Page 25 of Bound to the Orc Guardian

Dash laughs and flips his mane but doesn’t continue.

“Moon what?” I ask, glancing back and forth between them.

Sturrm scowls instead of answering.

What in the world is he hiding?

CHAPTER TWELVE

Sturrm

I’m going to strangle the unicorn, who seems more and more like a pooka with every passing second, shooting me laughing glances from golden eyes. His every look is a constant reminder that he can tell Selena a pack of lies, spin a story about the Moon Goddess summoning me to find her because she’s my moon bound bride, when it’s clear she can’t be.

No matter how much I wish it. My gaze goes to her, to her bright enthusiasm as she soaks up everything we tell her about Alarria. She’s so delighted to hear she was chosen by a goddess that her whole body vibrates with happiness.

I want to bathe in it, steal some of for myself.

Which is exactly why I don’t deserve her. Selena needs someone who will bring her joy, not leach off of hers.

Selena’s voice is hesitant when she speaks next, and I hate it, because I know my bad mood caused it. “So you said there are other human women here in Faerie, in… Alarria?”

“You’re the fifth witch brought to Alarria in the past couple of months,” I say. “They’re the reason for my quest, actually.” I tell her all about our enemy, the sluagh, and how the soul stealers use deathsleep to put other fae into hundred-year comas. “They’ve developed a new formula that works on humans. The crystal we’re looking for is supposed to provide an antidote.”

“Then let’s get going!” She pushes to her feet, her enthusiasm restored. “You can tell me the rest as we ride.”

“Yes, you can tell herallabout the other human women.” Dash’s voice takes on a knowing tone. “Or should I say, the other moon bound br—”

“Unicorn,” I growl, folding up both pieces of paper and stowing them in my pack.

He laughs.

All of my tension from earlier returns, the muscles in my shoulders knotting. Goddess take him! He’s going to hold this over my head, make me worry about when he’ll finally tell her. Because I have no doubt he eventually will. The prospect is too “amusing” for him not to.

If we didn’t need his help so badly, I’d send him on his way. Yet as easy as it would be for me to hike quickly to our destination, Selena’s a different matter. Her much shorter legs would make it impossible for her to keep up, and that’sassuming her healing ability could give her an orc’s endurance. Dash’s travel magic will greatly speed our quest, meaning I can get Selena to the safety of Moon Blade Village much more quickly.

I use my magic to add more attachments to my improvised saddle, the leather flowing and doing my will. Then I strap everything to him, including my traveling guitar case.

“Is that what I think it is?” Selena asks, eyes bright. “Youhaveto play for me.”

I grunt.

“That better be your ‘yes’ grunt.” She points at me. “Because I’m not taking no for an answer.”

My lips twitch as I set my hands at her waist, lifting her into the saddle and holding her until she finds her seat.

As soon as I mount behind her, Dash takes off at a trot, cutting across the sunlit meadow to enter the woods on the other side.

Selena settles back against me, and her voice is sweet and soft when she says, “I really loved your singing. It helped a lot last night. Thank you.”

Her praise warms my chest, and my arms tighten around her. “I’ll sing for you.”

Over the years, I’ve performed for many crowds and have even sung for my king. But Selena’s special. She’ll be the most important audience of my life.

We stop in a small glen when the sun is directly overhead. Dash immediately begins to graze, taking advantage of the grass, which fortunately keeps his big mouth busy.

Lunch for the rest of us is fresh bread and cheese and the tart little apples of summer I brought from the village.

“Oh, this is good.” Selena’s little human teeth rip into the bread with all the ferocity of an orc.

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