Chapter Ten #3
Elida sighed. “Same reason I can’t donate to her. Did she get smaller?”
“Oh, yeah, as her energy depletes, she takes on her actual form. A cute little miss orc, around five foot eight. I will have to bring her a dress and shoes.”
“So, why is she so big when she’s a hunter?”
“Intimidation, and it gives her a better base to fight. It also means she can handle her bike more easily.” Cora held her hand. “It’s a practical shape.”
There was a soft knock, and two high-status orcs came in. One went to Cora and stroked her shoulders; the other stood at the foot of the bed with a focused look on his face.
Elida narrowed her eyes and blinked. There was a very thin link between them. It seemed he was trying to talk to her.
* * * *
Never looked around her personal piece of the psychic plane and smiled at her lovely little garden that stretched as far as the eye could see.
She didn’t know how long she had been there, but suddenly, she wasn’t alone.
“Oh, Tam-or. I didn’t see you there. Care for tea?”
He looked at her and slumped with relief. He walked up to her and wrapped her in his arms. “I was worried.”
“I am just in here until I can replenish enough energy to run my body.”
He leaned back. “What happened?”
“Someone else needed it more, far more. So, I kept her running until her link to her mate kicked in, and then it was like I had been pushing against a wall that disappeared. I am guessing I hit the floor and started seizing.”
“Take what you need from me.”
She smiled and leaned back. “Sorry. Can’t.”
He looked angry. “Why not?”
“You and I don’t have enough of a link for me to pull from you. So, it will just take time.”
He hugged her. “You can’t pull from Cora?”
“No, her pregnancy would be the first thing to go.”
“Oh, right. What can I do?”
“Drop me in a forest near a tree that usually has a lot of fruit in the right season. I should be up in a day or so there.” She smiled up at him. “I am guessing I am in hospital?”
“Yes.”
“Then I will be back in about a week. Just tell them to stick me in a corner and leave me on a drip. I will be fine.”
“No, you are not going to stay in a corner.” He held her close. “Draw from me. I can draw from my people.”
“That’s going to be like sucking a steak through a straw.”
He smiled. “Try it.”
She pressed her palm to his chest and tried to pull magic out of him. To her surprise, it came easily.
She frowned. “It shouldn’t be that easy.”
“Well, there may be some linking going on in your body. Marks are being placed to make this easier.”
“Marks?”
“You said I could mark you, choose the placement, and everything. So, I have. The tattoo artist you wanted was here, and she and I had a quick discussion of what you needed. I gave her the image with the markings, and she snorted and started redrawing them. She’s very good.
I can understand your preference for her work, rather than Steve the tattoo goblin. ”
She smirked. “Well, that is quite the endorsement.”
“It is also good that Elida is here to override security and the nurses. She’s guarding your door, and Wymol is giving her breaks and bringing her water.”
“Ah, the father.”
“Correct.” He smiled. “Is this the true you?”
She was embarrassed. “Yeah. I only up-size to ride my motorcycle and punch bad guys.”
“You are human height.”
“Yup. With green skin and pointy ears.”
“And quicksilver eyes.” He smiled. “Still lovely, but far more portable now.”
She grimaced. “Like I haven’t heard that one before.”
“Well, there is a niche for petite orcs.”
“Yeah, and the guys interested in my niche are usually size fetishists.” She made a face.
“I like you short, I like you tall, but mostly, I like you against me.”
She took the hint and moved to hug him. “You are too broad.”
He laughed. “That is not a complaint I have heard before.”
“Well, they were probably gagging on your dick. That is the traditional coin of transactions when there is no emotional attachment.”
He paused. “You are very accurate.”
She snickered.
He sighed. “I suppose I will have to make do with a runt orc with quicksilver eyes and magic in every inch of her. Wait. You have been passing out due to your work?”
“Not my work. The work is easy. Using my energy as life support, that takes a lot from me. It can only be replaced with time.”
“Or given to you.”
“Yes, but until right now, only Cora has been able to help.”
“That changes today. I nearly threw up when Cora told Abel-ur.”
“You were there?”
“Yes. I was signing the speaker relationship agreement, lodging you as my one and only partner. I had to get the chief and three elders to sign off on it. That took most of the morning while you were molesting the pillows I put in my place.”
She looked up at him. “Oh.”
“So, we can sleep together, and I am fairly sure that sex can be accomplished, so I have declared you mine, and you are now the registered shaman of the Daring Claw Clan. So, once you are marked, you have access to our six hundred acres, the plants, the trees, and the citizens. This won’t happen again. ”
A small stream of energy hit her, and it got wider in a hurry. “Whoa.”
