Page 68 of His Orc Lady

Dawn’s giggle comes from my right, and I glance at her to find her hunched over my table, poring through the list she and Jasmine had put together for the day. “I should hope not. But I think…” She runs her finger down the paper, then flips it with an impatient twist of her hand. “We’re done—no, wait, where’s the bouquet?”

“Right here,” Hazel chimes in. She motions at the side table where she’d put the beautiful bouquet of wildflowers into a vase to keep the blooms fresh after she and Wren had picked them for me this morning. “But you’re still missing something.”

I glance down at my half-naked body. “Oh, this is how orcs get married, didn’t you know? In undershirts and nothing else.”

Her dark eyes glitter with amusement. “I’m fairly certain Owen would appreciate it, but Poppy wouldnot.”

Poppy, who has been standing by my bed, guarding my wedding dress all this time, glowers at the both of us. “That’s not funny. This is my masterpiece. The most beautiful garment I’ve ever created. If you refuse to wear it, I swear I will cry, and it’s not just the fact that I haven’t slept through the night in six months.”

I hurry over to her and grasp her hands. “We’re only joking, darling. I will wear your dress, and I’m so grateful you made it for me.”

She sniffles, her blue eyes watery with tears. “I know. I justadoreweddings, and we haven’t had enough of them.” She glances over at Willow, who’s been sitting in a chair, propped up by a pillow because her back has been aching this morning. “Especially sincesomepeople got married without any warning and I didn’t get to make a dress forthem.”

Willow smiles serenely, her hand on her rounded belly. “My wedding was perfect, thank you very much. I wouldn’t change it for the world.” She eyes the dress on the bed, then adds, “But if you want to make me something as pretty asthat, I won’t complain.”

“Violet and Marut got married before she ever came to the Hill,” Ivy pipes up from the corner where she’s been braiding a flower crown for me. “So I suppose everyone does things in their own way.”

I can’t help but grin at the mention of the newest parents in the Hill. Violet had their baby twins just weeks ago, and they’re still too busy to attend the preparations, though Violet said they would definitely be there for the ceremony.

“It’s time!” Rose bursts through the door, her pretty face flushed red. “They’ll be ready soon, so you’d better get dressed, Mara.”

Poppy lets out an excited squeak, then carefully gathers up my wedding dress and steps on a stool to help me put it on without ruining my artfully braided hair. The periwinkle silk flows over my body, cool and smooth, and I shake it out, then face my reflection in the looking glass.

“It’s magnificent,” Jasmine breathes. “Poppy, you’ve outdone yourself this time.”

Poppy is flitting around me, tying hidden little bows and doing up the buttons on my back, but she beams at the compliment. “Thank you. The color just suits Marasowell. I knew this was going to be the right fabric the moment I saw it in the shop.”

When she declares me ready, she steps away and lets Ivy and Jasmine pin the flower crown in my hair with more of the golden pins.

“Now, I would definitely suggest taking this off before any, ah,dancing,” Ivy quips. “Or your bed will be full of flower debris.”

Hazel hands me the bouquet, the stems of the flowers tied together with a ribbon that matches my dress. “There. The last detail.”

I take the flowers, then draw in a deep inhale. This is it—in moments, I’ll walk out of this room and head toward the entrance hall to meet Owen and marry him in the human way, with all the clan and his family as our witnesses.

“Ready?” Rose asks from the door. “Uram’s waiting for your signal. He’ll run ahead and tell them we’re coming.”

I let out the breath I’ve been holding. “Aye, I’m ready.”

Rose grins and leaves, the first of us to depart the room. Everyone else crowds together, careful not to squish me or the flowers but buzzing with anticipation.

Hazel picks up a small basket of flower petals and peers through the door. “Vark?” she calls. “You can bring her now.”

My friend appears at the open door, leading Wren by the hand. His one eye widens as he notices me standing in the middle of the group. “Ah, Mara, you’re a beautiful bride. Your human is lucky to have you.”

With that, he departs, hurrying down the corridor. I grin—Owen and I agreed to a big wedding because Dawn suggested we should have one and offered to shoulder most of the planning, but now that the day is here, I have to admit, I’m enjoying it, too. It feels nice to dress up in such a pretty gown and to wear flowers in my hair. I haven’t taken much time off at all in the past years—in the past decade, really—and I’m looking forward to spending days alone with Owen after this.

“Remember, straight to the entrance hall,” Hazel instructs her daughter. “No detours to search for the mice. We’ll deal with those after the ceremony, all right?”

Wren nods solemnly, her curly blonde hair bouncing around her head. “Aye, Mama. I know the way.”

“Thank you,” I tell her. “I never thought I’d have a flower girl at my wedding, but you’re perfect for the role.”

The little girl beams at me, then takes the basket from her mother and marches out of the room, throwing the first handful of petals in an artful arc.

Hazel’s eyes water with an uncharacteristic show of emotion. “She’s been practicing all week. She might run out of petals before we reach the front hall, but by the gods, those will bethe best-thrown petals in all the kingdoms.” She blinks and sniffles, then adds, “Come on, we’d better follow her before she disappears from sight.”

With that, the wedding procession pours from my room and into the corridor. Dawn and Hazel lead us, following in Wren’s footsteps. Then it’s Ritta and Sarrai, walking proudly, resplendent in new leather pants and embroidered tunics, their ears glinting with gold. I walk close behind them, staring at Sarrai’s swinging braid to keep my focus—because I’m starting to fret a little, silly thoughts invading my mind.

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