His fingers were a shackle around my wrist and if I didn’t desperately need this job, I would have broken his fucking nose with one of the left hooks my grandma had taught me once I’d sprouted boobs. We were ladies, but ladies who knew how to defend themselves. I forced another smile, trying to free my wrist, twisting it almost painfully, but he didn’t release me.
“I’m sorry, sir, but I don’t drink,” I told him, notcompletelylying. I couldn’taffordto drink even if I wanted to. Every extra penny went toward payments. And even if I could find something that didn’t taste terrible, I wasn’t going to drink it withhim.
“Well I wouldn’t either if I was you, there’s nothing but trash in most bars,” he scoffed, a scowl spreading across his face as he shook his head with an air of superiority. “Not where most of those males you date take you anyway,” he added, searching myface for some sign—anysign that what he was saying was true.
I hadn’t discussed my love life with himever,and I had no intention to. I just stared at him, aiming for a blank expression. After a moment, he narrowed his eyes and continued.
“Butthisis a thirty-year-old bottle that’s smooth as silk,” he boasted, and I knew that my smile was more of a grimace now.
“I’m sorry, sir,” I said, my jaw so tight from having to apologize to this dickhead that I wondered if I would crack a tooth. “But as I mentioned, I don’t drink.”
His eyes were becoming stormy as his temper flared, andthiswas what I was worried about. He was clearly a male who was used to getting his way and when it came to me, hedidn’t. I wasn’t sure about his history, but based on the whispers about the turnover rate for his assistants—who he always personally hired and they werealwaysfemales—I had no hope that he had a clean record of giving in when a female saidno.
“Well if you don’t want a drink, Emma, then I can’t force you,” he said, his words crisp and annoyed, but he kept that smarmy smile on his face that always gave me goosebumps.
Something isterriblywrong with him, but I can’t put my finger on it.
Not that I wanted my fingers anywhere near him. I twisted my wrist again, and I saw his eyes flicker down to where he held me, grim satisfaction curling his lips before he released me. I refused to rub my wrist in front of him, but it twinged with pain.
“Sorry about that,” he said withnoremorse at all. “Females are so fragile. Sometimes I forget my own strength.”
I had to force my mouth to stop from not shifting to a scowl. Keeping that cool, calm smile on, I nodded and turned to walk away.
“I’ll see you next time,” he told me, his words holding a promise that I wished weren’t true. Iwouldbe seeing him next time, which Ihated.
If I could afford to lose this job—because I hadno doubthe or one of his many cronies would find a way to fire me—I would complain to HR. Every other section of the Bureau was amazing and took their policies seriously. It seemed to only be under this asshole’s section that everyone thought that rules were merely suggestions that could be ignored.
I gave a cheerful wave to the nice lakhey—a cheerful, protective breed of demon with red skin— who worked on the ninth floor. He had always been kind to me and his astute eyes followed me before flicking to the door I’d just left. It strangely made me feel better to know he was out here while I’d been stuck inside with that asshole.
I made my way to the elevator. If I could spend the rest of the day without any more annoying males, I’d be set. I ignored the twinge inside of me as I remembered the handsome face of the orc who’d been flirting with Lin, lifting my chin and pretending that I didn’t care.
CHAPTER 4
Krusk
Iwatched as Enka and Rudgar pulled out chairs for their mates at the restaurant I’dinsistedwe visit, longing simmering inside of me. There were so many things that I’d seen since I’d been on this mission I’d started.
Little gestures that I barely remembered from my own parents when they were still alive. Tiny touches and moments that a mated couple shared that were barely noticeable by the outside world, but to them, it was intrinsic and meaningful.
That’s whatIwanted, damn it. And it burned and ached in my chest now that I knew I was so close to having it. I wanted to pull a chair out for her. I wanted to brush her hair back from her neck and place a kiss against my mating mark. I wanted to hold hands and sit in absolute silence, knowingexactlywhat she would be thinking even without saying it.
And I wasso closeto having it. My claws—that I hadn’t filed in a while and would be remedying as soon as I got home—duginto my palms at the thought. I admonished myself immediately, annoyed that I wasn’t thinking abouther, but a generic mate. I wanted someone to spend my life with, but I needed to focus on her. Whoshewas as a person. As the potential mother to my younglings and the female I would spend the rest of my life with.
I was strumming my fingers on my thigh, my gaze swinging from left to right as I tried to locate her. I’d taken copious notes from Lin, ignoring the threatening statements of “if you hurt her,” that she’d tossed my way, since Ineverintended to hurt my mate.
“This was a great suggestion, Krusk,” Tasia said with a smile, pulling my attention toward her from where I was brooding. “It’s beautiful. Thank you,” she added, with a shy smile. She was the newest member of our family and she was still a bit reluctant to consider us her own.
It was pointless. She was our sister now that she was mated to Enka and we’d adopted her daughter into our clan as well. Gabbi—the tiny hellion who I was proud to call my niece—was still fast asleep in her father’s arms. Enka had never looked happier in his life, and it soothed something deep inside of me. A promise that I’d made a long time ago was being fulfilled.
“Beautiful,” Zara agreed, her gaze narrowed thoughtfully on me. “And not somewhere you’ve ever mentioned before.” She had a curious eyebrow lifted as she sent a narrow-eyed gaze in my direction.
“I met a very nice female while I was at the Bureau, who told me this would be a nice place to bring the clan,” I told her, still looking around the room, searching.
Itwasvery nice. The dark flooring made way for light-wood chairs and marble-slabbed tables. The natural cork tiles on the walls and ceiling added a little something earthy to the atmosphere. It was chic and beautiful with open windows and a clean, breezy patio on the outside that I would have enjoyed if Ihadn’t specifically asked to be seated in this section.
The tables were almost all filled, and I couldn’t help but notice that more than one patron seemed to be staring in our direction. Odd. It wasn’t strange that a group of orcs travelled or ate together. And having human-looking females with us wasn’t a reason for alarm. According to Rudgar, orcs from this plane had a history of stealing their mates and taking them back to the mountains, but that practice had been outlawed ages ago.
I frowned at the minotaur who was chewing on his salad and staring right at us. I quirked an eyebrow and the abashed male ducked his head and kept chewing, focusing on his companion—-a pretty little human who reached forward and pinched his arm to admonish him. I hid a smile as I returned my gaze to Zara.
