Summoning the Orc (The Kingverse Orcs #2)

Chapter Thirty-Six

Rok

We made it to a clearing in the forest where a small hut was built. It looked shoddy and patched—which made sense, since the female had only been living on this plane for a short time. I narrowed my gaze at her as she dropped off Savla’s back and hurried toward the front door.

“When did you arrive?” I asked her, lifting my head to scent the area. So far, we were safe.

“About a year ago,” she huffed as she entered her home—which was a scattered mess. “These assholes left my things everywhere .”

“And you’ve been trapped here?” I asked, brow furrowed.

She nodded, moving to a cabinet and rummaging around. “They brought me here and tried to trap me, but I escaped. I’ve been a practitioner since I was old enough to know what my powers were. My mom trained me—” she cut herself off at those words, freezing for a moment before seeming to brush it off. “And then that dickhead brought me here so he could breed with me.” She spun around to face me, her hands on her rounded hips. “And that’s just psychotic. He wants me to bear his evil spawn or something. There should be some kind of law and order here to protect innocent people from being treated like this.”

I nodded at her, hoping it would ease some of her ire and she huffed out a breath before turning back to her cabinets to keep rummaging. She grabbed pouches of what smelled like herbs, tossing them onto the rickety table in the center of the room.

“And then I ran into those three,” she gestured toward the three orc males who were guarding the door of the cottage. “And they helped me so much. At least some of you guys are nice,” she said with a smile. “Thanks for saving me, by the way.”

I nodded, quirking a brow as she started sprinkling herbs in a wide circle around her. “I know those three wanted your help finding their mates as well,” I said and watched with amusement as their heads swung in our direction.

“Oh, I’m definitely willing to help them,” she assured me, “but they’re not here.” She made a small humming sound and lifted a satchel of herbs to sniff before going back to the cabinet.

“What do you mean they’re not here?” I asked her and the males had turned toward us, their gazes narrowed at her.

“Their mates aren’t on this plane,” she said with a quick shake of her head. “I already scried for them, of course. I wanted to help.”

“You didn’t tell me that,” Krusk argued, taking a step toward us before seeming to realize what he was doing and focusing on the forest instead. “You said you could help us.”

“Oh, sorry, I guess I didn’t explain it,” she said with a shrug, still sprinkling herbs. “They have to be within a certain distance,” she continued. “And I amplified my power as much as I could, but they aren’t here.” She tapped her chin, shaking her head. “I don’t think they’re on this plane. We can take you to ours,” she added with a careless shrug. “If you’d like. Even if they aren’t there, I can make another portal for you once I’m there and we can try again. This kind of magic uses huge amounts of power, so I’d need to recharge.”

They gaped at her, glancing between each other. “Go to where you’re going? To where you’re taking Rok?”

She nodded, slapping her hands together and holding them under her chin. “You can stay with me! I have a house there that my mom left me. It’s not very big,” she added, eyeing them and tilting her head. “But I guess we can all fit.”

They were still blinking at her when she turned to the circle of herbs and held her hands out. When her fingers started to glow, I glanced at the males who’d turned their gazes to me.

“I know it’s daunting,” I said with a shrug, “to go to a new place, but I have a clan there who would be able to help you as well. And I have enough gold to take care of you.”

“We have our own thanks to you,” Krusk said in a low, grateful voice before turning to face his brothers. “I suppose it’s something we can discuss.”

“You have to do it quick,” the witch called, “because I’ve started the portal and it’s going to be now or never.”

Their jaws dropped, but the sound of footsteps had us all swinging toward the forest.

“Let us know when it’s ready,” I told the witch. “The warlocks are here.”

She gave me a horrified look and squeaked, “Okay,” before continuing with her magic.

I made my way to the door of her home, pulling my axe free and facing the threat that was coming toward us. This female was risking her life to help us and we were going to protect her.

“I need you for this part,” she called to me, holding one glowing hand out toward me. I frowned, glancing at Krusk and he gave me a solemn nod as he lowered himself in a defensive stance, his axe at the ready.

I held my hand out to meet hers and a shocking jolt of electricity shot through me when we connected. The pulse of energy gripped my chest, and images of my gorgeous mate flashed through my mind. I was surrounded by the warmth of our connection and it almost took me to my knees.

“Oh, she’s beautiful,” the witch told me. “Don’t worry. This bond is so strong, I can already feel the portal opening. I just need some more time.” She released me and I stumbled away from her as the connection with my mate dimmed.

I was tempted to grab her hand again, so I could feel my mate again, but I turned away, bracing myself to protect the witch so I could return to Becca.

“I’m Rok,” I told the witch, belated realization that I’d never introduced myself dawning as I squared off in front of her.

“I’m Zara,” she called to me, her glowing hands moving in intricate patterns in front of her.

The sounds of footsteps were almost upon us, so I moved to the door. I narrowed my gaze, my nose scenting dozens of males coming in our direction. With dusk fast approaching, visibility was going to be an issue soon.

