Page 62 of Secret Twins for the Orc

“Huh.”

We both continue to stare at it for a moment longer. And then the candy door opens, and out steps…

“Ismelda?” Ella squeaks in shocked confusion, before Rylah and Rowan dart out from behind, all giggles and carefree joy.

I blink slowly, and it takes my brain a long moment to switch from the protective weariness it was geared into. What in all the layers of creation is going on?

A ragged sound escapes from Ella, and she tears out from behind me and rushes towards the toddlers, scooping them up as she bursts into tears. Relief floods me at the sight, and the cold, hard stiffness that had settled over my shoulders finally releases as I see both the children and my woman safe and happy.

Tears run down Ella’s face even as she showers the toddlers in kisses and presses them both to her crouching form, one arm wrapped around each child.

Finally, I lift one foot in front of the other and make my way towards the gingerbread house, where Ismelda is staring between us with an uncertain expression.

“I think I know what happened,” she says with a faint wince, as I stop before them all. I blink, still just wary enough to keep an eye on our surroundings.

“How did you find them?” Ella gasps through a sniffle, as she gazes up at Ismelda. “Did they wonder this far all on their own?”

“Well…” The lines on Ismelda’s plump face scrunch together in guilt. “You could say that. It’s rather a funny story, actually…”

“What did you do?” My frown falls heavily over my face, and I step towards the old witch. “What is this place?”

Her whole expression is a wince, and she sighs and opens the front door to show me the gingerbread interior, in the center of which is a large bronze cauldron bubbling merrily away. “I may have made the potion a little strong.”

I run my hand from my forehead to my tusks and let out a faint groan. She’s been experimenting again, hasn’t she…

“What potion?” Ella stands with a twin in each arm. “What’s that got to do with anything?”

The last time Ismelda was playing around with new potions, the whole town was drinking fluorescent green water for a month. “Explain,” I mutter grouchily. “Tell us and get it over with.”

“It’s a Luring Potion for the annual All Hallows’ Eve celebration this year,” she says, a little excitement flaring behind her pale blue eyes. “So is this house. Imagine trick-or-treating, but the whole house is the treat? The kids would love it, and I’ve created a warded trail through the forest for them to reach it. The Luring Potion was to double-ensure they’d stay on the protected track, so of course I wanted to test it and tweak it before then. This was my second attempt, although I may have overdone it on the troxi wings this time.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Ella says, her brows scrunching. “Mine weren’t the only kids at the park trying to make for the forest. But I didn’t feel any sort of lure…”

“I’m working on targeting it just for the kids. I guess I succeeded?” Ismelda winces again as she takes in my glower. “It’s all council approved and safe, mind you. I’m not just here conducting wild experiments on my own.”

“Of course it’s council approved,” I sigh. “You work for the council.”

“Well, even so…” Ismelda lets out a breath, and then her shoulders droop and she reaches out to rub at Ella’s arm. “I really am very sorry to make you worry. I tried to call as soon as I realized what had happened, but I couldn’t get through.”

“Cell reception is sketchy at best in the forest,” I supply, “we must have already been in too deep by the time you called.”

Ismelda sighs again and pushes her door open further. “Why don’t you come in and rest? I called the authorities once I couldn’t get through to you—I’ve got reception here, don’t worry. They’ll have stopped the search but will still be trying to get in contact with you two. I’ll update them, and then drive us back to town.”

We step inside, and when she bustles off to the side I move towards Ella and wrap my arm across her back. I don’t think she notices the way she immediately leans into me for support, but I squeeze her reassuringly, supporting the weight of the kids and her in my arms.

“Okay, so, this was the weirdest and most unexpected resolution possible.” Her voice is still shaky, and Rowan gently pats his palm against her cheek as if to comfort her. “But I won’t lie, I feel just a tiny bit better that it was magic pulling my babies away, and not just my terrible mothering.”

I frown and squeeze her harder. “I told you not to say that again.”

She bites her lip. “But—”

With my frown still weighing on my brows, I snatch her chin with my free hand and press my lips to hers in a searing kiss, forcing her words back down her throat with my tongue until I feel her startlement melt into submission.

Then I end the kiss just as quickly as I began it, and take Rowan into my arms, in case hers are beginning to tire.

She blinks at me, and it takes everything in me not to claim her flushed, wet lips with my own once more.

“You are not a bad mother unless I say so, understand?” And I’ll never say so.

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