The Orc Ing

~Please start this series from chapter 1 if you are new here! Thank you so much for all the kind comments/support and patience!!~

|Chapter Nine|

The orc known as 'Gobran' stood at almost eye-level to her from across the table. The dark green leathers and black cloak he wore were different from the armed soldiers Astera had met before. A band on his upper right arm marked him as a member of the First Fist, although he was too thin to belong among the ranks of Vrel that fought in battle.

Eventually she asked, "What route will you take to the Imperial Palace?"

He'd been staring at the map spread out between them, but his eyes flickered up to meet hers before turning back to the table. She stiffened, trying her best to smooth over a look of surprise. His eyes weren't completely black like the other orcs she'd met. He had wide, dark blue eyes. Human eyes, not all-black.

Gobran pointed to Va'Sagresh on the map, his sharpened nail tapping against the wood. When he spoke, his speech barely hinted at an accent, his common tongue perfect. "I will head north, Nhyema. The Silver River is the fastest. Then horseback the rest of the way to the palace." He traced his intended route up the bending river with his finger.

"What about the rapids? You cannot travel that far north by water."

"This time of year the rapids are no issue."

When she frowned, he averted his gaze, pointing to one of the many snaking trails that led to the palace. "This route is the fastest."

The map was covered in strange paths and symbols. It was unnerving, actually seeing the massive web of orc roads and trails laid out before her.

She pointed to the end of the Silver River. There were fewer orc roads the closer they got to Thelfare and the palace. "After the Silver River, which route will you take the rest of the way?"

"I will pass through Thelfare. Then there is a trail, starting here, that leads though some marshlands north-"

"Choose a different route."

His eyebrows creased. "A different route?"

"Yes." Her throat tightened, thinking of the first time she'd come face-to-face with the remnants of Felshi in the marsh. "The swamps there are too dangerous. What about this path?" She pointed to another, which wended a little further to the east to avoid the old battlefields.

He frowned, revealing small sharp tusks. "Hmm... It will add time. I should arrive at the palace within a week."

Her eyebrows shot up.

A week.

The month-long journey along the human highway seemed laughable now.

She gave a sharp nod, trying to emulate Soarruk's cool confidence instead of her surprise. "You will deliver this letter to the Emperor yourself?"

"Yes."

Astera pulled out the bound letter from her satchel. When the messenger didn't move to take it, she placed it on the table between them. "The letter, and your payment." She laid a gold coin beside it.

The orc's eyes widened slightly, the whites a little more visible. He bowed to her. "I will ensure this reaches the palace as soon as possible."

"When you speak with the palace guard, give them this." She pulled a rolled up script from her bag, placing it on top of the letter. "They will grant you an audience with the Emperor immediately."

"I will leave at once."

"Thank you, Gobran. Light- er, may Luaya watch over you." She stumbled over her words, trying to remember Kaeri's usual blessing.

Gobran took the items carefully, stowing them in his own satchel. He bowed to her, beating his fist over his heart, and then to Soarruk. He slipped out of the room silently.

Astera stared at the door. A long breath escaped between her clenched teeth.

It's done.

"That should give my father a few months to help Thelfare with supplies... and then winter..." Her voice trailed off, lost in thought.

"The letter has been sent. Put the humans out of your mind." Soarruk's voice held a hard edge. "You have done more than enough for them."

She turned sharply to glare at him, but faltered. He was sitting in the corner of the room, shadows half cloaking him. He looked so inhuman compared to the messenger who had just left. Dark eyes met hers. His tusks were bigger, ears longer and more pointed, skin a darker shade of evergreen. He looked every part the Orc King, menacing and dangerous.

"No."

Soarruk's brow rose, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Her heart began to hammer in her chest. It wasn't the same playful smile he wore on the balcony the day before. "No?"

"I am human

and

queen. Don't ask me to pretend I am otherwise." She turned back to the table, her hands clenched into fists against the hardwood. "Explain this map to me. What are the red lines for?"

Soarruk didn't push the issue. He didn't move to join her at the table, either. "They are the roads that have been destroyed."

More than half the map was covered in red lines and large black smudges...

No, those are symbols!

"And the grey symbols in-between?"

"Settlements that have been lost."

