Kaius the Fierce by Cara Wylde
Chapter Six
She must’ve slept in, because when she awoke the next day, Grace was alone in the room. She stretched lazily, grabbed a pair of fresh clothes, and went to take a peek behind the curtain that led to the underground lake. The female orcs had told her to use it at her discretion, but they hadn’t said it was a private place, only for her and the captain. She listened carefully for a minute, then grabbed a towel, said a silent prayer, and rushed to take a quick dip.
The lake was large, and steam had gathered on the surface. She could only guess it was thanks to the hot stones Kaius had asked Ulgan the Mage to sink to its bottom. There were torches on the walls and burning candles here and there. The light played beautifully on the water, though there wasn’t enough of it to help Grace see how deep the lake was. She was alone for now, so she took advantage of it and took the quickest bath she’d ever taken in her life. She didn’t even use soap or shampoo, and simply washed her hair of the dust it had gathered the day before. She didn’t feel comfortable, and if someone walked in while she was in the water, she didn’t know how she’d react. From what she’d seen so far, the orcs didn’t care much about privacy or personal space. No curtains to the holes in the cave they called their rooms, one huge lake for all of them to bathe in, the tradition of sharing every meal... Grace wasn’t used to this. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had dinner with her family. What family?
She shook her head to chase the thoughts away and hurried out of the lake. She dried herself quickly, put on her clothes, and finally let out a breath of relief. She was decently clean, and fortunately, she did have some leave-in conditioner in her luggage that would help detangle her red hair. She went back to the bedroom, peered in every corner and around ever column to make sure that she was still alone, then proceeded to style her hair and apply creams all over her body. A bit of perfume on her wrists and behind her ears, and she hoped she was presentable enough. She only had a tiny hand mirror, which would have to do. She wondered whether Birma or Beka might have a bigger mirror she could use. Surely, female orcs cared about how they looked just as much as human females. Or maybe it was better for Grace to stop making assumptions.
She stalked out of the cave, and when she saw herself outside, the bright sun shining above her and the birds singing in the trees, she congratulated herself for not getting lost in the complex network of tunnels and galleries. The orcs were out and about, as she’d expected. The sun was high in the sky, and she had a feeling she’d missed breakfast. She walked in the direction of the kitchen and bumped right into Birma the Unseen.
“Sorry...”
The female orc laughed. “Nothing to be sorry about. Just staying true to my name.”
Grace grinned. “You are light on your feet.”
“Need anything?”
Birma was carrying a bucket full of fresh carrots in one hand, and what looked like a large brush in the other.
“Do you... buy the carrots?”
“No, we grow them. Down in the valley.”
“Oh.” She seemed to be in a hurry. “I don’t know where Kaius is.”
“Probably where I’m headed. Join me.”
With that, Birma started walking towards the forest. Grace had to pick up the pace to catch up. She wanted to ask where they were going, but soon the terrain became so treacherous that she was too busy minding her step. The female orc walked fast, sure on her feet, and Grace felt frustrated when she started panting. She’d never been big on exercise, and she had never set foot in a gym. Maybe now was the time to do something about it, or she wouldn’t be able to survive with the horde. After ten minutes of struggling and trying not to trip on a tree root and fall, Birma and Grace arrived in a wide clearing. Across from them, a mountain spring murmured softly as it flowed through rocks and fallen logs. But that wasn’t what made Grace cover her mouth with her hand.
Beasts that were bigger than orcs, almost as big as elephants, grazed in the clearing and drank from the river. They were tethered so they wouldn’t run.
“These are our krags,” Birma said, smiling. “Don’t be afraid. They’re gentle beings.”
Grace could tell she was enjoying herself. She saw Beka the Wanderer brushing one of the beasts with a brush similar to the one Birma was carrying, and there were two more orcs tending to the creatures.
“We milked them this morning,” Birma said. “You were asleep.”
“Sorry...”
“The captain let you sleep in. You needed it.”
