Page 150 of Valpar

Valpar covers my mouth and groans. “Do not say such foul language, miresa, or I will correct it.”

The warning in his tone made me pinch my thighs together and Valpar’s dad— I believe his name was Azuk from when we talked about him weeks ago— snorted with amusement. Valpar’s nose flared, and he swiftly picked me up and settled me in the crook of his arm.

“She’s terribly small. Are you feeding her correctly?” Azuk asked, as he assessed me.

Valpar glared and covered me with his other arm. “She is fully grown and yes, I am feeding her. I have just branded her, and I need to feed her again.”

These guys were talking to each other like I was a freaking puppy.

Azuk gazed down at Valpar and smirked. “I see she has branded you, too. Congratulations. Two orcs in the tribe have now been claimed. This is a special time for the entire tribe.”

He isn’t seriously looking at Valpar’s thing, is he? That’s totally gross.

“Stop looking at it and stop looking at my miresa!” Valpar snapped at him and turned me away.

I leaned up close to Valpar’s ear and whispered, “He can still see your nice butt.”

“Female,” he growled, and his father chuckled deeply behind us.

Valpar wouldn’t allow his dad to come into the cabin. He had to explain, again, to me that males don’t appreciate other males in their territory, and Azuk coming into his territory alone was enough to set him off. Especially, since we had just solidified our bond.

I let him do his thing. Valpar was tense as he gathered the food from the floor of the cabin and kept one eye on me. He was serious. He wasn’t letting me out of his sight, and I would not push him right now.

I watched out the window while his dad was setting up a tent. It was enormous, just like the ones that scattered all over Uncle Osirus and Aunt Melina’s courtyard and I watched how similar the mannerisms that Valpar and Azuk had were.

Azuk and Valpar were exactly alike. He was meticulously unfolding the tent, pushing away rocks and debris and scanned the surroundings for any sort of predators. There was a fire pit outside and Azuk was already gathering wood, when Valparhad finished salvaging what food was left from the crate and motioned for me to follow him outside.

Valpar had a cloth on this time, covering the new eggplant he sported.

I snorted.Valpar had a purple dick.

“You’re staying overnight?” Valpar huffed and set the crate down. It was mostly bread, fruits and some veggies. There wasn’t any meat, thank goodness because I think that would have gone rotten.

“I’ve spent time with Thorn, I think it’s time to spend some with my seeded. Do you not want me here?”

Valpar was about to open his mouth, but I cut him off.

“We would love to have you! I want to hear all the stories about when Valpar was tiny!”

Azuk threw his head back, his belly— which was bigger than Valpar’s— shook and he sat on the log next to the, now, roaring fire. “Valpar was never a tiny orcling. I remember Lash having a time getting that round melon out of her. I believe I had to pull him out by his head. That’s probably why his face is stuck like that.”

I turned around to look at Valpar, and he had a scowl on his face.

I patted my mate’s cheek and snuggled closer into his lap. “Aw, his face isn’t always like that. He laughs, too.”

Valpar held me closer to his body and nuzzled his nose into my neck.

“Don’t worry about him, little fairy, he is just angry I am here. Being newly branded will do that to an orc. I remember it like it was yesterday. I am still going to sit here and enjoy my time with my seeded and his new female, whether he likes it or not.” Azuk pulled out an iron flask and took a big sip.

Valpar jutted out his chin, staring at his father intently. “Why are you so happy? Last time I saw you, you were ready to punch me in the face.”

My mouth dropped at the accusation. This guy was like the Santa Claus of orcs. Why would he want to punch his own son?

Azuk just chuckled, his belly shaking. “That I was, but now I have something to look forward to. You have a female, your miresa, and soon I will meet mine, once again.” He took another swig.

I darted my eyes back and forth, and Valpar’s arms stiffened around me. His mother was gone. She passed away into the stars. What could Azuk possibly mean? He wasn’t going to—

“Orgamo,” Valpar rasped, “what are you talking about?”

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