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Kassia shot me a lifted-brow look.
“Roktas?” Mother called. “Where are you? Grunter’s here and he’s brought his potential mate!”
“She will be my mate,” I said firmly, holding Kassia close. Diesel had quieted, thankfully, and kept licking her chin.
“Are you going to be like those uppity young orcs who don’t feel they need parental approval to mate?” Mother asked, aghast.
“I believe I am.” When Kassia’s posture loosened, I leaned over and whispered by her ear. “We just need to get through this weekend. I promise.”
She jerked out a nod.
My father stomped out of the front parlor, scowling. “What’s all the ruckus about?” His gaze fell on me, and he rushed over to me to give me a burly hug, dislodging Kassia, who stepped to the side. She put Diesel down on the floor but kept him close.
“My son,” Father said. “Finally, you’re home.” Stepping back, he turned his attention on Kassia. “This is the human you spoke of? Welcome!” He frowned at Diesel. “What’s this? A gift?”
“No,” Kassia yelled.
Father frowned.
Mother scowled.
“This is her friend, Diesel,” I said. “Humans keep small creatures like this as pets. They adore them.”
“I see.” My father’s brow drew together, and he stooped forward, holding his pinky out to Diesel, a common way of establishing contact and friendship among orcs who remained entrenched in tradition—like my parents. “Welcome, friend.”
Diesel sniffed his pinky and licked it.
“Normally, a new friend will link pinkies and shake, but Diesel wouldn’t understand that,” I told Kassia. “Kassia? This is my father, Roktas. Father? Kassia, my future mate.”
“How tiny she is,” he said. “Pretty, though unusual.” He nudged my arm, another common gesture, though only among orc males. “Well done, son. Well done.” He grabbed Diesel and handed her pet to me, which was better than the cooks, and lifted Kassia off her feet. He threw her over his shoulder and backed away from us to spin her around until she must be dizzy. “Very petite, son,” he said when he came to a stop.
She threw me a stunned look as he lowered her to the floor again. Her hand clutched his dark tunic to keep from toppling.
I tugged her into my embrace again, holding her until she felt steady.
“She’s very welcome, but . . .” My father pinched his lips together, making his tusks more prominent. His frown took in Kassia. “Are you sure your cock will fit inside her?”
Chapter 10
Kassia
I couldn’t believe they were talking about something like this. My face was hot, and I wanted to slide beneath the tiles.
Yet they were acting like they were discussing what we’d eat for dinner—which would not be my precious Diesel.
“My cock will fit,” Jarum assured his father. “I’ll make sure of it.”
Maybe I should laugh instead of being embarrassed. This was a joke, right?
“Well, get to it, son,” his father said. “The sooner you plant your seed inside her, the quicker she’ll start producing orclings.”
And maybe it wasn’t a joke.
“Let’s test her,” Drunella said with a pert nod. “Get it over with.” She gestured to a long hall stretching away from the foyer. “If you’ll come this way, Kastra, we’ll handle this quickly.”
“It’s Kassia,” I said.
Drunella paused and shot me a frown. “What?”
