Summoning the Orc (The Kingverse Orcs #2)

Chapter Nineteen

Becca

“No,” I insisted to Rok and he grumbled out a few words in Orcish, stomping his foot, shaking one of the nearby tables. I folded my arms under my breasts, and shook my head. “I don’t care whatever your argument is. I don’t understand it anyway. The answer is no .”

He growled, a low sound of annoyance, but something instinctual inside me knew that when it came to me, this male was all bark, zero bite. I tipped my chin back, my stubbornness available in spades.

“ No ,” I repeated and his lip curled, so I knew he was recognizing the word and it was one he didn’t like.

Too bad.

Our trial by fire had started as soon as we made our way back to our apartment. I needed to go to work, and I asked Dristan to convey the fact that Rok would have to stay at home until I returned. He hadn’t liked it when Dristan had said it and he certainly was showing his disdain for the idea now.

“ No ,” he sounded out, the word a grated sound.

A startled laugh left me, but I couldn’t give in. There was a knock on the door and I watched as Rok moved toward it, using his body to block me from the entrance. I bit my lip to stop my smile from the protective move.

A few words were exchanged before Rok opened the door, slamming his fist on his chest at Rudgar. I winced at how hard he had hit himself, the sound resonating in the room. Rudgar repeated the greeting, before calling,

“Hi Becca.”

“Hi Rud,” I told him. “Can you explain to Rok that he can’t come with me to work?”

“That’s why I’m here,” he grinned, “I heard that he might be looking for a Common teacher and a job.”

“Oh,” I called, my hands fluttering with excitement. “You could teach him some Common?”

Rok was looking between us with suspicion.

“Yes, of course. Orcs are aces at language. It’s how we adapt so well when other species die off,” Rudgar said with a proud smirk and I rolled my eyes as he continued. “Although there’s a shortcut I have one of my guys looking into. If we can get that, we won’t have to be worried about any more lessons.”

“Thank you!” I cried, grabbing my purse and hurrying to the door. Rok had an expression of sheer panic on his face, his hands out to block me, but I slipped under his arm and sidled past Rudgar. “Bye, Rok,” I sent a kiss his way and hurried out the door. “I’ll call you once I get there, Rud.”

Rudgar grunted, and I knew he was holding Rok back from hurrying after me.

“Well, look who it is,” Jun called, his red-feathered arms crossed over his thin chest. “The troublemaker.”

I had an apologetic smile already prepared on my face when I’d seen security swarming all over the front of the library. After stepping onto the floor where I would be working, I couldn’t believe there were so many people there.

“Becca,” Gideon called from next to Jun, a worried look on his face as he strode over to me. He shoved a hand through his hair. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here when the orc came out of the book—”

“An orc that she summoned,” Jun squawked, moving closer as well.

Gideon waved him off. “Be that as it may,” he said, rolling his eyes at me so I could see that he was frustrated with the male, “I’m sorry I wasn’t here to protect you.”

“Oh,” I said, giving him my best, most reassuring smile. “I was totally fine.”

Gideon’s brow was furrowed. “Totally fine?”

I nodded, looking around at where all types of beings were hurrying around. “Yes. I’m safe. Can I ask what’s going on?”

“They’re looking for clues as to where that brute went,” Jun huffed. “You can’t imagine that they’d just let him stay here, finding more kinnaras to accost.” The last words were said with a gentle stroke to his rear end where I could see that dozens of his feathers had been plucked.

It took every ounce of self-discipline inside of me to not laugh. Rok had definitely been enthusiastic.

Then the seriousness of his words hit me.

“They’re looking for him?” I asked Gideon, and his eyes were narrowed at me before he nodded. “W-well I have no idea where he went,” I said, smoothing my skirt with my hands. “He left me on the side of the road and then wandered off. I-I ran home.” I punctuated the end with a firm nod, hoping that no one would ask me any questions.

Gideon’s gaze stayed steady on mine and I struggled to hold it, praying that he would believe me. He gave a slow nod.

“Well I’m glad you’re safe. We have no idea where he came from and he could be dangerous,” he said.

“H-he didn’t seem dangerous,” I licked my lips to say while Jun blustered next to us.

“He most certainly was . I was attacked ,” he huffed.

