Page 105 of Bound to the Orc Warrior

“No, we don’t,” Mom says.

My mouth snaps shut in shock.

“We realized a few things while you were gone,” Dad says, picking up Mom’s hand and interlacing their fingers. “One is that we can’t keep going as we have been.”

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything you did for us these past few years.” Tears spring to Mom’s eyes. “You’re the best daughter anyone could ever wished for.”

“You were sick,” I breathe, even now having a hard time saying the c-word out loud.

“I’m in full remission and have been for a year,” Mom says.

Dad adds, “Which means it’s high time we came out of early retirement and took over the business again.”

I don’t know how to feel about this. “You don’t think I’ve done a good job?”

“Oh, baby girl, you’ve done an amazing job.” Mom beams at me. “But as much as you love books, this shop was never your dream. We’ve kept you long enough, and now your dream has found you.” She gives a choked laugh. “Took a goddamned goddess to get you there. Who are we to say no to that?”

“Go. Live,” Dad says, then looks at Wranth. “And you take care of her.”

“You have my word,” my husband says, his deep voice resonant with promise.

“Thank you!” I jump up and run over to hug them both. They’ve just removed my last regret, allowing me to step fully into my new life in Alarria with Wranth.

“We’ve got to catch up. You’ve got to tell meeverything.” Hannah wiggles her eyebrows at me and gives me one last hug, saying she has to get back to the office. “Girls’ night soon?”

“You know it.” I point at her. “I owe you a cardigan.”

“Get me one of those cool linen tunic shirts, and we’ll call it even.”

“You got it!”

Wranth and I eat lunch with my parents, who order pasta from Luigi’s as a celebratory treat. He figures out how to deal with fettuccine noodles right away, plowing through his food with so much appetite that Mom slides half her dish over to him instead of saving it for leftovers.

I gather all the empty containers to carry them out to the dumpster in the back alley and turn to find Mom waiting in the doorway.

“Does he make you happy?”

“He does, Mom. I’m happier than I could ever dream.”

She folds me in her arms. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you. For you to find someone who recognizes you for the queen you are.”

“And in this case, it’s literal.” I laugh, breathing in the familiar coconut scent of her favorite conditioner, the one that always says “Mom” to me every time I smell it.

When we return to the front of the bookstore, I remain standing, and both men take the hint.

Dad gets up and gives me a tight hug. “I love you, peanut.”

Emotion thickens my throat as I give a little hiccup of a laugh. “You haven’t called me that for years.”

“You’ll always be my little girl.” He looks down at me. “The one who wanted to go camping and sleep without a tent so she could see the stars.”

“I’ve seen so many stars, Dad,” I whisper.

“Good.” He gives me one last squeeze. “Now go see some more.”

Wranth picks up my pack and comes to stand beside me so I can clasp his hand in mine.

“See you in a few days,” I say to my parents. Then I teleport us to Crystal Rock, and we step through to Alarria.

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