Page 7 of Claimed By The Orc

“Your ring is stuck,” I told him, a little giddy. I would be able to do some light torture after all. “Don’t worry, I’ll get it off for you.” I pressed sharp steel against the swollen flesh right below it. My blade easily cut through, and Koth’s finger, ring and all, fell to the floor. I was glad I’d thought to put down a plastic tarpI had found in the shed. I’d hate to leave a mess for the owners to clean up.

Koth’s screams were loud and irritating, but they didn’t last long as he turned back into his true orc form. He struggled harder, trying to break through the binds that were holding him, but it would be impossible.

I stood up and walked around to face him. Koth spit at me. “Fucking bastard.”

I grinned. “You don’t deserve the honor of dying in your true form, but I will give it to you anyway.”

“Yet you leave me tied? No way to defend myself? And you call me a coward.”

I rolled my eyes. This was exhausting. Usually, I didn’t talk to my targets. They were dead before they even realized I was there. But these were different circumstances since he’d personally hurt my family, not to mention crossing to an entirely new world in his attempt to run.

“This is why I never have discussions with my targets. It’s too tiresome.” He glared and cursed and thrashed. “Ugh, fine.” I waved my hand and the magical ties that kept him bound to the chair disappeared.

Koth lunged for me, but that was his final mistake. He might have had over a foot on me in this form, but I was faster. My blade found its home in the soft flesh of Koth’s neck before he even had a chance to fight me.

Koth made a disgusting gurgling sound before crashing to his knees. “You will pay for this,” he managed, weak and garbled, as he clutched at the bleeding wound. Then he collapsed face down and, of course, halfway off the tarp.

“Fucking hell.” Another curse I’d learned from the humans. “Now I have to figure out how to get orc blood off the floor. You had to be a pain in the ass, even in death.”

Groaning, I dragged the big body back onto the tarp before it could cause more damage. Once he was tightly wrapped, both in the plastic and duct tape, and the floor was as clean as I could get it, I began to consider my next steps.

The original plan had been to kill Koth near the barrier so I could drag him over and he could be dealt with in Belzod. That way there would be no questions about the big green orc, and we wouldn’t have a barrage of humans trying to discover our existence. That had disintegrated when the barrier had closed behind me. I should still probably bring him to the cave, less chance of being discovered until I could cross back over, but I’d stopped worrying about the plan when he’d thrown the slushie at me. My favorite shirt had been ruined! I had run it through the washing machine in the bungalow twice, and that unnatural green color would not go away.

An idea came to me then. There was a sink pit in the woods between the convenience store and Tanner’s house. Quicksand, mud, and overgrown vegetation made it the perfect place to dump the body of a mythical being that humans didn’t believe existed. I knew from my time in Destiny that the townspeople avoided it. Children were warned from playing in the area because it was too dangerous. I could bring Koth there and let nature do its job. I’d wait till it was dark so I didn’t risk running into anyone. Then, I could go see Tanner and make sure he was okay after his mother’s appointment.

Grinning, I got to work. I couldn’t wait to get to see my Tanner again.

CHAPTER 5

TANNER

“That’s amazing, honey,” my mom replied tiredly as she watched the video of Jake’s home run that his coach had sent us. “I’m so proud of you.”

Jake beamed, and another wave of guilt hit me square in the chest. I’d missed his homerun. Not only that, but it had been the game-winning run that had secured his team a spot in the playoffs, and not one family member had been there to see it.

My mom’s eyes started to drift close. She wouldn’t last long. Usually, she was out before we even made it home from her treatments, but she’d forced herself to stay awake so she could hear about Jake’s game. It ate at her that she could never be there for any of our events. But it wasn’t her fault. Even if she was having a good day, with how compromised her immune system was, it would be a major risk for her to attend a sporting event at a high school. Maybe if his team made the championship, we could work something out . . . but even that would be dangerous.

This was my fault. I was the one who was supposed to be picking up the slack but seemed to always be failing. Mom’s eyes closed again.

“Let me get Mom settled in her room and we’ll order a celebration pizza.”

“Pizza!” my little sisters shouted and danced around. “Pizza! Pizza! Pizza!” Well, fuck. Not that they meant it that way, but that was only another thing to feel guilty about. They shouldn’t be that excited about a damn pizza, but money was always so tight and focused on bills and medical expenses that extras like pizza didn’t happen often.

“You take care of Mom, and I’ll order the pizza and get the girls calmed down.” I met Jake’s eyes, filled with gratitude. I’d gotten so fucking lucky with him. When I was 17, I was always so bitter. Pissed at the hand life had given me. It hadn’t been until my failed semester at college that I’d let all that bullshit go. Maybe it wasn’t the life I wanted, but I loved my family, and I would do anything for them.

“Thank you,” I said, hoping he could feel everything behind the words. He’d even understood when I’d told him I’d be missing his game. I could tell he was disappointed, but he’d put on a brave face like always. It hurt and made me happy at the same time.

The girls were still dancing and singing as I lifted Mom gently off the couch and carried her to the bedroom. She would need a bath tomorrow, but tonight she just needed rest.

I helped her into her pajamas and then into bed. Once the pillows were right and I made sure she had some water and her evening meds, I leaned over, kissing her head. “Night, Ma. Get some sleep.”

She flashed me a weak smile, but it was full of love. “Good night, baby. I love you.”

“Love you too.” I closed the door, tightness in my chest. Every time I did that, I wondered if this would be the last time, if I’d walk in in the morning and realize Mom wasn’t waking up and she never would. It was why Jake and I had an unspokenagreement that the girls weren’t allowed in Mom’s room until we went in first. I didn’t want him to see that either, but I couldn’t be here all the time and still pay the bills, so unfortunately it fell to him.

I shook off the thoughts. Today was a day of celebration. Pizza and spending time with the kids. Maybe I’d even play a few rounds of the newestMortal Kombatwith Jake before bed.

Pushing back all the depressing thoughts and guilt, I made my way to the kitchen, where Jake was currently arguing with six-year-old Kenzie that she couldn’t have ice cream as an appetizer.

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