Page 17 of Bound to the Orc Warrior

She jolts, the movement pressing her even more tightly to me, but before she can reply, the others chime in.

“The orc king is just that,” Zephyr says. “Theorcking. He is a power, but he does not command all of the Wild Fae.”

“Never met him. But I do know he’s never opened the doors of Faerie like you just did.” Shadow grins over at my bride, his green eyes holding such interest that I flash my tusks at him. It does nothing to deter him from telling her, “You’re fascinating.”

I cannot disagree. “The Moon Goddess only brings witches of incredible power to Alarria.”

“Do any of the others tell a port?”

“What do ship berths have to do with it?” I frown. “And how do you speak to them?” Her world has no magic or at least none I could feel.

Her laugh sings in my blood, making my heart race. “Not that kind of port or that kind of tell. It’s all one word—teleport. It means to move from one place to another in the blink of an eye.”

“You certainly do that.” Pride fills me. My bride holds true power. Her ability to move around Alarria instantaneously is amazing. The fact that she can open the doors of Faerie, which no one else has accomplished in three-hundred years, makes her phenomenal. “No one else can do what you can.”

“Tell me about the other women, the human witches.”

She settles back against me as I tell her of all the moon bound brides brought to Alarria. Olivia, who conjures food, Ashley, whocan fly, Taylor, who moves things with her mind, Grace, who conjures unique weapons, and Selena, who can heal.

“I didn’t realize there were so many.”

“You will not be alone,” I say. “They all live in Moon Blade Village. That’s the other place you took us to.”

“The place with the big trees? Do people really live inside them?”

“They do. Those are heart trees, and orc wood workers use their magic to carve cottages from the living wood.”

We talk about the village, and I surprise even myself, remembering more than I realized about my recent stay—hunting with Branikk, soaking in the communal baths, spending evenings down the pub with good ale and better company. I don’t mention the way orcs love to brawl and instead focus on the entertainment all the human witches love. “The pub’s even better now that Sturrm’s back from finding his bride. He’s a great singer, and Selena now joins him in duets.”

“All of that sounds wonderful, but you still haven’t explained the Whirling Swings ride.” She laughs. “I never expected to see one of those!”

“Grace conjured it. It actually keeps the sluagh from attacking from the sky,” I say. “Though most evenings it gets used for its intended purpose as a ride for the younglings, pixies, and sprites to enjoy.”

“Just be glad you didn’t have to listen to the so-calledmusic,” Zephyr says with a snort of disgust. “It’s enough to set your teeth on edge.”

“Now I really need to see this amazing contraption.” Shadow purrs a ratcheting laugh.

“I want to visit the village again,” Naomi says. “It’ll be nice to meet the other women.”

My mouth opens, and I barely stop myself from correcting her and saying she’ll live there.

Because I’m not even certain I will live there. As one of the king’s guard, I’m supposed to remain by Aldronn’s side, though perhaps he will station me in the village, as he did my friend Sturrm.

Even if I remain in direct service of the king, it might not be an issue, because my bride can travel the breadth of the realm in an instant. She can visit wherever I happen to be.

If she wants to.

If she wantsme.

Yet all of these worries are dreams of a future that may not come to pass. I know in my heart why she used the word “visit.” My bride doesn’t plan to remain in Alarria at all.

An uncomfortable restlessness fills me at the thought. It’s not the rage that often overwhelms me, but it’s a close cousin. I bare my tusks in a silent snarl, needing to move.

“Zephyr, stop,” I bark the words when I can remain still no longer. “We’ve lost the sluagh for now. I must hunt for breakfast.”

“Breakfast sounds fantastic,” Naomi says.

“I could eat.” Shadow’s voice sounds like a laugh.

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