Summoning the Orc (The Kingverse Orcs #2)

Chapter One

Rok

Standing on the edge of the cliff, surveying the forest that rolled over the hills in lush splendor in front of me, I scoured my heart for an emotion other than the incessant ache of loneliness. This was mine. All of it. For as far as the eye could see.

My land, my territory.

I was the last-standing member of my clan. Five years ago, an unknown illness had swept through my tribe, decimating the only family I knew. My own apparent immunity a mystery, my entire extended family had died within a year. I was beginning to wonder if it was a curse.

My mother—my amu—had lasted the longest. She’d clung to my hand, begging me to find my mate before she left the world. I hadn’t yet been able to fulfill her dying wish.

Gritting my teeth, I rolled my head back onto my shoulders, facing the sun shining on my face and releasing a howl of fury and loss. I’d been searching for years, even before the illness struck, but I hadn’t been able to find the one that would be mine.

The rustle of trees to my left had my hand going to my axe, but I relaxed as a tall orc-male came walking through. I grunted in greeting and he responded in kind, pounding his fist to his chest.

He was from a nearby clan—one of their messengers. We knew each other well. He’d offered me one of his sisters as a suitable mate and while I’d appreciated it, with my loneliness begging to accept the offer, I’d known that my mate was out there. I could sense it in my soul. The nagging emptiness meant that she wasn’t far from me, but no matter what I did or where I went, I couldn’t find her.

Hundreds of females had been presented to me by elders from other clans. I was a highly sought-after male. I had enough land and gold to sustain hundreds of orcs if I needed to. But I couldn’t find the single one who would fit me in every way. I was beginning to wonder if I needed to approach the group of mad warlocks on the top of the deserted dragon mountain to the east. I’d heard that they could foresee the future. If things continued the way they were, I might have to. There was no way I could continue going on without a single soul for company.

Orcs had clans for a reason. We craved family and bonds in a way that many other species didn’t. Our numbers weren’t only for protection. It helped us carry on our traditions and settled us into roles that were necessary for our kind.

“Chief Rok,” the male said from next to me, dragging me from my dark thoughts. “I bring news.”

I nodded to him, facing the forest in front of me once more, giving him my back. It was one of the many ways I told him that I trusted him, but also that I was a powerful enough male that even if he attacked me, I wasn’t worried.

“Drogbar has found a female nearby,” he exclaimed, and I could hear the excitement in his words. “And I thought I should come to you right away, in case…”

He trailed off, but we both knew what he was trying to say. In case she’s your mate.

Eagerness filled me to the brim, but I hid it, nodding and turning to face him again. “Lead the way,” I said with far more nonchalance than I was feeling.

We made the short trek in less than ten minutes. His clan had brought the female straight into my territory. I knew why. If they found my mate, they knew I’d be beholden to them. They were eager to have my land, power, and gold on their side.

I couldn’t blame them, but it still irked that everyone knew how vulnerable I was in this way. I had everything else the Gods could ever gift me with. Everything but this.

I took a deep breath, facing the female who stood between two towering males—one of them the chief of the clan and the other his son. They both pounded their fists to their chests and I did the same.

“Rok,” Chief Vrogak called, gesturing to the female to his left. “We’ve brought you an offering.”

The female turned to him with a glare. “I’m no one’s offering!”

I was impressed and amused by her gumption, but my hope was dashed to pieces as soon as I saw her face. While the female was beautiful—with dark green skin and stormy gray eyes—she wasn’t mine.

The bond between mates would snap into place as soon as we saw and scented each other. I took another deep breath, just to make sure, but there was nothing. Her scent was pleasant enough, but nothing I recognized.

Facing Chief Vrogak, I gave him a shake of my head. “Thank you, Vrogak, but no. This isn’t her,” I told him, trying to keep the regret out of my words.

I watched the female sag with relief and hid my amusement. My mother always told me that mating was hardest on the females. While the males gained everything, the females lost so much. Their family, their identity and sometimes their dignity.

I’d learned from her exactly how I would be expected to treat my female. She would always have a choice with me. I’d worship her the way my father had worshiped my mother, and I’d raise our young to have the same respect for their mates.

My sons and daughters.

My heart gave a sharp pang at the thought of them. I didn’t know what my female would be like yet, but I hoped that she wanted as many young as I did. Dozens if I could have them. To grow the clan to the glory it had once been.

“Thank you for trying,” I told the orcs standing in front of me, pounding my fist to my chest again. They repeated the gesture, leaving with the female—who was already proclaiming that she didn’t want to be paraded in front of any more males.

I waited for them to be outside the boundary of my territory before I shook my head, turning to start the journey back to my lonely cave. As I passed by the entrance, I ran my fingers over the carvings in the walls. I’d admired them since I was young, the glorious acts of my ancestors etched into every inch I could see. I had an entire section of my quarters waiting for my own carvings. I had dozens of sections filled with battles and hunts, but the ones that needed to be filled were special.

They were waiting for the names of my mate and offspring. As I entered the cavernous space, my eyes went straight to the untouched stone. It was empty for now. As empty as I was.

I sat on the edge of the bed, burying my face in my hands.