Page 51 of How To Woo A Warrior Orc

“Now,” Ga’Rek roars.

The guards shuffle over to us, and Caelan and Kieran flank them as Ga’Rek points to a table.

The rest of my coven sisters have materialized around us, and even Violet, the new witch, so new we haven’t even properly inducted her yet, walks towards us on shaky legs.

She looks how I feel.

“What the fuck?” Nerissa asks. “Did any of you do a summoning that went south?”

Ruby rubs her head. “There’s no way. We would have felt it. And the duchess—she knew.”

“You’ve never heard of this happening?” Damn it. I figured the bookstore owner was our best bet at knowing something.

“I’ve only lived here a handful of years,” she says with a frown. “You’ve been here the longest.”

“We moved here when I was a toddler.”

“We all moved here… there has been no Wild Oak Woods coven in years,” Willow whispers. “There have been no witches in Wild Oak Woods. Not for a long, long time.”

“I suppose we can take a stab at why,” Wren says wryly.

I glare at her. “Caelan is rubbing off on you.”

“Stop bickering,” Nerissa says. “The duchess knew. Let’s interrogate her guards.”

It seems like as good a plan as any. “I could enchant a roll with a truth charm?” I suggest.

“Good thinking,” Nerissa agrees.

We make our way to where the guards are staring around.

“We don’t know anything,” one of them offers. “We’re mercenaries. Hired to deliver a bride to a groom. No one said shit about any magic shit.”

“A real master of language,” Caelan says broadly. “Do you often provide armed escort to brides?”

“We take whatever jobs we can get. We’re not weak and lazy like you townies.”

Ga’Rek edges closer to the man. “Do I look weak or lazy?”

“Nah, I didn’t mean anything by it,” the guard—mercenary—amends hastily.

“I think I might be of assistance.” A male dressed in all black shimmers into existence. Gold flecks sparkle along his skin, and his magic is as palpable as any I’ve ever felt.

Caelan laughs. He fucking laughs!

“Hash. Why am I not surprised to see you turn up?”

“Because you aren’t as stupid as you look?” Hash says with a smile as sharp as a knife. “How is my Boner?”

“Don’t fucking start that shit right now,” Caelan tells him, more annoyed than I’ve ever seen.

“It’s hard,” Hash declares, taking a turkey leg off a plate and biting into it.

Caelan groans.

“It’s hard to be in your position,” Hash adds, his mouth full. “Summoning the Elder Gods of the forest like that. Having to hold the waypoint against the war for power that’s coming.”

He swallows, then tears another piece of meat off the bone. The Seelie fae has fangs, too.

---