Chapter 67
Chapter Sixty-Seven
Eric
“It is the judgment of the Supreme Council that under the Creatures Freedoms and Relations Act, the orc citizens of this country have a right to attend and uphold democratic elections for their ‘king,’ a title held by the winner of the popular vote. We do not believe that this circumvents the traditional practices of their species, as exemplified by the many other clans, both here in North America and in other parts of the world, who have used a similar procedure for generations. It’s the opinion of this court that the former leadership of the Central Valley Clan obtained that power illegally and through generational fear and coercion.
The court finds in favor of Eric Voight. Court dismissed.”
There was a soft cheer from the people in the seating behind me, including my family. My clan. My pack. My flight.
It had taken us a long time to heal from Hailey’s abduction, and even now, I woke up in the middle of the night to check if she was still there.
With Allison gone, and the members of the human hate groups being charged with conspiracy and terrorism, among other things, we’d been able to relax a little more.
Even the orc threat had been neutralized that night, though the heroes of that story weren’t ones I’d ever predicted.
The gargoyles had found the surviving orc in the beat-up truck and taken him to the hospital, and the cops had picked him up from there.
Nextra had made the guy turn on my father in exchange for witness protection, and the king had been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder, and he was sent to prison.
While they’d been investigating the bounty on my head, the gargoyles had also found their wingless brethren, who’d also testified that the king had done some horrifying things to the poor, broken soul and gotten him sent away even longer.
I’d pointed to all the skeletons in the clan’s closet, and it was enough to get my father put away for life.
It had paved the way for Buck Nextra to become the new King of the Central Valley Orc Clan, and I found I was okay with that.
I believed Buck wanted what was best for the orcs, and he even invited me to rejoin the clan—an invitation I’d immediately declined.
I had my family now. Besides, I’d done my best for the orcs, and they were on their own now.
I shook the hand of the defense counsel, who didn’t fight very hard to keep the status quo.
Finally, I turned to the crowd and winked at Hailey, who was beaming at me proudly. Beside her was Otis, Ilyas, Louis, and Syke. It had taken Syke a long time to heal from the chest wound, and even now, he wasn’t quite at full strength, but he was getting stronger every day.
I walked from the court room, stopping to kiss my mates first. “I just have to make a statement to the press outside, and then we can go home.”
Otis clapped me on the shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “We’re really proud of what you’ve done here.”
“Proud enough for a clan orgy,” Syke added, and Hailey rolled her eyes.
“You’re still healing,” she told him. I knew she still had night terrors of whatever happened in that basement, and she was overly protective of Syke. The demon loved it though.
He kissed her temple. “What if I promise to just lie back and let you ride me?” he purred in her ear, and my dick hardened.
“I have to go stand in front of dozens of cameras in a minute, and I don’t want to do it with a hard-on, so chill… just for now. I’ll make it worth your while later,” I said in a low voice filled with heat.
One of the senior partners signaled me, and I straightened. “How do I look?” I asked them, and Hailey reached up to straighten my tie. “So handsome.”
“And kind,” Otis said softly.
“And smart,” Ilyas remarked.
“Loyal as hell,” Louis added, pulling me in for a hug.
“The best of us,” Syke murmured quietly. “Except Hailey.” I laughed, as Hailey smacked his abs. “What? He knows we love him.”
I did. I felt it in every fiber of my being every single day.
Promising to meet them in the car after I was done, I walked out to the top step of the Supreme Council. I stood in front of a stand filled with microphones and looked out over the sea of reporters. Some were human, but many were creatures.
I cleared my throat. “The positive outcome today is a huge step forward in the fight for basic rights for orcs. However, this new interpretation of a law—a law meant to protect not just orcs, but all creatures and humans alike—represents a new cornerstone of our society. An invisible divide has been crossed, one where each species ignored the plight of others, of insularism and superiority. I am proof that we are more than a stereotype of our species. Orcs aren’t just mindless beasts, intent on living in poverty on the wrong side of the law.
There are examples of orcs everywhere who have shaken off the stereotype and became doctors, researchers, police officers” —I looked at Buck Nextra in the crowd— “and helpers, showing us that we could be more, and that goes for all creatures. We can live and work together here in Central Valley, side by side. It doesn’t have to be us and them.
It can be all of us together, working to make this community a safe and happy place to live.
” I sucked in a big breath. “Any questions?”
There were questions, of course, dozens of them, mostly about the orcs and when to expect elections, but also about the far-reaching impacts of the law.
I didn’t know what would come from it, but I knew more people having a voice was never a bad thing.
Ilyas was waiting for me just off the side of the stairs, keeping me safe even though the threat was hopefully gone for good.
He walked me to the parking lot a block away, his wing protectively hovering around my body. I was exhausted. The court time over the last few weeks was grueling.
“You spoke powerfully out there,” he said in that soft, rumbling voice he used praised me in the bedroom, and it sent blood rushing to my cock.
“I’m glad it’s over and that it was successful, but I’m looking forward to having a few weeks off to just lie in the sun with our bond mates and watch the leaves turn brown.”
He hummed his agreement. “I’m not sure I ever told you how thankful I am that you bonded with me, that you are you, and you were so willing to share something as precious as Hailey.”
I smiled up at him. “She deserves a big family filled with love. We all do.”
We made it to the car, and before he opened the door, he pushed me against it and kissed me deeply. “Seeing you in the courtroom, so in control, makes me want to put you on your knees and make you suck my cock with that talented mouth.” His lips captured mine again, and I groaned into the kiss.
Louis lowered the window. “Not to interrupt, but if you get in the car, we can go home and all participate in Eric’s congratulations sex.”
Laughing, I nipped Ilyas’s lip and opened the door. Fuck, I loved these guys. As I slid into the car, Hailey climbed onto my lap and kissed me with just as much fervor as Ilyas had seconds ago.
I loved the guys, but Hailey was my soul. “I love you,” I whispered against her lips.
“I love you too,” she whispered back, and then Louis stuffed her back in her seat and buckling her in.
“Horny fucking creatures,” he grumbled like he wasn’t half hard in his jeans.
I shook my head. “Happy fucking creatures.”