He turned her and smiled. “They just put the glyph in for the Daring Claw.”
“It’s on my back?”
He smiled. “The goblins and trolls will be next.”
Never stared up at him, and more power bloomed in her. “Damn, Emily is fast.”
He smiled. “The goblins are linked; I can actually see the troll mark coming through.”
She nodded and felt a cool rush beginning. “How did you get in here?”
“One, I am a speaker, and two, our marks were the first ones in place. I couldn’t get here until she put it in place.” He leaned forward and pointed to a small tree in a radiant sun in the hollow of his throat.
She touched her own throat and felt slightly raised skin that pulsed at the contact. She conjured a mirror and looked at the mark. “I am the tree?”
“And I am the sun.” Tam-or grinned. “You can pick our bonding bands on our biceps later. They are scars.”
“Hmm. You are really optimistic.”
“I have quiet confidence that you and I are going to be together for life.”
“Why is that?”
“You negotiated to have me hold you. So, you want me.” He smiled and stroked her back.
“Well, yes. But now that I have you, I am unsure what to do with you.” She bit her lip.
He paused. “What? You aren’t shy.”
“Well, I have been in a lot of locker rooms.” Her voice ended a little high. “I dated in college, but since Cora locked into her focus on getting pregnant, I just hung back.”
“So, for over three decades, you haven’t had sex?”
She looked at him and cocked her head. He was in shock. Finally, she sighed. “Yes, for three decades, I haven’t had sex.”
He opened his mouth and then closed it with a snap. He smiled slowly. “Well, you have my dry spell beat.”
She stared at him and then giggled. “Yeah. I suppose I do.”
“How is that possible?”
“Well, Cora took on the more obvious aspects of heat. I went through the motions, but she was the broadcaster.”
“I see. So, what will happen now?”
“Well, you have been close to me. What kind of signals am I starting to put out?”
He leaned in and inhaled. “You just smell like leaves and sunshine here.”
“Good. Whoops. There is the troll mark. It feels like cool rock in my system.”
He grinned. “Two more and you should be back to yourself.”
“What are they?”
“Elida and Emily suggested flood gates. They will keep a minimum level in you at all times.”
A dirty thought flitted through her and flapped away.
“What the hell is that?” Tam-or stared at it.
“Uh, a particular type of thought.”
“What type?”
“Dirty thought.”
“Ah, that’s why it looks like a dick with wings.”
She winced. “Yeah. I try not to keep them in my head for long.”
He looked at the thought as it flapped away to join a cloud. “Where is it going?”
“Joining the flock.” She smirked.
There was a thick white cloud full of flapping dirty thoughts.
“Wow. That’s a lot.”
“Well, I have had to avoid sex. Sending the thoughts flying seemed safer than getting frustrated.”
Tam-or smiled. “I see. I can help you with that.”
“The thoughts or the frustration.”
“The frustration. Speakers have to train to keep their lust under control, no matter who is naked on their knees in front of us.”
She nodded. “I had hoped that might be it. That’s why I asked for cuddling. If you weren’t interested, it was less of a hit to my ego.”
His eyes widened. “You thought I wasn’t interested?”
“Well, if you weren’t, I wasn’t going to push things.”
He groaned. “If I am ever stupid again, please, push it.”
She chuckled. “That’s your job. And you weren’t stupid, just stuck being the speaker. I would recommend that you be Tam-or with me and leave the speaker for other occasions.”
Never paused. “That is... if you want to have a relationship.”
“I am currently kneeling on the floor, next to your bed, while a tattoo artist puts marks that I chose for you on you.”
For orcs, he had given her the equivalent of an engagement ring and a first house.
“Well, that just shows good sense. I am quite the catch.” She smiled.
“I am glad I have caught you.”
They stood, holding each other until she felt a distinct tugging. “I think I am good to go now.”
“Good. See you when you are solid, and I can get a grip.” His eyes glittered.
She grinned, and he faded out a moment before she did. Time to rejoin the physical world.
The artist was packing up and said, “You aren’t the first time I have done a tattoo on someone unconscious, but it was the most that I have done on one person.
I will leave the speaker to go through the aftercare with you.
Here is a pamphlet in case you are the reading type.
They are all under nu-skin. You can leave them there for a few days.
Just drain out the plasma. My number is on the pamphlet, and you are already healing.
You should be fine by tomorrow, and if you aren’t, have him boost your system a little. ”
Never frowned. “What kind of boost?”
Tam-or smiled. “We can try a few things.”