Page 88 of Bound to the Orc Warrior

Pride fills me. Underneath her sunny nature lies a strength of spirit and keen intellect that rivals any I’ve known. What a queen she could be!

“Now, we’ll go to the dragon world next.” She plucks up another of the paired crystals, leaving its match on a clear spot of ground as she marches over to the standing stone.

My cousin shoots me an approving glance, tipping his head toward my bride. I smile back. Yes, she is indeed a wonder.

And for now, she’s mine.

Yet for all her strength, it takes her even longer to open the way to Dularia. Her body shakes so hard her teeth chatter, her breath coming in great gasps. The knuckles of the hand holding onto Lukendrevener’s arm go pale as her fingers dig in.

Anger and worry whirl inside me. I want to leap forward, yank her away from the standing stone, and stop all of this now. But she would not want that. My tusks dig into my upper lip as I snarl. It’s all I can do not to growl.

I’m sweating as much as she is by the time my moon bound disappears with a loud ripping sound, taking the dragon with her.

The tether yanks me forward in a dizzying rush, and I land on slate-gray rock. Cool wind whips my hair into my face, and I shove it out of the way. We stand on a wide ledge on the side of a mountain, the drop off sheer and high.

Naomi stands near the edge, and my protective instincts make me leap forward, my hands curling around her upper arms. She glances back over her shoulder at me, smiling, eyes wide with delight. “It’s so beautiful.”

I grunt and take in the view, which I ignored until now—nothing is as important as her and her safety.

Mountains surround us, thrusting sharp rocky peaks into a rich-blue sky. Trees soften their lower slopes, the dark green of pines broken here and there by the brighter green of mountain meadows. A curving river cuts through the valley below, glinting like a silver ribbon in the sunlight. A majestic feeling of peace permeates the scene.

“The mountains of Dularia,” Lukendrevener says, his tone awed. “I never thought to see them again.”

A stronger gust of wind zips past us, and he leaps out into it, his wings snapping wide.

“Wait!” I bellow after him. “This isn’t part of the plan!”

Once he’s several yards away, he shifts into his dragon form, shredded scraps of my destroyed pants blowing away in the wind.

“Perhaps not your plan, but I have orders to find the other dragons. We may need them to fight this Dark God. Leave thecrystal for the door here so that I may return with allies.” With that, his great wings beat at the air, and he streaks off, his magic propelling him forward. In only a few moments, he disappears behind another mountain peak.

Naomi tucks the crystal into a crevice and takes one last look back at Dularia.

As soon as we step back through the door, I wheel on Aldronn. “Did you know the dragon was going to abandon us? Naomi still has two more doors to open! What if we need his help?”

What if his leaving puts her in danger?

The old anger rises within me, washing the world red.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

Naomi

“I did not know, but I suspected,” Aldronn says. “Did he give a reason why?”

“He’s going to find the other dragons to get their help against the Dark God,” I say.

Wranth grits out, “But we’re not finished with today’s mission. With every new door she opens, Naomi puts herself in danger.”

“Dragons take a longer view of things than we do. Today does not matter as much to them as next year or a decade from now.” Aldronn flicks his shoulders in a small shrug. “We also have to remember they’re our allies, not our subjects.”

Wranth’s body locks rigid beside mine, vibrating with pent-up feeling. His hands curl into fists, and his glare looks fierce enough to start shooting laser beams.

“It’s okay,” I blurt, setting a hand on his arm and looking up at him. “Really it is. I have you, Wranth. You’re the best protection I could ever have.” I love that he’s so determined to protect me that he puts me first, but getting angry isn’t going to bring Lukendrevener back.

He sucks in a huge breath and lets it out with a sigh, his shoulders dropping. “Thank you,” he says to me, then looks at Aldronn. “I am still very quick to anger.”

“All orcs are,” Aldronn says. “We’re overdue for a good brawl.”

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