Page 66 of Bound to the Orc Warrior

“Good.” The dragon will hopefully have information that can aid Naomi in using her magic.

The feline fae disappears again but not before one parting shot. “Have fun beinguseful, orc.”

I grind my teeth together, because, fuck, he does have a point. I might be glad of the tether for now for keeping me with my bride, but if it persists, how will we live with it, day in, day out? Will I never hunt again? Will she never be able to go to one of the “girls’ nights” the other women enjoy?

It’s a problem for the future. For now, I must focus on only two things: protecting my bride and wooing her.

Sturrm finds me not long after. He takes up position beside me, leaning back against the tree and crossing his arms over his chest in a position that mimics mine. “So, you have a moon bound bride.”

I grunt a yes.

“You should ask King Aldronn to post you here, to Moon Blade Village. Naomi will want to live near the other witches.”

“Naomi wants to go home, to their world.”

It’s his turn to grunt, though his is a displeased one.

We stand silent for several moments, watching a pair of younglings dart across the green in a game of chase.

“What will you do?” he asks.

“I don’t know.” Goddess, I hate admitting that! Being an orphan means I always feel a bit unmoored, even with my place in the king’s guard. Any further uncertainty is painful. “If we’re still tethered, I’ll go with her to Earth. I didn’t feel at home in that magicless world, but it should have magic once the doors of Faerie open.”

“And if you aren’t tethered?”

“I’d still go,” I say. “If Naomi will have me.” I stop there, unable to give voice to the other possibility—a life separated from her.

“She will.” Sturrm clamps a friendly hand on my shoulder and gets me to meet his eyes. “I saw her looking at you with fondness last night. Naomi feels something for you already, and you can make it grow. The Moon Goddess would not have bound you together if it were not fated.”

I wish I shared his conviction, but no one’s ever chosen me, not even my own parents.

So how can I be enough for a beautiful, brilliant woman like Naomi?

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Naomi

After lunch, I pull on my new boots and hop up from the couch. With my boobs supported by a bra and my magic bolstered by several red crystals, I feel ready to face anything.

Especially since I know Wranth will always have my back.

“I want to practice teleporting,” I say.

“Now?” Wranth asks. “The dragons will arrive tomorrow with information.”

“We don’t know if they know anything about my powers. Besides, I want to try out the red crystals.” I finger the two small ones added to my necklace, but I’ve also shoved two larger ones into my pants pockets.

“All right.” He stands up and adjusts his sword belt. “Where should be go first?”

“The waterfall.”

When he raises a rakish eyebrow, I grin and say, “Not for that. Not this time. I want to go there because I can picture it clearly.”

I grip my crystal with one hand and lay the other on Wranth’s left forearm. Closing my eyes, I concentrate, pulling up a picture of the pond with the waterfall pouring down into it in a continuous splash.

In a blink, we’re there. A squirrel chitters angrily from nearby and dashes for the trees.

“I did it!” I laugh up at Wranth, a little breathless. “It was so easy.”

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