She set the bucket down, and two krags raised their heads. When they saw the carrots, they hurried to Birma. The ground shook underneath their heavy paws. Grace found herself taking a step back. They were majestic beings, but a tad scary. They seemed to be herbivores, but they had the strong, fast legs of predators. The fur covering their massive bodies was short and brown, and around their thick throats, they had rich manes that reminded Grace of lions.
“Here, you can feed them,” said Birma, handing her two large carrots.
Grace eyed the carrots and shook her head. “N-no, thanks. I think I’ll just watch.”
Birma laughed out loud. Beka approached them, a smile growing on her lips.
“Would you like to ride one?” she asked.
Grace gasped. “You... you ride them? And milk them?”
“Yes.” Beka patted one of the krags on its thick neck. “When we were pulled through the portal into your world, we were riding them to battle. We were afraid they might not like it here. That the grass would be bad for them, that they would get sick.” She talked in a heavy accent, but Grace was getting used to it by now. All orcs had an accent. “We worried for nothing. They love it here.”
“I’m glad.”
“So, do you want to ride one?” Beka asked again.
“I... no...” She bit the inside of her lip, wondering if her refusal might offend the orc twins.
Beka shrugged, though. “Your loss.” She grabbed a handful of carrots and went to feed the other krags.
“Maybe you’d like to ride with me down to the valley.”
Grace startled at the sound of the captain’s voice. He emerged from the other side of the stream, riding a black krag that seemed to be bigger than the others. Just like Kaius was the alpha of his horde, Grace through the beast under him was the alpha of its herd.
“I’ll show you the orchards and the vineyards.”
Grace pursed her lips and sighed. Well, she couldn’t refuse him, could she? Besides, as he rode towards her, his back straight, his strong legs on either side of the beast, she couldn’t help but think about him the night before, naked and firm, gently telling her that he was willing to wait. Something fluttered in her stomach. This gorgeous, green-skinned monster was so good to her. Sure, he was a little serious and silent, and she couldn’t even dream of reading his thoughts, but he’d been nothing but accommodating so far. She tried to remind herself why she was here – to claim a new life, build a new future, and not just for herself. She smiled at Kaius. He wasn’t that bad. In fact, she was pretty convinced by now that she couldn’t have landed with a better orc captain, and that if she tried a little, she’d soon come to care about him. She was certainly attracted to him. Since he’d shamelessly showed her exactly what he was packing under those rough clothes, Grace had found it difficult to focus on much else. She vaguely remembered having dreamed about him all night.
“If you give me a hand...” she said, biting her lower lip and reaching out for him to help her up.
He hesitated, a crease appearing between his dark eyebrows.
“I thought you’d like to ride your own krag.”
Grace blinked. What did that mean? What was she supposed to make of it?
“I don’t think I’m ready. I only rode a horse once, when I was little.” She eyed the spot where the orc’s firm buttocks met with the beast’s wide back. “And you ride without a saddle. I’m afraid I’d just fall. I’m sorry, I’m clumsy.”
A small smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. He cleared his throat and stopped it from spreading, returning to his serious expression that Grace could only hope wasn’t his default.
“All right.”
He didn’t grab her by the hand, though. He leaned over the krag, placed his big hands on her waist, and lifted her like she weighed nothing. Grace yelped and tried to grab on to him. As he tried to place her in front of him, she squirmed in his arms awkwardly and ended up facing him. Her hands fisted his shirt, her eyes closed tightly. Her heart was beating like crazy, and when she felt the muscled sides of the krag against her calves, she squeezed her legs, afraid she might fall.
“Grace,” he said in a husky tone that went straight to her core.
She opened one eye, then the other. She found herself in his arms, looking up at him, feeling his breath on her face. So close for the first time. She took in the long incisors that curved towards his upper lip, the gold rings that pierced his lower lip, and the thin, old scar on his left cheek that she’d missed. It was barely there, barely visible, and that only meant the mage had done a good job of healing it.
“This is not the way,” he said.
“Oh. Right. I have to... turn. Around.”
