AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He frowned, his hand on the door. “Are you saying you don’t want to have orclings?”
“I didn’t say that. I want kids, just maybe not so many.”
He nodded slowly. “Things are different in the human world. My family with only two orclings is rare here. I’ve noted most families on the surface are smaller than the ones I grew up with. I’ll lower my expectations.”
I wasn’t sure if I should say we could start with one or pinch my legs together. I didn’t think our first uneasy discussion would involve the number of children—orclings—we might have. “What if I can’t have children?”
“We can adopt or be childless.” His face knit with concern, and he cupped my cheeks, being gentle with his claws. “All I want is you, Kassia. Please know that’s enough.”
That eased my churning belly—somewhat.
We climbed out of the vehicle and Jarum paid the boar, who clop-clop-clopped back down the driveway. With our bags slung over his shoulder, he took my hand and led me to the big front door. Diesel stared after the boar until I tugged on his leash, then trotted over to walk beside me.
The front door opened, and an orc woman stepped out, beaming. “Jarum. Grunter. Finally, you’re here.” Her gaze fell on me, but I couldn’t read her thoughts from her expression. “Is this your possible mate?”
Jarum put his arm around me. “Yes, Kassia has consented to mate with me. Kassia? This is my mother, Drunella. Mother? Kassia.”
“Well, consent is a wonderful thing,” she said hesitantly. “We’ll see if she’s a fit bride before this weekend is through, however, Grunter.”
“My mother calls me that to show affection,” he said.
“And because he was such a grunter when he was small,” she said with a grin that relaxed me a bit. “So unusual. A human!” A frown appeared on her knobby brow. “Will your cock fit, Jarum? She’s rather puny.”
Actually, I was rather big for a woman, but I wasn’t going to point that out to the six-foot-plus-tall, bulky orc female I hoped to impress.
“I’m confident my cock will fit, Mother,” he said.
Neither of them seemed to think her discussing his cock was a problem. My cheeks must be red. He and I hadn’t discussed his cock—not much—so it was weird to hear them talking about it like it was his arm or a finger.
His mom looked like all the other orcs I’d met on the surface—green skin, large, bulky build, though she was slightly less solid than a male—dark hair, hers dangling to her butt, and dark eyes. She wore a floor-length gown, and her feet were bare.
Diesel started barking, though he sounded more excited than distressed.
Drunella peered at him, her hands clutched to her throat. “What is that? Does it converse like a human?”
“This is Diesel, and no, he, um, doesn’t.” I tugged him close to my shin.
“Oh,” she cried. “I understand what this is.” Striding forward, she scooped up Diesel and tucked him beneath her arm. “You brought him for us to cook for dinner.”
Chapter 9
Jarum
“No, Mother.” I carefully extricated Diesel from her and handed him to Kassia. “He’s her pet. Pets are friends to humans. They’re companions, not food.”
Kassia gaped at my mother, clutching her pup to her chest.
My mother shook her head. “He’s meaty. Why shouldn’t we eat him?” She huffed. “But if you say we will not, then that’s how it must be.” She linked her arm through mine, tugging me toward the door. “Come along, Grunter. Let’s get you two inside.”
I held my hand out to Kassia and tucked her into my side. She looked concerned, but my mother had just suggested we eat her dog. I’d feel the same.
I’d reassure her once we were alone in my suite.
“If you plan to mate with this tiny human,” Mother said. “She must complete the challenges.”
“Exactly what kind of challenges are you planning?” Kassia asked, her smile barely holding. I hated that she didn’t feel secure, but I’d make sure she did as soon as possible.
“Nothing too difficult,” my mother said, urging us up to the front door and inside the big foyer. “For an orc, that is. As for you, we’ll see, won’t we?”
