Page 46 of Bound to the Orc Guardian

“Then we come out someplace else.” Bellavesaria cocks her head and studies the parchment, then taps at it with one extended talon. “This cave system connects to ones I know well. They’re the hatchling caves. We can go out the other side of the mountain. That whole area’s so heavily populated by dragons that no sluagh would dare come near.”

“Oh, that’s brilliant!” Selena beams.

“Maybe,” I growl. “But Sheevora also said the caves get small in places. Too small for dragon younglings and unicorns.”

“Mother doesn’t know how far we all explore. We… we go places we’re not supposed to.” Bellavesaria drops her gaze to her front feet, dragging a claw over the moss in front of her. Her embarrassed hesitancy reminds me that for all her bravado, she’s still only a youngling and this is her first time out of the nest alone.

“A little teenage rebellion.” Dash laughs. “There’s hope for you yet, dragon.”

Bellavesaria perks up at his words, then gives him a critical glance. “But you’re still bigger than me, unicorn. What are you going to do?”

“Be a pooka,” Dash says.

“What does that mean?” Selena asks, easting her last bite of porridge.

“Yes, what does it mean?” I scowl at the unicorn. What all is this trickster fae hiding from us?

But all he’ll say is, “You’ll see.”

I grunt and reach for Selena’s dirty dishes. Once I have her mug, she holds onto her bowl long enough to lay her free hand on top of mine.

“Thank you, Sturrm.” Her copper eyes hold my gaze for several seconds.

An ache builds in my chest. I want her so desperately it’s tearing me apart.

I yank my hands from her gentle grip and spin around, needing to get away.

Away from her soft hands and beautiful smiles.

Away from the pain in my heart.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Selena

What did I just see in Sturrm’s eyes? Regret? Sorrow? It’s sure not what I hoped to see for our morning after.

Dios mio! Does he regret what we did? Does he see it as a betrayal of his lost love?

A pang of jealousy goes through me. I shouldn’t think ill of a dead woman, but I let myself for just a moment. What did she have that made her so special, that made her keep his heart clutched tight with no room for anyone new?

I release all my mad with a sigh, because I know that’s not what’s happening. I paid attention in all the psychology classes I had to take to get into med school. Even if I neverplanned on that being my specialty, a good doctor needs to know how to read people. And for Sturrm, what eats at him most is right there in his story about that long-distant day. Everything he’s feeling might not even be about Bruna any longer—not really. It’s about the fact that he couldn’t save her.

He crouches at the stream running across the very edge of the clearing, his wide shoulders tense as he washes the dishes.

I want to go to him, to ease his stress, but he’s clearly not ready, and I’d probably only make it worse. It’s always hard for me to rein in my enthusiasm, but there are times—and people—who need more patience.

“I’m a big girl,” I mutter under my breath. “I can do patience.”

“What’s that?” Dash asks, his tone amused.

“Nothing,” I chirp, making my voice carefree and light. It’s a lie.

I thought I unlocked the first tiny bit of Sturrm’s heart last night. What we shared was special, more than just sex—Iknowit was. It hurts to see him pull away.

It hurts even more to know he’s only doing it because he’s in pain.

Due to Sturrm’s speedy work, we’re packed up and ready to go within only a few minutes. His quick strides carry him out of the moss-lit cavern like his butt’s on fire, but I lingerin the opening for a moment, taking one last look at this magical place.

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