Page 83 of Bound to the Orc Warrior

“Highly trained orc warriors aren’t ones to trifle with,” I growl.

Brokk’s laugh puts the lie to my words, and I scowl, which only makes my bride laugh harder. Goddess, I love that sound!

I lean over and take her mouth with mine, tasting her joy and love for life. Her soft gasp parts her plump lips, and I need no further invitation, plunging my tongue inside, wanting all of her. A groan tears from my throat as her soft breasts press into me, and my morning erection jumps against the confining leather of my pants.

“You do know we can hear you,” Shadow says from directly outside our tent.

“I hate to agree with the cat,” Zephyr says. “But he’s right. We can definitely hear you.”

“I don’t mind,” Brokk says.

Zephyr snorts. “Well, I do.”

A scowl tugs down the corners of my mouth as I throw off my furs and get ready to demand they mind their own business.

Yet my moon bound has an altogether different reaction. Naomi bites down on a knuckle as her whole body shakes with laughter.

Soon, I find myself giving her a wry smile.

“There it is,” she whispers, her fingers tracing over the quirked corner of my mouth. “I love this little half smile of yours.”

My breath catches in my chest at her use of the word, and I search her face, looking for proof of more.

A loud clap of giant wings beating air rings overhead.

“The dragon’s here.” Naomi sits up and reaches for the pack that holds her new pants, covered in pockets stuffed with red crystals.

I grip her busy hands and hold them still until she meets my eyes. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do today,” I say. “We’ve all put a lot of expectation on you, but the doors of Faerie have been closed for three-hundred years. A few days more makes no difference.”

“No, it’s okay.” She squeezes my hands, her beautiful brown eyes shining with sincerity. “I’m meant to do this. I can feel it. All my life I’ve dreamed of traveling, of doing somethingmore.” Naomi smiles like the sun rising to warm the whole world. “And here I am, with magical powers, getting to be the most amazing version of myself.”

“It’s not your magic that makes you amazing,” I say.

“Yes, yes, very nice,” Shadow says. “Can you hurry it along? Having a dragon perched over one’s head isn’t exactly restful.”

Zephyr gives her whinnying laugh.

I roll out of the tent.

Lukendevener hovers on top of the standing stone, only his back feet touching. He’s at least five times as wide as the pillar. Magic crackles in the air—he’s clearly holding himself up with that instead of relying on his perch.

“Where else am I supposed to go?” he booms, craning his long neck until he looks down at us.

Brokk tends the campfire, stirring a huge pot of porridge. Aldronn and Garint join him as I pour Naomi a cup of mint tea.

She takes it from me gratefully once she leaves the tent, and we eat a quick breakfast together. Excitement sparkles in her eyes.

I wish I could match it with my own. Instead, I force myself to eat, the hot cereal sinking like a ball of lead in my stomach.

If everything goes well today, I lose her.

I lose the woman I love.

CHAPTER FORTY

Naomi

Anticipation makes it hard to sit still as I eat breakfast. Maybe I should be glad the orcs don’t have coffee. Caffeine would probably make me bounce out of my skin this morning.

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