Page 24 of Troll Charming

“And I am the luckiest of humans. You saved my body and heart.”

He pulls me close. “It almost doesn’t feel fair that my heart should be so full.”

I prop myself up a little and look at him. “What do you mean?

“Many of my friends are also lonely. I can only hope they will find what I have.”

“Ah, you mean like Troth?”

“Yes, and others.”

“They are gonna have to find their own humans, I’m afraid.

Red chuckles softly. “I have a feeling they will… Now come here and kiss me, my love. You and I only have forever together, and I’d like to get started.”

CHAPTER 12

Iwake with the morning sun beaming through the window of Red’s and my bedroom.

We are curled together. I am the little spoon; his cock is hard, probably at least partly because I can’t stop myself from pushing back against him. I wiggle my ass, and he lets out a sleepy groan.

“You are insatiable.” He playfully bites my neck. “I lost count of how many times we came together last night. Is my little mate ready for more?”

I giggle. “Always.”

The sharp knock at the door startles us both.

“Wake up, you two!” Tabitha’s voice carries through the whole house. “You both need to be dressed and at the town square right now.”

“Oh, shit.” I roll my naked body out of bed. “Shit! Red! It’s our wedding day—‘binding day,’ I mean!” I stumble to the closet to grab my dress and run to the bathroom.

“It’s not like they can start without us,” he calls playfully. “They need us.”

“Get dressed!” I can’t believe I forgot what day it was. We’ve had so much sex that I think my brain is mush. I hop in theshower quick as can be but realize there is no time to do my hair, so I brush it and leave it down. I grab my flower crown and rush from the bathroom to the door. Tabitha stands there holding a bouquet of white and purple flowers.

“Figured you two would be too busy to think of the details.” She hands me a purple garter belt for my leg. “There aren’t any unwed females here, but plenty of males. The one that gets this is next.”

“Really?” I ask, knowing her magic is real, but she shrugs.

“Let’s go.” She takes me by the hand and leads me out the door.

“But what about—?”

“I’m here.” Red looks handsome in his new black and purple suit—his green skin stands out in a way that makes me weak in the knees. “Shall we?” He presents his arm to me. I reach up and take it. The arm of my mate and, soon, husband. “You are lovely.”

I look down at my antique white lace Renaissance bridal gown Tabitha gave me. Its long sleeves hang like a medieval queen’s dress. The plunging neckline of the bodice is beaded with purple amethyst and white jewels, and the long train is covered with tiny seed pearls mixed with sparkling diamonds. I move a little in the sunshine and dazzle myself. I look amazing, and if there is any truth to what Tabitha said, then all the more reason to wear it. Supposedly, wearing it guarantees a blissful marriage. I believe her. I couldn’t be happier with my choice, my seven-foot-tall troll husband.

The entire town is adorned with white and purple flower garlands hanging across the streets; petals fall on and around us as we walk. Everyone in the village is outside to greet us with nods of approval, their smiles wide.

“This is beautiful!” I gasp. “It’s more than I could ever dream of.”

“It’s all for you.” Red smiles down at me as we stroll towards the fountain at the heart of town. “I kept you in bed long enough for everything to be set up. You were very easy to distract.” He wiggles his eyebrows at me.

“I love it! And I love you.” I stop and kiss him. Applause explodes around us, and we laugh, heading to where the elders await us.

Dartor, who I now know to be the head of the Elder Council, stands resplendent in purple robes with the rest of the ancient ones. For a group of guys who once wanted to kill me and/or maybe my husband, too, they look pretty happy. The town couldn’t be more welcoming. It seems that I am the most exciting thing that has happened to the town in a hundred years. And I am one of them now, a human among the fairytale folk, and I love it.

Tabitha marches ahead of us, her red flaming hair contrasting with her deep purple Renaissance dress. Troth stands taller than everyone beside the fountain, waiting for us to arrive. The grin on his face is enormous.

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