Gideon rolled his eyes at me again, but the nerves in my stomach were churning and my mind was racing.

“I just mean that he didn’t hurt me or anything. He just seemed confused,” I told Gideon. “He was speaking in Orcish.”

“And how would you know what language he was speaking?” Jun asked, crossing his thin arms over his chest.

“My best friend is mated to an orc,” I told him, tipping my chin up. “And I know a lot about orcs and orc culture.”

Jun scoffed, turning and walking away, but muttering “Orc-chaser,” in a derogatory voice so I could hear him.

Heat rose in my cheeks, and I looked up at Gideon. He shook his head with a sigh. “Don’t mind him. He’s just a prejudiced old coot.” He took the time to look around before he leaned closer. “I saw the footage of him leaving with you,” he told me in a low voice and my heart jumped into my throat.

Fear quivered inside me for Rok. I didn’t want these lunatics anywhere near him.

“And if I saw it,” he continued, “other people saw it too. That male was not going to just leave you on the street. You might want to change your story.”

I bit my lip, my eyes wide.

He knows.

“You’re his mate, right?” he asked, giving me a sad smile.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I replied, but I knew my face was giving me away.

“Okay, just don’t get yourself in trouble over this. If you’re mates, there might be something we can do. A special procedure. Let me look into it,” he murmured, peeking behind him to where the rest of the security team was working, surrounding the book that Rok had come out of with yellow tape. “I’ll let you know what I find. In the meanwhile, just say that you ran from him and you don’t know where he went.”

I searched his kind face and gave him a nod and a grateful smile. “Thank you,” I whispered, and he shrugged.

“I’m a romantic under all this stone,” he said, rapping his fist against his chest, the sound loud and hollow. “Just ask my imaginary girlfriend.”

My smile stretched as he winked at me before walking off. His eyes snagged on where Trixy was hurrying across to me on her eight legs, almost plowing face-first into a shelf before he realized where he was going and redirected himself.

“Oh, thank the Gods,” Trixy cried, grabbing my hands in hers. “When I saw the way he just carried you off like a brute,” she gasped, shaking her head. “I was so worried.”

“O-oh,” I smiled up at her, trying to look relieved. “Yes, I was worried too. But then I got away!”

Trixy nodded, her multiple eyes fixated on me, waiting for the rest of the story. Unnerved, I licked my lips and looked around.

“He took me to the—” my eyes snagged on the shelf with the used disposable cups that lined some of the shelves. “Coffee shop!”

Trixy’s head tilted a little. “The coffee shop? Down the block?”

“Yep,” I said with a quick nod. “I think he was trying to find some food or something. Maybe he liked the smell. We didn’t make it all the way there before I kicked him in the nuts and ran,” I finished the story with gusto, beaming up at her.

Her smile was hesitant before she shook her head, taking my hand into hers. “Well, I’m just glad that you made it away from him. Leave it to these guys. They’re the best. They’ll track him and send him back to where he came from,” she assured me, patting my hand.

“But… The thing is—” she cut herself off, pausing for a long moment before she continued. “He looked like he recognized you as his mate when he came out of the book, Becca.” She chewed on her lower lip with one fang and my palm became sweaty under hers. She glanced at it, before looking up at me. “And that’s what makes me think that he’ll be back for you. Don’t worry. We can protect you.”

She thinks I’m scared for myself, not him.

“Thank you,” I told her, pretending to be relieved, but I was almost certain my face looked constipated instead.

“Of course,” she assured me, patting my shoulder. “Did you want us to send any guards to your home? The library has insurance coverage for this kind of thing, and we have the extra funds if—”

“Oh no,” I told her, trying for a casual tone, but my voice was so high-pitched it was a wonder she could even understand me. “I’m totally fine. Perfect. You don’t have to worry about me. Just focus on the important stuff.”

She nodded, sending a sympathetic look my way and I realized she assumed I was scared. I preferred she think that than I was hiding a giant orc in my apartment, though.

“We have the coven from down the street coming in later today to start the mystical tracking,” she said, giving me a reassuring smile, her fangs glinting in the light. “And once we get him back to where he came from, you don’t have to worry anymore. Hopefully we can find him today.”

“Mystical… Tracking,” I sounded out, horror filling me.

Oh no.