I’ve got most of the unpleasantness out of the way, but I’ve still got a green light, so people are listening. Let’s hope I can convince them that the orcs don’t want their children. That there’s no reason to die with my name on their lips.
“As you already know, I didn’t end up in Angelina’s factories, Gary’s brothels, or some wealthy man’s bed. I was bought by an orc named Lady Frax’mo. What you don’t know is that she bought me, for 25,000 gold, as a gift, a companion, for King Lix’tuk,” I explain, taking another deep breath. “You’ve been taught to fear that name. To fear all the orcs. Buttheyare not the ones you should fear. The ones you should fear are the ones who smile from podiums when they beg for your vote, then sell your children behind closed doors you will never be permitted through. They’re therealmonsters.”
I was worried the green light would go off before I got to this point, but it hasn’t. That gives me some hope. I might actually get through my entire speech before President Highton can find a way to stop the broadcast.
“When reparations were requested after The Great War, the orcs asked for enough women to avoid extinction. They offered gold in exchange, but they wantedvolunteers, not slaves,” I say. “Our president is the one who wanted us to be auctioned like livestock. He said it would be morefun. Better entertainment. What he really meant was that it would allow him to turn everysecond-born child into a slave, and a source of massive profit for him and his ilk. Not much has changed since then other than the faces and names of our oppressors.”
King Lix’tuk gestures for me to hurry, so I scan my notes.
“The orcs didn’t only offer gold. They also offered to repair the damage done during The Salting, to restore our soil so we could provide for ourselves. That offer was refused. Scarcity makes people desperate. Desperation makes them easier to control,” I assert, leaning closer to the microphone. “And if you try to escape your fate, they’ll just whip your families in front of you.”
I look down at my paper, my eyes blurring a little as I think about my family. I shake it off and look up.
“The orcs don’t want a war. They’re not bloodthirsty savages, like President Highton would like for you to believe. The orcs didn’t ask for the women he sent. King Lix’tuk didn’t even wantme. It’s just considered a slight to the Twelve Gods to refuse a gift.” I look at him, a half-smile moving the edge of my lips. “And truthfully, my life here is so much better than it ever was in Troona. Much better than it would have been if I’d been sold to one of the vile men bidding on me.”
I pause for another moment, realizing how true my words are. So true that I tear up a little, but I quickly blink them away.
“The orcs are not the enemy. They haven’t been since The Great War ended. As a gesture, and proof that what I’m saying is true, orc ships are currently hovering over Troona, the town I grew up in. As soon as this broadcast ends, they’re going to repair the soil,” I say. “They stand ready to repair the soil across the entire country, just like they offered after The Great War. Allyouhave to do… is ask.”
The green light flashes. King Lix’tuk signals that we’re about to lose the broadcast, so I skip to the end.
“President Highton got one thing right,” I say, closing my eyes for a moment before opening them. “No more sons. No more daughters. No more Clovers.”
The light turns red and I let out a sigh of relief, finally letting go of the podium. King Lix’tuk stands and approaches, so I step off the stool, my knees wobbly.
“Is everything okay? I tried to keep my composure, but I know I probably looked nervous. Probably looked weak,” I can feel my throat squeezing with fear, unsure how my speech came across.
“Doesn’t matter. You spoke from the heart. You told the truth.” He brushes some hair away from my face, his dark gaze meeting mine. He stares for a moment, looks away like he’s fighting with himself, then immediately looks back. “You didn’t need to be strong or weak. You just needed to beyou. Because you’re…”
He doesn’t finish his sentence. He cups the back of my head, bends down, andkissesme.
CHAPTER 28
Clover
King Lix’tuk iskissingme.
For a moment, that’s all I understand. Not the speech. Not the broadcast. Not the red light blinking in front of me or the fact that half the world may have just heard my voice.
His lips are firm and as rough as he is. He rarely shows any gentleness where anyone can see it, and this could be the closest he comes to it. He’s touched me in ways that made me forget how to breathe. This is the first time he’s touched me like he genuinely cares about me.
I melt into his embrace, his enormous arms holding me against him while he kisses me like he can’t get enough. Our tongues intertwine and his wraps around mine possessively, claiming me without a word. I groan into his mouth, lips brushing against his tusks as he continues to kiss me.
When he finally pulls away, we’re both breathless.
“You kissed me,” I whisper, dazed.
“And I’m going to kiss you again,” he growls, his hand squeezing my ass. “But first, I need to meet with the war council and see how your speech was received.”
“Can I come with you?” I ask.
“No, go wait in my…ourbedchamber,” he orders, walking to the door. “I’ll be there shortly.”
He walks out of the room and I mouth, “Our bedchamber.”
That hits me almost as hard as the kiss. It’s no longer just his bedchamber. I’m no longer an unwanted guest. My place is… beside him. Maybe that’s been my place longer than I realized, and I’m the one who is just figuring that out.
I step out of the room and while I’d like to go straight to our bedchamber, I’ve sweated so much I’m in desperate need of a shower. I should have time, considering how these war council meetings go. But I’ll wait as long as it takes, if it means he’s going to kiss me like that again.
