Page 10 of How To Woo A Warrior Orc

“What Ga’Rek means to say is that there is nothing to fear of the dead. It might not feel like it now, but this is a gift. Being afraid of death is normal, of course, but it isn’t evil, or bad. It simply… is.” She shrugs a shoulder. “It is part of the balance of life, and like all magic, seeing those on the other side of the veil only turns dark if that is your intention.”

“I don’t want to hurt anyone,” Violet says, her fingers trembling as she reaches for the tea again.

I scratch my chin, because I’m not sure I would have the same reaction were I able to communicate with the dead. Not that I’m searching out people to hurt, not by any means, but I would surely have someone keep an eye on the Dark Queen for Caelan, Kieran, and me.

“I’ll take you to Nerissa’s as soon as the storm dies down,” Piper says. She peers over her shoulder, at where the rain has slowed to a sleepy drizzle, though the wind still makes the oldbuilding groan and creak. “She’s a spellsmith, and she’ll help you start getting sorted out.” Piper brightens. “Oh, and then you’ll get a familiar once your powers have settled a bit, and you can join our book club, and you’re just going to love it here. I’ll send over some things for your room at the inn, too.”

I smile fondly at her, because she’s babbling and excited and biting off more than she has time for yet again, so eager to assist everyone that she comes in contact with.

I’ve never met anyone as kind-hearted as this brown-haired witch, who holds my hand.

My tusks scrape against my lower lip as I smile.

And I get to sleep in her guest room tonight, and until the new witch finds a permanent place to stay.

If I could reach my back to pat it, I certainly would.

CHAPTER FIVE

PIPER

Nerissa took to Violet immediately, her eyes as round as saucers as she instantly figured out what our new witch’s powers were.

“They weren’t kind to me either,” she tells Violet, most of the melodrama she saves for the rest of us gone as she guides her to a navy blue chair next to her fire. “My family, the town I came from. You’re in a good place now. We have a new coven, and we’ll teach you everything you need to know. You’re going to be okay,” Nerissa practically croons.

Ears, Nerissa’s huge wolf familiar, immediately lies on Violet’s feet, whuffing gently as he breathes in all the interesting scents on her feet.

A dark blue rag rug spans the expanse of the honeyed wood floors in Nerissa’s home, sprinkled with pale yellow dots that mimic the winter constellations that will shine brightly in the sky over Wild Oak Woods in a few months’ time.

Violet takes in the cabin with wide eyes, and I cough gently as I try to see it the way she must, for the first time.

It’s the ideal witch’s house, dark and snug with a stone fireplace that dominates the space. All manner of crystals and dried herbs line the mantel, along with brass and carved stone figurines that Nerissa uses for her spellwork. Unlike most of the rest of us Wild Oak Woods witches, Nerissa doesn’t have a normal storefront or café, and she takes clients by consult, writing each bespoke spell especially for them.

As such, her front room is her storefront, and she’s set it up to look exactly like her clients might expect. A repurposed brass bar cart full of clean glass jars sits to the side of a roll-top desk artfully littered with parchment and various colored inkpots. Exotic feathered quills march in neat rows along the back of the desk, each with a specific spell purpose.

The fire that crackles in the hearth isn’t ordinary either, but sparks in purple and blue and smells like the winter’s night that Nerissa draws so much power from in the long dark stretches of starlight.

“I have to get back; I’m so sorry,” I say. “Violet, I promise I’ll send some things up to your room at the inn. You are in good hands with Nerissa. I don’t know exactly what you’ve been through, but you have a coven now, and while we?—”

“We’re going to take care of you,” Nerissa finishes and makes a shooing motion at me.

I smile at her and reach down to scratch Ears on his wolfy head.

Violet nods, and Ears yawns as I stand up fully.

She doesn’t believe us, not yet.

“I’ll see you both soon,” I say, lingering.

“Go on, you big worrier,” Nerissa says. I scowl at her, then pull out the box of cookies I packaged up for her before Violet and I set out in the dreary rain for her house.

“Fine,” I say tartly, but we both grin at each other before I leave.

I left Velvet waiting outside, because out of all the town’s familiars, Ears understandably makes her the most nervous.

Overhead, the sky seems to exhale, a steely grey that whispers of the relentless change of seasons. I blow out a breath, grounding myself in this moment, and trying to practice the gratitude that my mother instilled in me as much as she instilled the perfect way to proof a sourdough loaf and how to fill an éclair with just the right amount of cream.

The air becomes too thick to breathe, my lungs aching with the need for oxygen.

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