Page 130 of Halfling
Though he was a lord’s son and heir, life hadn’t been kind to Jerrod. But that didn’t give him leave to treat others as he did.
Life had been far harder for Orek, and he’d become a good, noble male. He didn’t give in, didn’t take the easy way.
She turned from Jerrod and her anger to draw Orek away a few steps. The rage was still plain on his face, and even though he moved with her, his eyes stayed on Jerrod, as if waiting to pounce again.
Sorcha took his face between her hands, making soothing noises and urging him to look at her. When she finally had his gaze, she leaned up to kiss the corner of his mouth. “It’s all right,” she murmured, “he can’t hurt me anymore.”
“He doesn’t deserve to even breathe the same air as you.”
“He’s not. Not anymore. I’m breathing yours.”
Her play at lightheartedness drew a reluctant huff, and a little of the rage drained from him, his shoulders loosening infinitesimally.
Orek pulled her close and buried his face in her hair. His chest still rumbled with a growl, but he was calmer. She’d take it.
“Orc-slut.”
The insult slapped on the ground at Sorcha’s feet. She went rigid as if struck, and felt Orek’s growl grow under her hands.
It was Sorcha who was quickest this time.
Rounding on Jerrod, where he stood sneering beside his father, Sorcha closed the distance and smacked him across the face. The sound echoed in the hall.
Blood trickled from his nose, his mottled face twisted with anger as he glared at her, unrepentant and indignant.
Revulsion curled in her stomach. This weasel had caused so much harm out of stupid, petty malice. He didn’t deserve to stand beside his father and sister.
“Shut your mouth,” she growled at him, “and don’t you dare degrade what’s happened to those women captured and sold to orcs. They weretakenandforced. Exactly what you wanted to happen to me. To punish me.”
Her fists shook, she clenched them so tight, and she was gratified when Jerrod’s eyes widened in fear of her.
“Those women deserve our empathy and help. Not insult. So don’t you dare blame their fates on them by calling them that.”
She bared her teeth at him in a ferocious smile that made even Lord Darrow shudder.
“But you know, I am orc-slut. I’ve ached for his green cock, begged for it—because it’s mine.He’s mine.Orek is good and noble and everything you aren’t. If that makes me orc-slut, then fine, I am. Gladly.”
The hall rang with her declaration, and perhaps later she’d go red with mortification from talking about wanting Orek’s cock in front of her father and Darrow, but right then, she cared about nothing but how Jerrod trembled with sniveling rage.
I hope it eats him up inside.
Darrow and Aislinn looked on with disgust and heartbreak, and through her anger, Sorcha’s own heart broke for them. Aislinn wasn’t overly fond of her brother, but they were siblings. Sorcha didn’t know what she’d do if such accusations were made against Connor or Niall.
She caught Aislinn’s gaze, some of the anger bleeding from her as Aislinn looked slowly between her and Jerrod. Her lip curled when she looked upon her brother, and after a tense moment, she descended the dais to pull Sorcha into her arms.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
“So am I,” Sorcha said.
Lord Darrow watched them with eyes gone sad and a face that looked suddenly older. He knew his son had faults, had more than once made apologies and excuses, always trying to hold Jerrod up to rise to the occasion. From the devastation writ across his face, the reality of how deeply Jerrod’s rot ran had become too obvious to ignore.
Connor held onto Jerrod’s arm as Darrow looked on his son from the dais without seeing. Jerrod pleaded, saying he didn’t mean for the slavers to take Sorcha, only to scare her. That he didn’t know this would happen. That it was never meant to be this way.
His desperate words elicited the response they deserved—nothing.
When Jerrod had run himself out of excuses, Darrow sighed. Aislinn resumed her place beside her father in support.
“I never thought I’d have to pass judgment on my own son. As the one who suffered from his actions, I leave it to you to decide his punishment, Sorcha. But please—take pity on me, my dear girl, and have mercy on him.”
