Page 74 of Ogres Don't Play

My dad shrugged. “You’re the one who had to marry a prince. You’ll have to stand beside him in his duties like he’ll have to stand beside you in yours. Mirabel, the Music Master, hm? Andof Singsong City? You couldn’t find somewhere slightly more structurally sound?”

“All the other cities Music Halls were already taken. Still, ogres aren’t supposed to have a royal structure.”

My dad snorted. “It’s about politics. You’ll be his propaganda princess. You know all about that.”

“If she doesn’t want that burden, she won’t have it,” Rook growled, glaring at my dad and stealing my hand in his to hold it carefully, like it and me were precious.

My heart melted as I soaked in his love. “My dad’s right. I understand the need to promote the cause you believe in. Don’t worry. If I ever start resenting the cause, you can make me an instrument.”

My dad chuckled and stroked my hair. “Integrating ogres into civilized society? It’s a worthy cause. Ogres are more than war machines. Like angels. Some of them are Music Masters, holding together undeserving cities with will and faith.”

I blinked at him and my eyes watered. Really? He thought my cause was worthy? Was I going to cry?

He stepped back. “Rest. We’ll likely be gone when you wake up. Sleep as long as you like. There’s no rush.”

“Why am I going back to Singsong City when the medical team… Ah. They’re going with you.” That made sense, but I still hated that Rook was going to war without me. I’d just learned such good shield spells. I could put them on him so he could be safe.

My dad nodded then raised a golden brow over his sky-blue eyes. “One thing, my Miracle. How, precisely, did you summon heavenly fire?”

I stared at him. How had I done that? “It was the music. It was so heavenly and those musicians were on fire.”

He snorted. “The music? You mean that you have no idea. You’re just on a battlefield and suddenly you kill thousands ofpeople, and you have no idea how, and then you’re facing a troll, almost have her killed, and only then do you accidentally summon heavenly fire.” He tsked and then bent down to kiss my forehead before he pulled back to study me with twinkling eyes. “This is why you should stay home to raise the next generation. Leave the fighting to the men.” He winked while Rook rumbled.

Yeah, like his first wife, who hadn’t raised my brother at all. She’d been more career driven and less interested in kids than he was. That’s why he hired my mother, the musician, to help with Rich. And then my dad fell in love with her and had a love match.

I shook my head. “It’s a little late for that. I married an ogre.”

“There are absolutely no obstacles to children between you and your husband. Do you think I would have given my consent if it would set you up to die in childbirth? Certainly not. It’s your duty to continue the line of angelic blood.”

Still? I hadn’t escaped that? “With an ogre?” I glanced at Rook, to see if he was offended, but he was looking at me with the intensity that I reserved for sushi and his instruments. It was hard to look away from a gaze that sweetly burning.

My dad said, “With whatever, as long as it’s already part of what makes up my precious Miracle. I am relieved that you didn’t fall for an elf, with the way you were always going on about their music. I’m not sure if I could have lived with that. At least ogres are honest.”

I smiled at him, then threw my arm around him and squeezed him tight before I pulled back away. “Thank you.”

He studied me then nodded soberly, his serious commander nod. “You should rest now. Once the trolls have been defeated, I’ll accompany you to be crowned.”

I wrinkled my nose at him. He winked at me, and then he gave Rook a slight bow, and sauntered out of the room like he didn’t have a care in the world. He always looked like that whenhe was going to war. I watched him leave while Rook landed on the edge of the bed and stared at me, so close that I could smell the music stronger than ever.

“When are you going to write it down?” I asked, aching for him to take me into his arms and never let me go. But he was going to war. I understood that, and I wasn’t up for much of anything.

“On the trip north. I’ll play it for you when we come back. I shouldn’t be gone long.”

“I love you.”

He smiled and then carefully wrapped his arms around me and then shifted so I was lying on his shoulder. “I love you, Mirabel Miracle.”

I closed my eyes and sighed happily. “Rook, thank you for the music. I wouldn’t have made it without you.”

“Nonsense. You’re amazing.”

I shook my head, rubbing my face against his shoulder and neck. I inhaled deeper and deeper, drawing his rich, delicious scent into my lungs. “I like the way you smell.”

He rumbled a growl that reverberated through every part of me. “Do you? Finally, you’ve fallen for my irresistible appeal. I have you in bed, but you’re too injured to touch. I suppose I’ll just have to drown in your sweet, beguiling, endlessly mesmerizing scent. Do you mind? You always hate when ogres smell you.”

I rubbed my nose against his throat. Even my nose was bruised, but his skin was silky and so sweet. “You aren’t an ogre. You’re my ogre. Let that be a lesson to you not to use someone as your propaganda poster child without giving them proper compensation.”

He held his large hand against my hair, holding me like he wouldn’t ever let me go. “And what would proper compensation be?”

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