valpar."

A hu-man.

I grabbed my shaft that laid beneath the cloth I wore. I knew of hu-mans . All orcs were given a book, made by Queen Clara of the Cerulean Moon Kingdom. It was of each species of shifters, vampires, fae and fairy. It was to help the orcs in case we found a miresa among those creatures.

There was a chapter on humans, because humans at the time came into the Bergarian realm from another place called Earth. It had been so long I hardly remembered what was written about any creature. I gave up studying years ago. I could hardly read that book now even if I wanted to.

From what I remember, humans were weak. No powers, and no way to protect themselves.

If I was not there to catch her when she fell—she could have hurt herself!

My drum pounded in my chest, its rhythmic beat echoing like a thunderstorm. Panic surged through me, tightening its grip around my skull as I imagined her lying on the frigid floor, writhing in agony. The sheer intensity ignited a surge of my life-force, burning like a fierce flame.

What if I was not there?

My growl echoed down the hallway, my claws pulling into my thick hair.

"Valpar, are you alright?" the fae in front of me asked smugly. "You seem… distressed."

"She is mine?" I whipped my head toward the King of the Fae. "She is my miresa. This is why—" I held my hands out in front of me and the only thing I could see was her in my arms. The way her eyes turned black, when I told her she was good—

"I don't know, you tell me. How do you feel?" Osirus asked.

My body tingled with an electrifying power, coursing through me like a surge of lightning. It brought me to life, the crimson life force flowing through the branches of my body. From head to toe my body was shocked to life at the sudden realization — I had a miresa!

I was eager and possessive. My hands tingled with the desire to take her into my arms, hide her from the world and to keep her all to myself.

After years of waiting, of hoping that she would be given to me, she was dropped into my lap, and with my foolishness, I almost missed it.

I had been given the greatest gift.

I will never again be alone, and neither will she.

I clenched my fist tightly, feeling the knuckles strain against the pressure. With a fierce thud, I pounded my fist against my chest, the force reverberating through my bones. A resounding roar erupted from deep within me, echoing through the air.

My tunic ruffled as I tugged at it, frustration boiling inside me. The anger pulsated through my veins, making my head spin. I shook it vigorously, strands of hair whipping against my face.

The absence of something to strike intensified my fury. I longed to release this pent-up energy, to unleash my rage upon something, anything. But the palace's delicate treasures were off-limits, a boundary I could not cross.

Yet, amidst the turmoil, a glimmer of determination sparked within me. I knew there was one way to alleviate the pain, to make things right.

Claim my female.

I stomped away from Osirus, although I felt him closely behind my back. My vision was red, not in anger but using the instincts my orgamo had taught me as an orcling. Instincts I should only use during battles, hunts, and—claiming one's female.

I pushed in the door, my body wild with desire and my instincts on high alert.

I would take what was mine, what was gifted to me.

How could I have been so oblivious, so foolish, to just leave my miresa in a room full of unmated? The shame gnawed at me. I became determined to spend every remaining moment of my existence making amends. I would gladly press my lips against the very soil she trod upon, ready to carry her weight so she may never walk alone again. I would tenderly indulge her, even as her pleas for respite filled the air, driven by an overwhelming desire to bring her pleasure.

If she didn't want to give me my release to punish me, I would accept it. Whatever she wanted, so that I may receive her forgiveness.

I pushed the doors to the ballroom open and let out a roar as they both slammed against the walls. The room stilled and the music stopped. Everyone stared at me in shock and horror, while I stopped myself from smiling.

This is what I craved, their fear, to show my miresa that I will be her protector.

The crowd parted and I saw my brother, Sugha, holding my mate in his arms. She was standing there, her lips parted and the sweet smell of chamomile wafting toward my nose. My nose flared and, it was then, I realized it was her arousal.

Bassza, this female, would destroy me before the night was done.

But my brother, with his smug smile, made me seethe.

"Sugha! What are you doing?!" I growled and balled my fists. I will destroy him for touching my female.

Words were exchanged, but I barely registered them.

He. Was. Touching. Touching what was mine.

After making sure my female was safe, her sweet and small voice confirming it, I pulled my arm back and landed my knuckles straight into my brother's face.

With the rest of the tribe drunk, they found it fun, and it was the perfect escape for taking my miresa away from the party. I grabbed her by her waist and threw her over my shoulder. I tried to ignore the heat that ran up my arms and straight to my shaft.

I groaned, my shaft leaking and soaking my pants as I adjusted myself. This was why we wore basic cloth instead of pants. I'd be chafing until my skin was raw.

"Oh heckers! Sugha!" my miresa screamed, and I growled, flipping a table closest to me. Food fell to the floor, and the crowd screamed, running away from me and the orcs brawling behind me.

My miresa will never speak my brother's name, not after tonight. She will only scream mine.

"Wait, let me go!" My miresa shouted as I hoisted her up and threw her over my shoulder.

"I'm fine!" Sugha shouted. I snarled and held onto my miresa's back-side. Mine.

I sucked in a breath and turned before I departed through the doors. I tilted my chin up, happy to claim my prize. "She's mine!" I announced to the room.

The clashing orcs abruptly halted, their bellowing cheers echoing through the air, before the resounding thud of one striking another in the face reverberated amidst the chaos. I stormed away, grasping my miresa's ass, carrying her away from the clamor, and seeking a moment of solitude to have her all to myself.

Finally, I had her and I would not let her out of my sight—ever!