Her eyes narrowed. The orcs had marked the destruction of both their villages and human cities the same, with a smudged grey swirling symbol. She could see a pattern in the chaos, where the Demon Horde had come from the south, ravaging only human cities at first. The further north they had moved, the move indiscriminate the damage became, red lines snaking from human cities into orc lands. "You've lost almost as many villages as we have."

"Aye."

A warm hand slid around her waist, and she flinched at the sudden contact. She had been too concentrated on the map to hear his movements. Soarruk pressed against her side, pulling her close. Along the side of the table were small carved wooden symbols. He picked up a handful, placing them on the map.

"This marker is for our largest strongholds," he said. Four markers: one on Va'Sagresh, one within the eastern Nalsi mountains, and the final two in the Faewren Wood within the far south. "Their population has reached more than two hundred thousand."

"Two hundred?! But that would mean..." She chewed her lip, eyebrows creasing. "The orc population is almost as big as one of the Empire's kingdoms."

Bigger than my father's advisors thought.

Soarruk chuckled. His hand came up, stroking over her cheek. "We once outnumbered humans ten to one. Perhaps the days of old are not so far off."

She shivered at the thought. They were decades, if not centuries, from such a possibility.

Unless all the humans are killed off

. "Gobran," she blurted, desperate to break that line of thinking, "He is a halfling too, isn't he?"

"Yes."

"And you chose him as your messenger? You trust him?"

Soarruk's eyebrow rose. "Yes, I trust him fully. He has delivered all my messages to the Emperor."

A small silence fell between them.

"You gave him an extra page," Soarruk said, pulling her from her thoughts. "What was it for?"

She opened her mouth, prepared to tell a lie, and then her eyes caught on the streaks of red across the map in front of her. "... It's a cipher my father invented. So he knows the message was sent by me."

"A cipher." His hand stroked over her waist, claws tickling her skin. "My clever wife.

You

do not trust my halfling messenger to deliver the letter without help."

She stiffened. "What if he is denied entry at the palace gates? The cipher will ensure the message reaches its recipient!"

"You have nothing to fear. Even if Gobran must cross the sea to deliver the letter in the Light Kingdom, he will see it done."

Astera laughed, "The Light Kingdom? Why would he ever have to travel that far north?" She stared down at the map, eyes tracing up past Sarai to the Light Kingdom, the large island north of the continent. When Soarruk didn't respond, she twisted around to look up at him. Her chuckle died in her throat when she caught his serious expression.

Soarruk spoke slowly, "The Emperor did not tell you? He left with the Priestess of Light shortly after our wedding."

"Emilia." Her voice faltered, suddenly, as she remembered the last conversation she had with her father. "She is the new Daughter-Heir. He is negotiating her marriage to Prince Dain."

"He did not share such details with me," Soarruk said.

"You... discussed this with him?"

He nodded, eyes flickering over her face. "His personal guard now includes some of my Fist."

Her eyes widened in surprise. "My father

allowed

orcs among his soldiers? Truly?"

Soarruk chuckled. "Aye, they have taken vows to ensure his safety. There are other benefits too. I have instructed them to share our battle strategies and our Fist numbers with the Emperor."

She stared up at him, blinking. Silence fell between them as his meaning sank in. Soarruk was holding up his end of the treaty. He had given his fealty to the Emperor.

The hand at her cheek moved lower to squeeze her bicep. His voice was soft, "Do not worry about the letter. You can trust me, in this."

In this.

She stared out over the map. An entire kingdom, hidden right under the Empire's nose. The orcs were resourceful, and powerful, and her father had underestimated them at every single turn.

The thought no longer scared her.

We are no longer enemies.

Soarruk had helped her write the letter, and had sent his best messenger to deliver it. Things would improve for her people. He would lend his armies to her father's cause, to defend the realm, not just the orcs. Even if her father could be dishonest, there would be no more war between their people.

She stood up on her tiptoes, grasping at the collar of his tunic so she could pull him down eye level with her.

"Thank you, Soarruk."

She pressed a kiss on his cheek, then turned quickly back to the table. The hands around her waist spasmed, squeezing her a little tighter. He didn't respond- he didn't need to. His hands continued to explore, trailing lightly against her skin until it pebbled under his touch. The silence that settled between them felt full.

