Page 68 of Bound to the Orc Renegade

“Holy shit,” I breathe.

“Bah,” Mist says, “they’re not that great. They’re not cats.”

“You’re certain the dragons gave us leave to be here, orc?” Storm says.

“I am.”

It settles onto the ground several yards away with a thump and a downdraft that blows my hair back and flattens the tall grass. It takes several steps forward until it looms over us, its spread wings blotting out the view of anything but it. It’s effing massive.

And amazing! I never thought I’d see a real dragon!

“You trespass on dragon land,” a deep alto booms.

Oh my god, she talks! I mean, on some level, I knew dragons are a kind of fae, but still.

Krivoth steps forward, showing not an ounce of fear, his shoulders back, his head high. “I am here by order of King Aldronn, who received permission from Sheevora the Magnificent to travel to the Skular Woods to obtain samples of the violet trifolia.”

“Ah, you’re one of those orcs.” The great wings fold inward to lie against her back. “Well, it’s good that you’re here. Anything that helps defeat the sluagh is a boon. The soul stealers grow too brave and trespass on our territory.”

“Can’t you do something about them?” I blurt.

The dragon pivots her head, one golden eye focusing on me, its vertical pupil opening into a black oval. “You question me, a dragon? What even are you? You’re no elf.”

“I’m a human.” I bite down a nervous giggle. Is my whole life in Alarria going to be defined by not being—or almost being—an elf?

“She’s a witch.” Krivoth steps to my side and rests a hand on my shoulder. “And human witches also took part in the agreement with Sheevora the Magnificent.”

“In that case, no, the sluagh are not easy for dragons to deal with. When they’re in their bird-flock form, each body is very tiny, and they hide in the trees. Since we have little desire to torch an entire forest, there’s not much we can do unless we catch them in midair.”

Huh. Someone else has trouble with dealing with small things. Glad I’m not alone.

But also, these dragons breathe fire! How cool is that?

“The sluagh also can’t hurt dragons,” Mist says. “So why should they expend any effort?”

“Mist,” I hiss out the corner of my mouth. “Don’t upset the huge fire-breathing dragon.”

The cat sith curls her tail around her front feet and smiles like she doesn’t have a care in the world.

“The cat doesn’t bother me because she does not speak the whole truth,” the dragon says in a dismissive tone. “It’s true that dragons are superior beings, and the sluagh cannot peck through our scales to eat our souls. Yet their vile deathsleep concoction can still render us unconscious for a century. It’s why dragons worked so hard to discover the violet trifolia antidote.”

“Can you tell us where it is?” Krivoth pulls a map from a saddlebag and spreads it out on the ground between all of us. “I know only the general area, and your aid would be greatly appreciated.”

“Hmm.” It emerges as a deep thrum from her large chest. She squints at the rectangular parchment. “Your paper is tiny. It’s hard to say.”

Dammit. My shoulders droop. That would have been so great.

“Do you have quill and ink?”

“I do.” Krivoth brings both to her.

She reaches out with sharp talons and flips the map over to show its blank side. Then those same claws close around the quill with an agility I wouldn’t expect for a creature so large, and she sketches with quick, sure strokes. A new map forms, one that’s a blown up section.

“This is the meadow we’re in now.” She adds a dot to the edge of her drawing, and I bite back a giggle at the thought of a dragon making us a “you are here” mark. She drags her talon tip across the paper. “You’ll pass through more woods and one river.” The curving line of it snakes along the map. “Finally, you’ll come to a mountain rowan grove. It is here you’ll find the violet trifolia.” Her claw stops on another dot.

“Thank you,” Krivoth dips his head. “May we know your name so I can report your assistance to my king?”

“What care I for orc kings?”

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