My Orc (Secret) Boss (Eastshore Isle #7)

Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

Memnon

You haven’t looked in a mirror lately, have you?

Long after Giza had carefully led his Mate away, her words, and his knowing chuckle, ran through my head.

Fuck .

They were talking about— My mind skittered away from the thought, even as I craned my neck, looking for Maya. She wasn’t at my side, and it made me antsy. Last night…last night I’d felt her shatter around me.

And it hadn’t been enough.

When the violin music ended, my attention was caught by a familiar laugh. I turned to see my brother and his new family chatting with Sakkara and his Mate. I limped toward them in time to hear Sakkara say, “I’m glad to see you’ve found someone who puts up with you, Simbel.”

“Yeah,” I growled. “I could’ve told you he has the sense of humor—and the intelligence—of a teenaged boy.”

The insult was intended to piss him off, but it didn’t work. The idiot was beaming like he’d won the lottery.

Seeing him interact with Rissa and her son made me think that maybe he did.

It was nice to meet her and the kid, Trick. I could see why Simbel was so in love with her, but whereas only a few hours ago, such a thing would’ve been bittersweet—watching the idiot grow up, and all that—now it just confused me.

Did I look at Maya like that?

As Simbel dragged them away, Rissa called out shyly, ““Nice meeting you, Memnon,” and I returned her little wave.

For years, I’d only had space in my life for Simbel. I’d only allowed him a place in my life. No one else. But in the last week, I’d let Maya in, no question.

It looked like I was going to have to make space for Rissa and Trick as well. My brother’s new family.

It took longer to get away from Sakkara, the smug bastard. He likely knew exactly how the landscaping job was going, exactly how good it was for my leg, and exactly how I felt about Maya. Yeah, I had to get away from him before I punched someone.

I ended up standing near the stage, pretending to watch them set up for the charity auction, my arms crossed, scowling at nothing. I felt a presence step up beside me, and my senses told me it was Karnak. He always smelled of oils and whatever sharp chemical he used to clean paint from his hands.

“What?” I barked, not looking at him.

He snorted. “Giza warned me you were in a bad mood. Cairo wanted to come give you shit, but I told him he needed to help his wife in the baked goods tent.”

I should probably thank him for saving me from that asshole. Instead, I grunted.

“Not sure why I bothered,” Karnak muttered. “You two probably deserve each other. At least his Mate can cheer him up.”

I rounded on him, lips curled in a snarl, fists ready to fly, and caught his smirk.

“You haven’t told her she’s your Mate, have you?”

Who ? I wanted to snap. Except, of course, I knew who.

I felt the anger leaching from me, felt my shoulders deflating. I dragged my fingers through my hair. “No,” I admitted.

Karnak’s expression turned softer. “You didn’t even realize it yourself, did you?”

I turned back to the stage, where Karnak’s Mate, Jess, was welcoming everyone to the auction. I guess that’s why he was here in the audience.

“No,” I whispered, admitting the truth to myself at least.

Maya was my Mate. I hadn’t realized it until today. Until I saw so many of my clanmates with their Mates. Until I realized what this itchy, unfinished feeling in my chest was.

Mate.

Mine .

I knew from the way my Kteer howled with glee that this was right and true. Maya was mine. And I wasn’t sure what to do about it.

“We’re going to kick the auction off with a special service from Ms. Kelly Willis, Eastshore High’s gym teacher!” At Jess’s introduction, a buxom blonde in a high ponytail, short shorts, and a revealing tank top bounced out on stage, waving and cheering.

The answering hoots from the audience’s males made it clear what sort of service they were expecting. The woman did nothing to discourage them, waving and winking and smiling as if she was on sale.

Jess was saying something about a work-out partner, but the yells from the audience were too loud, and I didn’t really care. I stood there, arms crossed, frowning at nothing, until I suddenly recognized one of the last two voices in the bidding war.

“Three hundred fifty!” yelled the other man, but I was already twisting, looking for my brother.

Sure enough, there was Simbel, with Rissa on his arm, yelling out, “Three-seventy-five!”

What the fuck? At my side, Karnak muttered, “He’s bidding on her with his Mate right there?”

Even odder was when the other male called out, “Four hundred,” Rissa pressed on her toes to whisper something in Simbel’s ear. His lips split into a grin, and he confidentially called out, “Five hundred!”

Why in the hell would Simbel bid on another female with his Mate’s approval? Especially one as overtly sexual as the blonde on stage, who was now jumping up and down and clapping with glee, clearly pleased that her service was “bought” by Simbel.

