Page 102 of Bound to the Orc Warrior

“Does that mean Avalon is open to everywhere once again?” Wranth asks.

“It does,” the dragon says. “We will have to see if the Dark God notices and what his response will be. I foresaw this difficulty. It’s why I sent Lukendrevener to fetch the other dragons.”

“Oh, god.” Ice clutches my heart. “Avalon connects to Earth, too, right?”

I might have brought magic back to Earth, but no one there knows how to use it yet. How are they supposed to fight off dark fae?

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

Wranth

“It will be well.” I wrap my hands around Naomi’s shoulders. “Do not forget we have a goddess on our side, who has blessed us with many sky gifts. With this new alliance we’ve formed, we’re stronger than ever.”

Then I turn to Aldronn. “I know you need guards, but my place is here with Naomi in Moon Blade Village.”

“We’ll make do,” my cousin says. “There are several youths about to finish guard training.” All orcs learn warrior skills, with most finishing their training at sixteen to pursue other careers as determined by their magic. Those who want to join the king’s guard must complete an extra two years of warrior training and be accepted by a unicorn mount.

“The unicorns will send all of our available youths to meet with them,” Zephyr says. “All who can be matched will be.”

“I will send word to Elmswood Keep for the sergeant to go ahead and take them to the Umbriall Plains,” Aldronn says, then turns to Dravarr. “For now, I will camp here, outside Moon Blade Village, while we figure out what we do next.”

The warlord nods.

I’m glad for it. I only just got Aldronn as a cousin—I’m not ready to part with him yet.

The meeting breaks up, Sheevora launching into the air with a snap of magic as everyone else starts to scatter.

I catch Aldronn by the shoulder as he turns away to start setting up camp. “The Avalon door. I need it for a moment.”

Naomi’s expression brightens. “Tumbletoad!”

“Tumbletoad.” I nod. “You need not go with me. We’ve been lucky so far, but there might be dangers this time.”

“Yeah, that just makes me want to go more.” She grabs hold of my hand. “I can teleport us away from danger, remember?”

My cousin looks amused when I agree. He’s spent years escaping the marital plans of any woman who set their sights on him. Just wait until he finds the one he wants to keep in his furs—we’ll see who laughs then.

The trip to Avalon is effortless. One disorienting step, and we stand in its twilight darkness right beside the ruins of the hunting lodge. Naomi’s grip on my hand tightens, and I know she’s having trouble seeing in the low light.

My tracking magic spools out of me, finding nothing but the brownie. I don’t waste any time, using the old trick of saying his name three times to summon him. “Tumbletoad. Tumbletoad. Tumbletoad.”

“Your majesty!” The small fae appears in the doorway. “You’ve returned and so quickly.”

“My bride is truly a wonder,” I say, pride filling my voice. “She did in only hours what no one has done in three-hundred years.”

“Oh, you.” She swings our hands.

“Do you want me to stop?” Am I embarrassing her?

“Nope!” She pops the p and grins up at me. “I’m pretty awesome. Feel free to tell everyone.”

By the goddess, I want nothing more than to kiss that sunny smile! But we’re here for a reason. Once Tumbletoad gathers his things—the small pack somehow stuffed with every cooking utensil in the kitchen—we take him through the door back to Alarria.

He drops the pack and falls to the ground, his fingers digging into the bright-green moss. Tears streak his face. “I never thought to feel magic like this. And the forest is so alive! It’s like all the old stories.”

“Wait until you see the heart tree cottages,” I say. “Avalon had nothing like them, even before the Dark God.”

As soon as he stands, Naomi reaches out and grips his shoulder. With her other hand in mine, she teleports us straight into the main room of our cottage.

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