“Yes.”
But he didn’t let go of her, and she didn’t let go of his shirt.
“Slowly,” she whispered as she finally tried to wiggle into the correct position.
“Yes.”
The krag was already bored, and it lowered its head to graze. Grace yelped, feeling like she might fall forward. Kaius curled his arms around her waist, and she leaned into him as she swung her left leg over the beast’s back, turned around, and finally settled down.
“Okay,” she breathed. “Okay, I think I’m good.”
“Hold on to its mane.”
“Right.”
She sank her fingers into the krag’s soft mane, careful not to pull too hard. She didn’t want to upset the beast. Kaius released her slightly, but before he could remove his hands from around her waist, she leaned against his chest.
“Don’t. I’m still a bit afraid.”
“There’s nothing to be afraid of,” he breathed in her ear. “I’m here. I won’t let you fall.”
“Thank you...” But the words died on her lips. They were barely a whisper.
She could feel him behind her, unmistakably hard. That long, thick cock she’d seen the night before rested on her lower back now, and she couldn’t quite believe that it almost reached the middle of her back. She felt stunned and curious at the same time. She didn’t want to move, and he didn’t move either. As the krag started walking, making them sway gently, Grace felt Kaius grow even harder. She was doing that to him. She blushed furiously, feeling her palms starting to sweat. It was a warm, beautiful day, and she prayed she wouldn’t start sweating in other places too, like on her back and underneath her armpits... She really didn’t want to make a fool of herself. He was impossibly close to her, so close that she could feel his breath blowing on the hair on top of her head, and she congratulated herself for having washed and used nice-smelling products on her hair and skin.
“God, I haven’t been so nervous since high school...”
The krag picked up the pace, and they were soon emerging from the forest and climbing down the mountain on roads that the beast seemed to know by heart. They reached the valley, and on flat terrain, Grace felt like she could relax a little.
“People lived here,” Kaius said out of the blue. His deep voice seemed to reverberate from his chest through her spine. She felt its vibration in her heart and her stomach. “Your people.”
“I know.”
“They abandoned everything, and now my horde grows food on these lands.”
“They were scared when you came.”
“Yes. It was during the war. I thought they would return after, but they never did.”
“Well... You can’t blame them.”
“Are you scared of me?”
Grace chuckled. “Of you? No. I’m scared of the krags, of Thrak the Butcher, and maybe even of the Giant. But I’m not scared of you.”
“Good.”
Her smile broadened, and she tried to stifle it. It wasn’t like he could see her face, but she didn’t want to jinx this. Her second day here, and things were going great. It was a little before noon, but if Kaius kept being so gentle and attentive towards her, and also so stupidly hot, handsome, and... well... hard, then Grace could even consider not making him wait too long. Not making him wait at all.
They passed a vineyard and headed towards the apple orchard. Grace took a deep breath, fully enjoying the sun on her pale skin, the wind playing in her hair, and the fresh smell of nature filling her lungs.
“No...”
She snapped to attention. “What? What happened?”
But he didn’t need to answer. She could see it with her own eyes. The orchard was completely destroyed. The apple trees were cut down, the fruit lying bruised on the ground. First, Kaius went rigid behind her, then he hopped down and inspected the damage with furrowed brows and gritted teeth.
Grace didn’t dare to move, afraid she might not be able to control the krag if it chose to move, or God forbid, break into a sprint, or throw her off. She knew these beasts could run fast, otherwise the orcs wouldn’t ride them into battle.
“Who would do such a thing?”
His jaw was tight. He couldn’t utter a single word, so he just got back on the krag, reached around Grace, grabbed it by its mane, and made it gallop back up the mountain.
Grace wanted to scream. She wanted to beg him to slow down, but she resisted. The orc captain was furious, and she could tell from the way he rode, from the way he leaned over her, his excitement for her body gone. He wasn’t thinking about her now. Even if she was still there, in his arms, it was as if she didn’t exist anymore. All he was thinking about was his destroyed orchard and the ones who did it.