Page 62 of Bound to the Orc Guardian

Dash laughs his whinnying laugh.

I snarl at the two of them and stride forward, calling out to the sluagh, “It’s no use, coward. We have a healer who can cure deathsleep.” It’s not a lie, but it feels like one. After everything Selena’s doing to cure the gnomes, will she be able to wake any of us from a deathsleep coma in time?

I round the curve, the tunnel straightening to stretch before me, the end swallowed by darkness.

And no sluagh.

My head cocks as I strain, trying to hear anything to indicate it waits just out of sight—the flutter of a cloak, the rustle of wings. There’s nothing.

With a grunt, I back away, sword still at the ready. When I reach the others, I point at the gnome sentry. “It retreated. Follow it and make sure it’s actually leaving.”

She gives a nod and whirls back along the tunnel.

I sheath my sword and push past the dragon and unicorn right as the gnomes throw one last pulse of magic down the new tunnel, then collapse onto the floor with delirious cries of triumph.

Selena stands, hand reaching for a tiny shoulder that’s no longer where she expected it to be. Then she too falls.

No!

My heart leaps into my throat as I race forward, diving to catch her before she can hit the ground.

“Selena!”

Her eyes open, and she offers me a soft smile. “We did it.”

I glance at the new tunnel, the end no longer dark. A red glow gleams, promising the magic that awaits us. I’ll be able to get the crystals and complete my quest, but the victory feels hollow with her hurt.

“Are you all right?” I ask.

“A little tired,” she whispers. “I think I used too much magic.”

A growl rumbles through me.

“No regrets.” She cups my cheek, her hand cooler than normal. “Just nobody get hurt for the next day or two, okay?”

Bellavesaria peers over my shoulder. “What does using too much magic feel like?”

“Like… I burned out my nerves or something.”

“What?” A jolt of worry goes through me as I squeeze her tighter.

“Not my regular nerves. I can still feel.” Her brow pinches. “It’s like… I burned my magical nerves.”

“Interesting,” the dragon says.

“You know what’s really interesting?” Dash brandishes his horn toward the new tunnel. “Whatever’s down there. Let’sgo, already.”

Selena’s sweet weight fills my arms, her cheek pressed trustingly to my shoulder. I brush my lips across her head, breathing in the lovely scent of her.

This quest is the thing I’m supposed to care about more than anything else.

But I don’t.

Goddess help me, I don’t.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Selena

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