“Fuck,” Krusk muttered, shaking his head. Savla nodded in agreement while Enka gripped his axe so tight, I wondered if he’d leave an indent in the wood. “There’s a lot of them,” he said in a low, worried voice.

“And they wield magic,” Enka added, swallowing hard.

“But they’d need time for spells,” I told them, trying to soothe their worries. “If anything, their weapons and shields will be fortified, but the only one we need to worry about is—” I broke off as movement in the trees gave way to a male on a large horse, his blond hair waving in the wind. “ Him ,” I growled, having heard about the grand warlock from other orcs who’d encountered him.

He wasn’t a fair fighter and he used everything as a weapon. I scowled, my axe inching up a bit more as I braced myself for his attack. He narrowed his cold, blue eyes at us, a terrible smile on his face.

“Oh look,” he scoffed from a distance. “She’s found some filthy defenders. I’m assuming you’re the ones who broke into our stronghold and stole food as well?”

I felt Savla flinch next to me, and guilt hit my chest again.

If only—

I cut off that train of thought, focusing on the male. “Whatever we’ve taken, we’ll pay you back tenfold if you leave now.”

His blond eyebrows rose. I’m sure he considered himself handsome. The male was what most females found attractive on the outside, but the cold, calculating evil that pervaded every pore of his body told me a different story.

He’ll gut you while keeping that fake smile on his face.

“You see, what you’ve taken ,” he scoffed, “is my bride.” That brittle smile dropped from his face to reveal the blank expression of a monster below. “And I don’t forgive those who’ve stolen from me.”

“I’m not your bride, you fucking asshole,” Zara screamed from inside the hut and I watched as the fake smile made its way back onto the grand warlock’s face.

“So feisty,” he told us. “I’ll be sure to stamp that out when I take her back.”

“You won’t be getting past us,” I told him, and he scoffed a laugh as he lifted one hand. I watched as it began to glow.

“When I tell you, jump away from the door,” I whispered to the others and there were subtle nods from all around. I kept my gaze focused on that hand. When he lifted his arm, I yelled, “Now,” just as he blasted in our direction.

We all leaped away at the same time, dodging the blast. It hit the door of the hut, blasting it open and Zara yelped from inside.

“Are you okay?” I asked her, and she squeaked, “Yes,” back at me.

Now I knew exactly how long it took this monster to generate his offensive power. With a feral grin, I leapt forward, brandishing my axe. He didn’t flinch, his men running forward first as he sneered in my direction,

“I’ll enjoy ripping your entrails from your body, you filthy orc.”

Two swords hit my axe at the same time, and while I felt the thrum of their reinforcement up my arm, I knew that they were no match for me. I bared my teeth at the two males and they paled as I shoved them back. They slammed into the ground, holding their swords up, but with one swing of my axe, I took both their heads. They fell with wet plops to the ground and that instinct inside me—the ancient knowledge of what a sound like that meant—bellowed with satisfaction.

Two down.

My face was wet with blood as I stared up at the male on his horse. Beside me, Krusk, Savla and Enka were each fighting an enemy. The grand warlock glanced from the fallen heads to me and there was a flicker of unease in his eyes before he screamed,

“Kill them!”

Enka bashed his axe against the armor of the male he was fighting and he fell to the ground. He was heaving breaths, the newest warrior among us. Krusk’s battle cry sounded as he spun, swinging his axe with such force it threw the male into a nearby tree, the loud thud making leaves fall around his unconscious body.

Savla was dodging the blows of an enthusiastic warlock. His expression never changed, but right before the male landed a blow, he slashed out with his knife—having lost his axe several feet away in the fight. Blood spurted from the male’s side and he cried out, clutching the wound, his hand trembling as he held up his shield toward Savla.

Three more males came forward, the others considering our positions and making their way around the back of the building.

Fuck. I can’t let them get her.

Eerie chanting was sounding louder from inside the hut, but I didn’t know how much more time Zara needed to open the portal. I tightened my hold on the axe, making my way to the right and jutting my chin to the left so Krusk would see. He went in that direction, ready to block the path of any male that tried to circle around us.

My ears twitched as I engaged another male. Sounds of more footsteps coming our way.

Shit. Reinforcements.

The three orcs glanced at me, having heard the warlocks getting nearer. I watched Veron’s evil grin as he heard them too.

“Well, well, orc. It seems like you’re about to be outnumbered,” he laughed—the sound twisted and demonic.

Dozens more warlocks entered the clearing, moving their way to surround us and I swallowed, loosening my shoulders, preparing to defend us as much as I could. I drew a breath, ready to give a battle cry as the light started glowing in his hands again. I felt myself being yanked toward the hut. My cry escaped in a squeak—something that I would deny if anyone heard it.

I was flying backward, being held by nothing, my eyes huge in my face and my lips parted. Krusk, Savla and Enka weren’t far behind me and we all slammed into each other in the doorway, not pausing as the force that was pulling us dragged us even faster.

Veron gave a cry of fury as he sent a blast of magic toward us. I angled myself to take the hit—ensuring that everyone had been blocked. The last thing I saw was the horror on Veron’s face before there was nothing but darkness.