She thought about the messenger once more, especially the way he'd carefully averted his gaze when he looked at her. "Gobran's eyes are different. Zalthara has black eyes, like yours... But her ears are rounded."

Soarruk chuckled. "Halfings take on the best features of both their parents." The hand on her hip squeezed, pulling her tighter into his body. "All orc halflings have tusks, and orc sons have four arms. The rest is left up to the gods to decide."

He grasped her face, the palm of his hand rough and warm against her cheek. Her stomach fluttered at his proximity, at the darkened expression he gave her. His voice was soft, barely a murmur, but Astera heard every word through to her core. "Our child shall have my strength, but your gentleness. And they ought to have your courage and ambition. The gods would be choosing poorly otherwise."

She opened her mouth to respond, but found it difficult to speak past the lump in her throat.

Dangerous thoughts

. Thoughts she had not allowed herself to consider. A future she had thought she had given up, that would be impossible among orcs and their violence. She cleared her throat once, twice. Then spoke in a wobbly voice, "A son should have your hair... and I hope your skin. It's a lovely shade."

"You ought to hope they don't inherit your sea sickness."

Astera snorted, attempting to brush his hand off her cheek. "I can think of plenty of your flaws too, orc. I hope they don't have your pride!"

Soarruk grinned, revealing his fangs. "You enjoy my pride more than you admit." He pressed his hips against her for effect, so she could feel the hardness in his trousers.

"Ha! Not a chance. Besides, things like that are still a long time away." She shifted, turning to face the table, willing the blush out of her cheeks. Soarruk's upper arms covered her own, his chest pressing into her back. His lower arms snaked around her waist, stroking tight circles.

"A long time away?" His voice was husky in her ear. He planted a hot kiss on her neck, her skin prickling under his touch. She could feel his lips against her neck as he spoke. "Have you not noticed a change yet, pretty flower?"

Astera froze.

I've only been in Va'Sagresh a month... surely...

She swallowed thickly. Her voice came out a squeak, "A change?"

He inhaled deeply, nipping gently at her neck. "You took a fertility potion. Nay, you drank

half the bottle."

He chuckled against her skin, the sound sending a thrill down her spine. "Fae magic lingers in your veins; it leaves a mark." The hand caressed her waist. "You blossomed for me. And now," he groaned, "every time you move, I know it. Every place you've been, everywhere you've touched and walked."

His hand trailed upwards, thumb stroking over her cloth-covered nipple. She let out a small gasp, and there was a rumble of approval from him. He radiated a sort of warmth that made her core ache. His cock was throbbing against the thin fabric of her dress. She had to resist the urge to lean back into his touch, to arch her spine into his body. His hand enveloped hers.

"Fae- fae magic?" Her voice came out breathier than she meant. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. It was difficult to focus on his words when his thumb was circling her nipple, flicking it through her dress. She felt the sensation through her entire body. From her breasts down her spine and into her core.

"Aye. Lush and sweet. This is where your scent is strongest." The hand at her waist dipped lower, following the slight curve of her stomach until he was cupping her lower abdomen. "A sure sign. You are growing hale with my child." The last part came out a growl.

She turned to face him, eyes widened, but his lips found hers before she could deny him, his tongue pressing past her lips to demand her submission. She melted into his embrace, whimpering against his mouth.

His hands came up under her thighs to lift her. She landed on the edge of the table, the sound of the parchment tearing barely registering. All she could focus on was trying to close the distance between them, on where his hands were working her flesh.

He held her face between his upper hands as they kissed. One of his lower hands gripped her thigh, another wrapped tightly around her waist. She flexed her hips instinctively, searching for friction, and moaned into his mouth when she felt his cock twitch through his trousers. It felt like she was burning up with desire. Shuddering jolts of pleasure rolled through her whole body every time she flexed against him.

He was claiming her mouth like it was the very oxygen he needed to breathe. She sucked in ragged gulps of breath only when he allowed it, only when he stopped ravaging her mouth long enough she could remember to take in air.

