Page 79 of Bound to the Orc Renegade

A laugh sputters out of me. I can’t help it. “You caught us!”

Even Krivoth chuckles a little, and I love the sound, love that he can let go and enjoy life when we’re like this.

A stand of blue birch waits ahead, and his arms tighten around me as he leans forward to brush a kiss to the top of my head. “This is it. We’re entering orc lands.”

“Oh, wonderf—”

A kelpie charges from between the trees, an ogre on its back, brandishing a mace. A familiar diagonal scar snakes across his torso.

Shit! It’s the one from the standing stone! When is this asshole ever going to give up?

“Storm!” Krivoth yells. “I can’t fight like this!”

With me in the way, he means.

Shit! I wanna help. I lift my hands, calling on my power. My magic moves inside me, sluggish and painful as it stretches out of the tight ball it’s curled into. I connect to Alarria’s might, and fire burns along every nerve. The world goes hazy through tears of pain, and every muscle locks tight as Ipush.

The kelpie slams into the invisible wall of my power. Its hind legs buck, throwing the ogre forward to crunch into my push.

One last flare of agony shoots through me, and my magic winks out.

The kelpie and ogre slam to the ground.

Storm slides to a stop, and Krivoth leaps from his back, pulling my limp body with him.

“I can’t do anymore,” I whisper from between numb lips. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. You did plenty. You bought us the time we needed.” He lays me on the ground and yells, “Mist! Protect her!”

“Will do!”

“I warned you.” Krivoth pulls his sword free as he marches toward the ogre. “I told you if you threatened my bride again, I’d end you.”

They meet in a clash of metal as Krivoth blocks a powerful swing of the wickedly spiked mace.

The kelpie rears, hooves slashing the air as it bugles a challenge, and Storm jousts toward it, his horn lowered. They meet in a clash of huge bodies.

Mist hunches, her back feet shifting from paw to paw, her tail whipping back and forth. She clearly wants to spring into battle but stays beside me.

This asshole keeps attacking us because he wants me. Now my friends are in danger. Krivoth’s in danger. I can’t bear it.

As Storm drives the other equine fae back, Krivoth and the ogre come into view, and Mist lets out a yowl.

A fresh cut decorates the ogre’s chest, running parallel to the scar Krivoth already gave him, dripping black blood.

Satisfaction warms my belly. Yes, Krivoth will show him!

But as soon as I feel the gleam of triumph, it’s snuffed out. The ogre’s mace bites into Krivoth’s shoulder.

He grunts in pain, the force of the blow knocking him sideways off his feet.

With a roar of victory, the ogre leaps, mace high overhead, ready to crush Krivoth’s head.

“No!” I scream and throw out a hand. My magic burns inside me before guttering out, the pain only outdone by the furious ache of my heart. “Krivoth!”

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

Krivoth

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