Page 3 of Bound to the Orc Warrior

Oh, no he didn’t! He didnotjust say that.

His grin firmly in place, his eyes dart around, making sure everyone’s watching. I’ve always known that he likes to be the center of attention, but this is the first time I’ve been on the receiving end of it in a negative way.

I turn to face him, hands on hips. He wants to do this? Fine. I’ll do it.

“You told me I was a fool for staying in Ferndale Falls.” I wave my hand slowly through the air, my gesture taking in the whole room. “The placeallof us live.”

His smile wavers a little as everyone in the restaurant shifts to look at him more critically.

“Friends don’t say things like that, especially to people with sick parents.”

“But your mom’s okay now. You can leave like you always wanted.”

A short huff of air bursts from me in something that’s not really a laugh. “So that makes it okay? We didn’t know that back then.” God, did I ever really know him? I knew he was a bit self-centered—he’d been the most popular guy in high school, after all—but this takes things to new lows. It makes me realize he was always a bit of a shit back then, the golden boy lording it over everyone. I simply didn’t want to see it, because I loved him.

“Naomi.” He reaches for me.

I sidestep away and look past him. “Nice to meet you, Porsha. I wish you all the best.” Then I turn on my heel and march for the door.

Hannah’s long legs keep pace beside me easily. “Want me to come with you?”

“No.” I shake my head, my curls brushing against my neck and shoulders. “Keep him from following?”

“Will do. Text me later.”

“You got it.”

It’s twilight out, that magical time when the sun’s dropped but the streetlights haven’t yet kicked on. Main Street is quiet as I stand on the sidewalk and try to get my bearings. Everything’s swirling inside me in a delayed reaction. I kept it together while I had an audience—and especially with Matt watching—but now all the emotions I’ve been squashing for what feels like forever explode.

I’m not upset with Matt because I wanthim. But in only a few sentences, he’s reminded me of the ache deep within myself. The desire to travel, to domorethat continues to go unfulfilled.All my plans of traveling the world, teaching English in foreign countries, seeing the sites and having adventures while I figured out who I am. I shelved all those plans in the back of my mind, on a mental bookcase grown dusty with disuse.

I hate that he’s right, but he’s still freaking right, dammit. Mom’s fine now.

So what’s holding me back?

“I need to change this,” I whisper, grabbing hold of the crystal pendant Nana gave me. It’s always been a comfort. “I need to start really living, to get out there and discover my full potential. I need to finally become who I truly am.”

A light snaps on above me, way too bright to be one of the old orange streetlights, and music starts to play, a beautiful melody full of strings and bells.

“What the—”

A glowing silver ball swoops down and swallows me in light.

CHAPTER TWO

Wranth

I sit off to the side of the campfire as the rest of the king’s guard talk and tell after-dinner tales. Our unicorn mounts graze at the other end of the meadow, faint white shapes in the darkness of night. The wind is cool and pleasant, blowing away the lingering scent of roasted meat and leaving behind the freshness of pine. The orange firelight flickers off the close line of tree trunks and the green faces of the orcs gathered in a loose circle, sitting on logs.

It should be comfortable. I’ve camped hundreds of nights with this same group of orcs. Yet the mood isn’t as welcoming as the village I just left.

Grugg gets up to go into the woods to take a piss, making sure to knock my shoulder as he goes by.

I bare my tusks and pause for a split second. Now that my best and only friend, Sturrm, has officially left our company, the rest jockey to see who will take his place in the hierarchy. If I let this slight slide, I will be pushed even more to the outside than I am now. We are warriors, all. Orcs respect strength.

And the anger that constantly boils in my blood refuses to remain contained.

I surge to my feet, using the power of my thighs to bury my shoulder in Grugg’s side.

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