Page 92 of Bound to the Orc Guardian

Dash takes off, racing Midnight, the other pooka-unicorn of the village.

“Now let’s talk bras,” Ashley links her arm through mine, and we start the trek back to Moon Blade Village, walking and chatting and laughing.

My first sight of the heart tree cottages causes a happy little skip of my heart. This place is already so dear to me.

We all have a place here, Sturrm, Bella, Dash, and me. It’s the best feeling ever.

It’s home.

After lunch a couple of days later, Sturrm asks, “Are you all right having your riding lesson on your own today?”

“Sure. Dash is aware I can only do the slowest trots. I know he’s playful, but he’s careful when I’m riding him.”

“Good.” He gives me a quick kiss and hurries from the cottage.

I chew a tooth cleaning berry and wonder what he’s up to. Probably something with Dravarr. The clan warlord’s been making good use of all Sturrm’s years of experience in the king’s guard.

When I step outside, Bella’s waiting. She perks up as soon as she sees me, her feathery crest rising. “Selena.”

“Hi.” I hurry over and scratch all around the base of her horns until she hums with happiness. Even though she’s smaller than her brother, she informed me that her horns came in a lot younger than his did, just like her fire control is better.

“Are you riding the unicorn again?” she asks.

“Yep.”

“Humph. When I get a little bigger, you can ride me.” Her tone sounds excited. “Your healing magic will prevent any strain on my wings.”

“I don’t want to do anything that will hurt you,” I say.

“You won’t.” She bobs her head. “Flying is less about wing strength than about magic, and I have a great deal of magic.” To prove her point, she lifts a couple of feet off the ground without even spreading her wings.

“We’ll see,” I say, without promising anything. Sturrm still has quite the protective streak as far as I’m concerned. And after years of having no one to really watch my back, I can’t complain one little bit.

Dash canters around a cottage, coming from the direction of the village green. “I’m here!”

I lift the saddle off the ground and arrange it on his back, tightening the cinch on his belly. “Is that good? Did I do it right?”

He peers back over his shoulder, and his skin twitches as he makes it move in that way equines can do. “Feels secure to me.”

I grip the front of the saddle, set my foot in the stirrup, and swing up onto his back. Ay! I did it right the first time! Sturrm made me practice it a bazillion times yesterday for some reason, and I’m sure glad of it today.

“Bye,” a sad-sounding Bella says behind us.

“Drake’s in the village green telling the orc younglings he’s much better at breathing fire than you are.”

“What?” she squawks, her wings rustling on her back in agitation as she heads toward the center of the village. “He wouldn’t dare.”

Once she’s out of earshot, I murmur, “Did he really say that?”

“No.”

“But you wanted her to stop being sad,” I say. The unicorn knows how much she likes to compete with her brother.

“I did not. I just thought it would be funny.”

“Uh-huh. Sure. Whatever you say.” The big softie.

Instead of answering, Dash starts forward at a fast walk, giving me time to find my seat.

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