Page 33 of How To Woo A Warrior Orc

“Tell her,” Ruby says, the directive aimed at Wren, who’s still eating like she’s starving.

I rub my forehead and make a mental note to send her a basket of food more often. Wren often gets so involved with her work she completely forgets to take care of herself. Caelan’s helped, I’m sure of it, but if he’s busy with his inn then maybe she needs me to help her?—

“The Seelie queen stopped by,” Wren says airily, interrupting my train of thoughts.

“What thefuck?” The question rockets out of me. “When? Just now?”

The last customer of the day looks up from his book, startled, and then collects himself before standing to walk out the door. His little hooves clip clop on the tile.

“Have a great day,” I call after the silver-haired faun as he leaves.

“Er,” Wren says, wringing her hands. “It might have been about a week ago now.”

I wait until the door closes, then scramble over to it in an attempt to lock it.

Only for Kieran and Caelan to waltz right through it. I glare at them. I scowl at Wren, but she’s not paying attention. I pinch the bridge of my nose.

Caelan scoops Wren up into a huge hug, kissing her thoroughly. She squeals as he twirls her around, then dips her and kisses her again.

Kieran stands awkwardly in the doorway, which I’m now holding open.

Willow very studiously ignores him, even though the lilac-hued Unseelie fae works with her now, same as Ga’Rek and me. Clearly, they don’t have the same connection we do.

A permanently sour expression turns down his mouth, on what would otherwise be a very handsome face. I peer behind him, curious as to what the buzzing noise emanating from behind him is, only to gasp in surprise.

Wings. Full-on, iridescent wings.

Wow. They’re gorgeous. And I had no idea they were there.

I didn’t even know some of the fae had wings.

“Did the Seelie queen have wings?” I ask Wren. “Or did you forget to mention that, just like you forgot to tell me she,” I cough delicately, “stopped by to see you?”

Caelan and Kieran both freeze, and Wren pales slightly.

“I wanted to tell you, but I got busy, thanks to the queen, actually, and you have been so busy too, and I just… I wasn’t sure when the right time would be.”

“The right time was as soon as it happened,” Ruby interjects.

Ga’Rek finally walks into the main restaurant space, a cleaning rag in his hands.

“Did you know?” I ask him.

It’s stupid, but the thought of him keeping something from me like the Seelie queen visiting another witch in Wild Oak Woods, especially Wren… hurts.

“I didn’t know,” he says quietly. “I would have told you, kal’aki ne.”

The tension dissolves from my chest, and before I fully realize I’m moving, I’m at his side, nestling into his chest.

“Ahh, that is what this day has been missing,” he says into the top of my head, his arms circling around me.

“Oh, let me guess,” Caelan says in a sing-song voice. “You two fucked last night, and now you’re in your orc mating frenzy? How predictable. I told you sleeping in her guest room would be boring.”

“Caelan,” Wren admonishes, sounding scandalized.

Embarrassment at his crude language makes me bury my face deeper into Ga’Rek’s chest.

“Don’t talk to her like that,” he growls. There’s more snap in his voice than I’ve ever heard.

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