Chapter 96: Weak

I limped all the way to the back area where bigger booths spread out. They fit together to make full circles with tables in the center. End tables spread out everywhere. It seemed like a nice place to lounge or have a meeting, whatever the night entailed. The back ones were lined with curtains. Several of them were drawn.
In the center of it all, overlooking the dance floor below, was a huge sectioned off area draped in black curtains. It seemed to be the VIP section. Several orcs stood around the entrance. I slunk closer and heard Liam's voice from inside.
"Well, did you take care of it?"
"We tried, but he's not dead," came another male voice.
I craned my head to the side to peek in the opening. The orc standing guard opened the curtain wider. He arched an eyebrow at me and nodded his head towards it.
I pressed my lips together as I tried to act casual, like I was meant to be here. I slipped around the curtain. Liam sat to the right of me on a large chaise full of pillows. A dozen other armchairs and two-seaters sat around a round table. A man sat in an armchair across the table from him. Liam's eyes shifted to me as I entered. The man he was talking to looked over. His face went white. His eyes were bloodshot.
"Is this her?"
Liam gave him a single nod. The man hit the table as he scrambled towards me. Liam's jaw tightened as he watched. I tried to step back but hit the closed curtain. The man fell at my feet.
"Please, Beloved, please. I have not had the touch in months. Please." He begged. His eyes were crazed.
I pressed my finger on his sweaty brow and pulled his energy. He was brimming with it. His whole body shook and then steadied. I didn't want this to go on for too long, so I just pulled it out in a considerable chunk. He gasped with immense pleasure and sagged against my legs. It threatened to topple me.
I grabbed for the booth. Liam stood swiftly and caught my forearms in his iron grip. He lifted me free of the man's hold and swung me around to the other side of him. I landed on the chaise. It was soft and cushy under my butt.
"You must share her," Liam spat.
The man bowed his head in my direction. "I'm sorry, Beloved. I didn't mean to. I just got so excited." His voice was rushed and had a bit of whine to it. He pulled his body back into the chair, looking rather dazed but still having an air of nervous energy about him.
"Now, Rishi, you were saying?" Liam asked as he settled in next to me.
"Oh right, yes. He's holed up somewhere between Auburn and 45th street. We are seeing a few patrols there."
"That's not too far from where I came out of the tunnels," I said.
"Who's out there now?" Liam asked.
"Charlie's group. They're searching everything north of Auburn."
"How many did you lose in the last encounter?" Liam asked.
"Three. Two bled out. One is in the hospital."
"Next time, bring them home. We'll take care of our own from now on."
"Did we hire a doctor?"
"I can heal them," I said.
The man's eyes shot to me. Liam's arm came up around my shoulders, but he didn't look at me.
"Is that true?"
Liam gave a nod.
The man looked back at me. "We really do have a strong leader. We're going to take over this whole town."
Liam glowered at him. "Why don't you go rest up and leave the planning to the leader."
Rishi lowered his head. "Yes, Liam." His eyes snapped back to me. "Thank you, Beloved."
"You're welcome."
Liam pulled me tighter to his side. Rishi left. The curtain closed behind him. I sat nestled into Liam's side. The leather jacket shielded his cold skin, but I still wanted to feel it. His eyes watched the people out on the dance floor while I watched him.
"You don't like Rishi?" I asked.
"He's a fine brother. Very dedicated."
"But you don't trust him."
"I don't want him to hurt you."
"I don't think he meant to hurt me."
"He still did."
"It was an accident."
"I don't care. Too many of the brothers can be careless. They need to be careful with you; you're... delicate."
I scoffed. I rose to my knees, careful to keep my swollen ankle off to the side. I held my face right in front of Liam's view so he couldn't avoid me. "I'm not delicate. I think I proved that the other night."
"What I mean is, you're not an orc."
"That doesn't make me a porcelain doll."
"You are also new here. You don't know how things work. You don't know everything that can go wrong."
"I think I can cause a lot more things to go wrong then the brothers can. Remember orgy night? With Karma? That is way more dangerous than Rishi is. Lighten up."
Liam grasped my shoulders. I thought he was going to shake me, but instead, he pulled me into a hug. I slowly wrapped my arms around his neck and held him tight.
"Are you feeling okay?" I asked.
He growled.
"What's wrong?"
"Feelings," he spat. "Those are not orc emotions. We don't have feelings."
"So, you don't feel anger or rage?" I pulled back to look him in the eyes. "Or jealousy?"
"Jealousy? Never. What would be the point?"
I looked where Rishi had disappeared out the curtain. "You're not jealous because Rishi was falling all over me?"
"What? No. I just didn't want him to hurt you."
"Worry is an emotion."
He pushed me back a little. "I wasn't worried."
I cocked my head at him. I didn't want to fight with him, but it was fun to watch his denial.
"Okay." I sat back down next to him and watched the bodies on the dance floor.
"Okay?"
"What? I believe you. You're a big strong orc with no feelings." I held my hand out in an okay gesture. "Got it."
Liam growled. Before I could make another comeback, the curtain opened. An orc woman walked through. Her figure was curvy beneath her leather jacket of the Ardor Brothers. I recognized her as the woman Liam was having sex with when Karma was here.
"Liam, we have unfinished business," she said before she fully walked in. Her eyes landed on me. "Beloved." She said icily. Her eyes shot back to Liam.
I could feel him tense under her gaze.
"Pricilla, I told you we were through."
"We were not." She swung a hand at his face. It smacked him with a resounding slap.
Liam just turned his face sideways and held it there, not looking at her. "We were under the influence of magic. There is nothing to resolve."
She stood staring at him. "I heard you declined Taryn, too. What's wrong with you? Get up and defend yourself!" She swung her fist back.
Liam stood and caught it before she could hit him. He lifted her arm up over her head while he looked down at her from his towering height. She was only six inches shorter, but she stared back at him with so much fire I thought they were going to kill each other.
"I told you, we're through."
"I didn't get your seed."
"It wasn't a consenting transaction," Liam hissed.
"That never mattered before."
"It matters now."
She scanned his face. "You're weak."
He lifted her arm higher until only her toes touched the floor. "I am not weak," he spat.
She sniffed the air. Her eyes shifted to me. "Wait, wait. A human?" She laughed heartily. "With a human? Oh, now that's grand. That's..." She laughed harder. "A human..."
Liam dropped her hand. She doubled over, still laughing. Liam stood looking down at her. She finally recovered enough to stand up. Small chuckles escaped her tusked mouth. "That's the best thing I've heard all week. Liam and a human. What? No response?"
Liam just glared at her. Her laugher died. She shoved him. He didn't move. She punched him in the side. He still didn't move.
"Fine," she said. "I'll get it from someone stronger."
She hesitated, waiting for his response. Liam stood like a stone wall. She looked him up and down one more time then disappeared out the curtain.
"Why didn't you deny it? Won't she tell everyone? Will people stop following you?" I asked.
Liam sat down slowly. His heavy frame sank into the chaise, causing me to lean towards him.
"She was only looking for a rise out of me. Orc women like to hit all the buttons to make us mad so that we will mate with them. They're very good at it."
"But, why did you turn her down?"
He looked out over the bar area, watching Pricilla walk down the stairs. "I just don't feel like it."