“Cunts who ain’t pushed out babies don’t get a fucking opinion.”
He frowns at her, but she’s female and the Matriarch's daughter, so that’s all he’ll do.
Convincing Humans Orcs are the lesser evil between the three Immortal species on Gaithea has been the con of generations. They're as bad, but Fae don’t care about hiding their evil, and the Icarians keep to themselves so it’s not as evident.
“You haven’t pushed out young,” he says.
She lifts her fist, flashing her tusks.
“But I can see your point.”
She lowers her fist.
A pretty bar lad brings a tray laden with plates. Meat, bread, pickled vegetables, spiced grains. I’m as hot blooded as any female, so since he has his upper body on display—I bet it increases the tips—I look my fill.
He gives me a shy glance, his cheeks darkening. “Anything else?”
“Yes,” Fiuthen says. “The little fried donuts with honey Kyona prefers.”
“You can’t have him, Ky’a,” Hatthar croons, pinching my thigh. “No, don’t sulk.”
“I’m not hungry.” For food or for pretty boy.
Lathhan flicks his gaze towards me. “You are weak. Eat, female.”
Fiuthen’s gaze is measuring. “You’re scrawny. There are circles under your eyes. If I thought I could keep Rath away from you for a month, I’d fatten you up first. He will pitch a fit when he sees you looking like this.”
“I’m unconcerned with Lord Rath or hisfits.”
Iloni cackles, already eating. “That’s how you’re gonna play this? Great. This’ll be the best fun I’ve had for three raiding seasons. They don’t make bandits or monsters like they used to.”
Fiuthen picks up his wine and tastes it, then sniffs. “Did you consider how you would handle Rath? Or did you decide you’d pretend nothing’s happened?”
“Do you all want to explain to me what you thinkI’vedone toRath?” Besides stabbing him before I left, but to Uthilsen, that’s no more than a display of feminine pique.
They all stare at me now. “You left, Ky’a,” Hatthar says.
“I was supposed to stay and let you all humiliate and assault me for the rest of my life?”
Iloni frowns. Fiuthen looks away.
“If it wasn’t us,” he says, “it would have been the Matriarch and clan leader. You wouldn’t have survived them, Kyona. They—what happened twisted them. We tortured you enough to make them look the other way.”
The laugh starts deep in my belly and works its way up through my throat and bursts free, filling the tavern.
“That’s your excuse? I’m gone for twenty years and that’s what the four of you came up with? You were—” I’m still laughing “—protecting me?”
“Keep it down,” Iloni hisses. “Fuuuuck. You had to come skipping into town sipping tea and buying pastries a whole day before Rath got home. Ma probably already knows you’re here by now.”
“She’s right. Eat so we can leave,” Hatthar says, sighing. “Pick up the fork and shove some food in your mouth.”
“I’m not hungry.” I’ll be damned if I let these males feed me.
“Hells, I forgot how difficult you are, but my brother likes that shit.” She jerks her chin at Hatthar. “I hope you’re ready.”
He picks up a piece of bread sopping in stew juice and shoves it in my mouth. I start to spit it out, and there’s a brief tussle involving my blunt teeth, his fingers with talons he hasn’t bothered to retract, and I give in because it’s good, I don’t waste food, and I don’t particularly like the taste of my own blood.
They give me time to eat then Hatthar haulsme up with him. I come up to his shoulder—tall for a Human, petite for an Orc. I’m going to have to get used to being the small one again, if I stay.