Disgusted, I looked away, wondering how my twin brother could have his priorities so screwed up.

Jess was already announcing the next item, a massage package from the spa, but I tuned her out. While my Kteer was urging me to find Maya, my mind and heart told me to go slap some sense into Simbel.

Luckily, they came to me.

Karnak muttered, “Uh-oh,” and I turned to see Simbel strutting toward me, looking proud. On one arm clung Ms. Kelly Willis, the bouncy blonde gym teacher. Rissa was holding his other hand, looking remarkably amused.

“Simbel,” I growled in warning, but the idiot ignored me, as usual.

“Memnon, meet Kelly.” He thrust her toward me. “I bought her for you.”

All of us reared back in shock, except for Kelly, who latched onto my arm. “Oh, silly, that sounds so primitive!” Her voice lowered an octave as she traced her fingers up my bicep. “Of course, I like primitive.”

I swung an incredulous glare at my twin, who was moments from laughing. “Kelly was offering her services as a workout coach, Memnon. I know you hate physical therapy, but working out—and having someone to hold you accountable—is just what you need!”

As Karnak made a little muffled sound of laughter, I reined in the impulse to shake off the blonde and tackle my brother. For one thing, his Mate was here. For another, with my bum leg, I could no longer be sure of coming out on top.

Instead, I growled, “I don’t need a workout coach.”

The blonde tittered a laugh as if I’d said something truly funny. “I can tell you’re clearly into fitness, just like I am! I wanted Simbel, but…” She pouted out her lower lip in what was clearly meant to be an appealing manner as she stroked my arm again. “You look exactly like him, and I think you’re even buffer!”

Fuck .

Disgusted, I grimaced and turned to say whatever I needed to get her off me…when Jess’s words from the stage cut through my anger.

“Next up is something exciting from Eastshore’s newest company, the landscaping arm of The Garden Shop !” Sure enough, my Maya was climbing up on stage beside Jess, offering a shy little wave in that cheerful yellow sundress before tucking herself uncertainly next to the other woman.

“What is she offering?” huffed Kelly.

Unable to stand her any longer, I shook off the blonde woman and stepped toward the stage just as Jess explained: “Maybe you have a garden that needs some love, or a front walkway that needs an overhaul. Jess’s landscaping service is willing to take on any job for you, up to a five-hundred-dollar value, with you paying for the materials. Can we start the bidding at fifty dollars?”

A male at the front of the crowd called out, “If she’ll come to my house, I’ll bid a hundred!” I recognized the same lewd voice as the one who’d bid against my brother for the blonde gym teacher. There were some chuckles at the male’s leering look, and when Maya shrunk in on herself, I saw red.

“Two hundred,” I ground out before I’d even realized what I’d said.

“Two hundred, from Memnon in the front,” Jess called out. “How about two-fifty?”

Maya had turned almost grateful eyes my way, which turned incredulous when the other voice called out, “Three hundred if she does the work herself!”

“Four hundred,” I immediately countered.

Jess didn’t speak but turned to the other male with her brows raised. “Five hundred,” came his voice, although he sounded peeved now.

Karnak leaned closer to me. “That’s Geoffrey Harrison. He’s an asshole, doesn’t even live full-time here on the island. He owns a vacation home and was trying to turn this whole place into a tourist trap for a while. He objected to us moving here, and he ran against Sakkara for mayor.”

Ah, so he was a racist asshole.

No way was I letting him near my beautiful Maya.

Jess was ready to call the bidding in favor of The Asshole when I lifted my hand. The sounds and voices around me quieted to hear me say quietly, distinctly, “One thousand dollars.”

The crowd gasped, and before The Asshole could offer another bid, a delighted Jess yelled, “ Sold !” She grasped Maya’s hand to shake it happily. “Thank you so much, Ms. Locklear! Congratulations on your new company!”

Maya looked dazed as she stumbled toward the steps, and all I could think of was getting to her. That asshole had wanted her . And I doubt it was for the landscaping.

My Kteer snarled like a wild animal caught in a trap, throbbing against my ribs, urging me to chase hurt kill the bastard who’d dared to leer at my Mate. I couldn’t do that, so I pushed my way toward the stairs to meet Maya.

And as soon as she put her fragile, trusting hand in mine, that control snapped.

I couldn’t hurt The Asshole who’d tried to scare her, but I could remind her—and me—and the fucking world that she was mine. My Mate.

Without a word, I turned and stalked toward the edge of the crowd, pulling Maya after me.

Mine .