Page 73 of The Orc's Captive Bride
“I am what you trained me to be.”
“Are you?” Lasseran’s smile terrified him. “Because the Khorrek I trained wouldn’t hesitate to hurt someone if I commanded it. He wouldn’t question it. He certainly wouldn’t have feelings about it.”
“I don’t have feelings.”
“Liar.”
The word hung between them.
“I saw your face when I threatened her,” Lasseran continued softly. “That flash of rage before you remembered yourself. You care about this human, don’t you?”
Deny it. That was the only option.
“I care about completing my mission successfully.”
“Such discipline. Such control.” Lasseran’s smile widened. “But we both know the truth. The Beast inside you wants her, and you’re too weak to resist.”
“I would never?—”
“Never what? Touch her? Too late for that, I suspect.” Lasseran waved a dismissive hand. “I don’t actually care what you do withthe girl, Khorrek. Use her. Don’t use her. It’s irrelevant to me, as long as she translates the text.”
The casual cruelty was worse than anger. Thea wasn’t a person to Lasseran. She wasn’t even a tool. She was simply a step on the path to power.
And that’s all you are too, a voice whispered.All any of you are.
“I’ll ensure she completes the translation on schedule.”
“See that you do. Because if she fails…” Lasseran turned back to the window. “It would delay matters but there are always more translators.”
And more orcs to train if I prove defective.
The unspoken threat was quite clear, but he didn’t bother to respond. Instead he waited. Years of training told him the conversation wasn’t over. Lasseran had summoned him for a reason beyond issuing threats.
“The ritual failed,” Lasseran said abruptly.
His mind raced. “The ritual, High King?”
“Don’t play stupid. You know I’ve been working to perfect the Beast Curse.”
“I know you seek to protect the Five Kingdoms.”
“Protect. Control. It’s the same thing.” Lasseran’s reflection in the window was cold and remote. “The attempt to use Jessamin’s blood could have worked if those interfering bastards hadn’t intervened.”
Once again he managed to keep his face composed. King Ulric and a small group of warriors had managed to rescue his queenfrom Lasseran’s clutches but at her bequest, they had also saved him. He had repaid that debt by not pursuing them. If Lasseran ever found out, Khorrek would die a slow, painful death.
“It is most unfortunate,” he said calmly. “Then the ritual?—”
“Will proceed without her. I’ve planned for too many years to let one disappointing female ruin everything.”
A chill ran down his spine.
“What do you need?”
Lasseran turned to face him fully. “Blood magic requires sacrifice, Khorrek. Life force channeled and transformed. With Jessamin’s royal bloodline, one sacrifice would have been enough, but without it…”
His voice trailed off, and Khorrek’s chest tightened.
“How many?”
