Page 58 of Bound to the Orc Warrior

“That’s settled then, if you’re okay with staying?” he asks his bride.

“Of course.” She smiles up at him and crooks her finger, and he bends over so she can press a kiss to his cheek.

Goddess, I want what they have! I want my Naomi happy and healthy and leading me around with the tiniest flick of her finger.

If it means she will stay.

If she’ll be mine forever.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Naomi

I wake to the sound of hushed voices, my thoughts blurry and slow. My fingers flex against the now-familiar softness of Wranth’s sleeping furs. Where am I? Back at the cat sith den? Did I pass out without getting us anywhere?

The worry that my magic failed jolts me fully awake. My eyes snap open. Instead of close rock overhead, there’s a high ceiling made of golden wood.

“You’re awake!” A woman’s face appears above me, all big smile and rich tanned skin, her thick brown hair pulled back in a ponytail. Her hand presses to my forehead, and a tingle of magic races through me. “How are you feeling?”

“Okay, I think?” My nose wrinkles. “Only, I don’t know where I am or who you are.”

“I’m Selena. I’m a healer, which is why I’m touching you without asking for permission.” She yanks her hand back. “Sorry about that. I get so used to helping people around here that I forget my manners.”

“Hey, if you’re a healer and you’re hovering over me, I’m pretty sure I should be thanking you, not complaining about a little forehead touching.” I grin.

She grins back. “I like you.”

“Where’s Wranth?” A tiny curl of disappointment goes through me. After being so certain he’d never leave me, I didn’t expect to wake up to find him gone.

“He was making himself crazy with worry.” She grimaces. “He kept pacing and growling and looking like he was about to start punching the walls. So Sturrm took him into the main room to blow off some steam, orc style.”

“Which means?”

“They’re pounding the shit out of each other in a friendly brawl.”

“Also known as warrior training,” a sunny voice says as a plump redhead with pale skin covered in lots of freckles shoves in beside the other woman. “I’m Ashley.”

“Naomi.”

“Want to sit up?”

“God, yes.”

She reaches out a hand, and I clasp it and let her help pull me up to sitting. Then I scootch backward to lean against the headboard.

There are two more human women in the room. If they weren’t all dressed in orc clothes, I’d think I’m back on Earth. But Wranth told me about each of them, including Selena and Ashley. I was simply too woozy when I first woke up to put it together.

“I did it!” A grin stretches my cheeks. “I got us to Moon Blade Village.”

“You sure did!” A short woman with light-tan skin and a messy brown bob says. She bounces on her toes, her thin frame vibrating with energy. “Teleportation is one seriously cool power!”

The tall blonde beside her nods. “Cooler than mine.”

“None of that now.” The shorter woman taps the taller one with the back of her hand. “You’re the one who makes the net guns that can shoot a sluagh out of the sky. It doesn’t get much cooler than that.”

The blonde’s fair skin blushes red, and she shuffles forward, holding out a small ceramic pot. “I’m Grace. I had the village herbalist make me some conditioner to tame my frizz.” She gestures to her wavy curls, which are up in a messy bun. “I don’t know if it’s right for your hair, but I thought it might be better than nothing.”

“Thank you!” I beam at her. “I can definitely use some conditioner.”

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