Page 58 of Bound to the Orc Warlord

A chorus of whinnied “noes” come from all the unicorns, including Midnight.

“I’m sorry, old friend,” she says to me. “But this is our land.”

“Yes. What if they break free? Or what if the trapped birds die from being separated or from starvation?” the leader says. “That would free the remaining sluagh to attack. We cannot risk our foals.”

“We wouldn’t want you to.” Ashley’s palms pat at the air. “No one wants baby unicorns hurt.”

Silence falls for several seconds.

“May we travel across your lands if someone is always vigilant?” I ask. It will take weeks to reach Moon Blade Village if we can’t cut across the Umbriall Plains.

The unicorns hold silent conference again via a series of curled lips, ear swivels and tail flicks. Things heat up, and horns wag, hooves stomp, and snorts ring out.

“Someone will always be on watch?” the leader finally asks. “Even while others sleep?”

“Yes, I will watch.”

“Wait.” Ashley puts a hand on my arm. “How many days are we talking?”

“Two if we travel quickly,” Midnight says.

“And you’re going to stay awake that long?” Concern clouds my bride’s eyes.

“Warrior training prepares us for trials such as this.” I cover her hand and give a little squeeze. “Besides, orcs are strong. Two days will be as nothing.”

I will do anything to protect her, and getting her to my village in only a handful of days is well worth the sacrifice.

“We will allow this.” The lead unicorn dips her head like a queen offering a boon. “You will, however, be escorted. Andwewill carry the sacks.”

“Mother!” Midnight says. “You’re traveling with us?”

A ripple of shock goes through me, yet I can see it now. The same solid fighter’s build. The same strength of personality shining from their eyes and posture. This is the unicorn willing to dance with a pooka and return to her herd, not only uncowed but ready to lead.

She dips her head to us. “I am Noon.”

“Dravarr.” I give her the bow due an elder, one of great respect. “It’s an honor to meet my friend’s dam.”

I set the sacks on the ground in front of the unicorns and leave them to discuss how they want to handle the sluagh, so I can return to my bride.

“If someone on Earth told me I’d get to travel with a herd of unicorns, a dragon, and a very handsome orc, I never would have believed them.” Ashley clings to my arm and leans into my side, beaming up at me. “This is amazing!”

“Very handsome.” I trace over the freckles on one cheek, plumped up by her smile.

“Is that all you got from that?”

“Yes.” My lips twitch.

She laughs, high and light, the joyful sound making my heart take flight.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Ashley

Two of the fastest unicorns set off, the bird sacks firmly gripped in their teeth. A flock of silent sluagh fills the air above each unicorn like a personal storm cloud from an old cartoon.

“They’re cutting wide to go around the herds,” Midnight’s mother says. “We will take a more direct route, since my daughter will be burdened by a great beast of an orc.”

Midnight’s golden eyes roll, and I can almost hear the teenage whine of “Mom” that seems to follow people into their adult years whenever around their parents.

---