Page 8 of The Orc King's Bride

My words hang in the air between us, heavy with tension. I watch as Gorlag’s eyes widen in shock, the color draining from his face. He looks as if he might collapse.

“Sit down before you fall down,” I order, guiding him to a nearby chair, the authority in my voice leaving no room to argue.

Gorlag sinks into the chair, his eyes unfocused as he grapples with my intention. I understand his reaction all too well; it mirrors my own when I realized what Sloane meant to me. The very idea of begetting an heir with a female who is not an orcupends everything our people believe. It threatens to unravel the entire fabric of our society.

The silence in the med suite is as tense as Gorlag’s labored breaths, and I question whether he is, indeed, well enough to leave Vagan’s care.

I can almost see the thoughts racing through his mind, for I have experienced similar ones: the implications of a half-breed heir, the potential revolt of my people, the complete upheaval of everything we know and believe.

What will happen when my people learn that the human female is not just a murderer and the future mother of my child—she is also my perfect genetic match? My future queen?

Finally, Gorlag looks up at me, his expression a mix of anger and resolve. “Sire,” he starts, then stops.

I nod, encouraging him to continue. I need to hear him out. Gorlag’s acceptance of this unprecedented situation is imperative. He is not just my second, he is my closest ally. I consider him a friend.

“What if the female refuses to give you an heir? Will you force yourself on her?” He smiles cruelly; that thought brings him a twisted sense of justice.

“Never,” I growl, offended by the mere suggestion of forcing myself on Sloane. “I have a different plan to ensure her cooperation.”

Gorlag’s face contorts with disappointment. “Do not tell me you plan on making this female your queen.”

“No.” I meet his relieved gaze, allowing the silence to stretch between us.At least not yet.

“Whatisyour plan?”

A slow, deliberate smile spreads across my face. “I am going to let her escape, and you are going to help me.”

Gorlag stares at me, his mouth opening and closing as he struggles to process my words. He is considering the sheer audacity of letting a prisoner flee without punishment. “Why would you do this, sire?”

“To beget an heir from the human female, she must willingly come to my bed,” I explain. “For her to make this choice, she must first experience her only other alternative.”

Understanding dawns on Gorlag. “You plan to let her experience the bitter taste of freedom alone in the forest?”

I nod, pleased that he has grasped the core concept of my plan. “Exactly. And when she returns—because she will return—she will do so of her own free will.”

Gorlag’s brow furrows. “Yet she has already experienced survival alone in the forest. That is where we found her, where she took Bulux’s life and nearly took my own. How will this time be any different?”

“Then, she was on the run from slavers and armed with a blade. Now, she has experienced the luxury of house arrest in the palace guest suite. When I let her escape, she will be unarmed and dressed in a cumbersome robe.”

Gorlag slowly nods. “What if the female does not survive in the forest? Your chance of begetting an heir will die with her.”

“I will not allow that to happen. Guards will follow her and keep her safe while putting obstacles in her path that encourage her return to the palace.”

Even as I voice those words, a slight change in the plan forms in my mind. A change I do not share with my second just yet, although a thrill of excitement surges through me as my cock hardens and my spikes fill with seed.

Soon, Sloane will understand that her future lies with me. And when she does, nothing will stand in our way of ruling the Kingdom of Ari.Together.

Chapter 8

Sloane

The object Zephyrdropped on the table is a pocket knife, and I stifle a laugh of pure joy. It’s surprisingly light and compact, and small enough to easily hide on my body if I can figure out a way to secure it.

“Where in the hell did you find this, my little dragon friend?”

I push a small button on the side that cycles through its options, my excitement building with each discovery. This thing isn’t justanypocket knife. It’s an alien, multi-tool pocket knife on steroids.

There’s a switchblade, of course, that’s wickedly sharp. But that’s just the beginning.

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