The hand at her waist moved to her lower back. His palm began applying pressure, nearly pulling her off the edge of the table. Gods, he was pulling her further into him. His pulsing length rubbed against her clit perfectly. If it wasn't for his trousers he would be inside her already. She wrapped her legs around his waist.

Her nails raked over his biceps. His muscles rippled with each feathery light movement. It sent a thrill up her spine.

This is the orc who has claimed you.

She growled against his mouth, her hands wrapping around his neck and threading into his hair. She rolled her hips once more, the hand on her back encouraging her movements, ensuring she could find the pressure exactly where she needed it.

Finally, he pulled back, panting. A little red coloured the fiendish grin he gave her. There was a cut on his lip. When had she bitten him?

"I am not going to fuck you on this table," Astera hissed. She hoped it sounded like a warning, but Soarruk's grin only widened.

"How about the floor?"

"Don't you dare-"

The last thing she expected was to be thrown over his shoulder. The blood instantly began to rush into her head. When her vision cleared she could see the floor swaying below her. She pushed up against his lower shoulder for leverage, trying to sit up. One of his arms held her legs in place. Another hand was trailing up under her dress, teasing her thighs.

"Put me down!"

He strode towards the staircase that led up to the Solar. Soarruk ignored her, his hand still moving up further. She squirmed in his grip. She was hyper-aware of his movements, the way his hand was teasing up from her inner thigh. Up, up, up, until it just grazed her cunt, and then sliding higher over the slope of her ass. He squeezed a handful of it, sharp nails gently biting into her skin.

She squeezed his shoulder tightly in response. His hand began to massage her cheek. As soon as she began to wriggle he pinched her ass.

She let out a hiss. "You are absolutely the most poorly mannered-" Her words were choked off when he began bounding up the stairs three at a time. The lump was back in her throat. From here, she could see just how powerful he was. The shape of his barely-straining muscles, the tightness of his ass-

"On the bed, my Nhyema, or the balcony?"

She blanched at his words, her body stiffening in his arms.

They had reached the top of the stairs. Somewhere between the base of the stairs and admiring his ass she had gone completely slack in his hold. He crossed the threshold into the Solar, kicking the door closed behind him.

He chuckled at her silence, moving down the hallway to the bedroom. He placed her gently on the bed, leaning over her so there was no more than a few inches between them. "Are you worried about the cold wind outside? I shall keep you warm." His hand slid up her thigh again, past her ass to squeeze her lower hip.

She wet her lips. His hungry, half hood eyes followed the movement. The thought of taking him outside made her cheeks turn fiery red. "Not the cold, no."

"What is it then?"

"There- There are other balconies outside. If someone were to look up, they might see-"

Soarruk laughed. He sat up, pulling off his shirt and pants. She stared at the flat, muscular planes of his stomach, the wide stretch of muscle over his chest. "Your bravery has limits."

"It's not bravery!" she snapped. "It's improper."

He was still smiling, but the glint in his eye no longer just felt like mirth, but something almost dangerous. He moved slowly and deliberately between her legs. "Improper for whom? An imperial princess?" He grasped her face. "You have shed your previous titles, remember? An orc takes what they want, as they see fit."

"So I'm one of your subjects now?"

His movements were slow and precise. He assessed her with dark eyes. His hands eased her dress up as he spoke, "You have been blessed by the moon. You, pretty flower, are so much more than that."

He pulled the dress up over her hips, and off over her head. Her nipples pebbled in the suddenly cool air. He lowered himself between her legs. He placed hot, wet kisses on her thigh, moving toward her centre. "You are the bridge between humans and orcs." One long, excruciating slow lick through her folds, then a soft kiss on her clit. "You are the offering of peace." He moved up further, placing a kiss on the flat plane of her lower stomach. "And now you carry my heir."

He grinned at the look she gave him, unsteady at the confidence in his words, the surety of them. "Soon you shall sense it too, how you have changed, and you will not be able to deny me."

He kissed further up her stomach, sharp nails encircling her breast. He coaxed her nipple up to his mouth. She let out a hiss when his tongue began flicking over her sensitive skin. His teeth scraped against her flesh as he let her go, sitting up to press his cock through her folds. He gripped her hand tightly in his own.

Her bottom lip wobbled, torn between the budding pleasure and denial. "It is too soon to know for sure-"