Page 78 of Bound to the Orc Warrior

Aldronn steps forward and pulls me into his arms. “Welcome, cousin.”

I hug him in return, this family member I can now claim as mine.

Growing up, Aldronn was like a big brother to me. He couldn’t stop the teasing when he wasn’t around, but whenever he was, he made sure the other younglings kept their taunts to themselves. But being a decade older put him ever out of my close reach, his studies and duties always too different until we both became adults. He took his crown, and I joined his guard, and he’s always been good to me. Additionally, I know he didn’t do it because he sensed some familial connection—he did it because it was the decent thing to do.

“I’m glad it’s you who’s my family,” I murmur.

“Me, too.”

When we part, I raise my voice that all might hear. “I think Naomi and I discovered why the Moon Goddess brought us to Alarria.”

Sheevora’s head dips down on her long neck. “Speak, I beg of you. This is one of the greatest mysteries that’s plagued the dragons these past three centuries.”

I repeat everything Tumbletoad told us about my parents, the Dark God, and the rise of the dark fae. Naomi adds extra details about Avalon, with all its darkness and frozen, twisted magic.

“No more elves?” Aldronn’s brow creases. “I don’t understand.”

“They’re called dark fae now,” I say. “They’ve been changed, but I don’t have any details as to what the differences are.”

“Unless that’s why our elfin forms have fangs,” Zephyr says. “Although, I suppose that means we shouldn’t call it the elfin form any longer.”

“I suppose we can call it the fae form, even though we’re all technically fae.” Shadow says, his voice sardonic. “How like the fae ‘previously known as elves’ to make itallabout them even in this.”

Zephyr snorts in amusement. “On this, we can agree, cat.”

“Has this Dark God changed anyone else?” Shadow’s voice becomes serious for once. “What of the cat sith?”

“Yes, or the cu sith?” Rune adds, his wolf ears pricking forward on his head.

“I don’t know.” I spread my hands wide. “We weren’t there for long. My tracking magic felt no one near but the brownie. We were in the middle of what should have been a forest teaming with life, yet there was none.”

Silence falls for a moment as everyone tries to absorb how such a thing could be. I understand their difficulty. Here, inAlarria, surrounded by uncorrupted magic and life, it’s hard to imagine. These things are crucial for Wild Fae. To live without them would be torture. My parents were strong indeed to carve out a life filled with love in such a bleak place.

“Do we know if the Dark God is confined to Avalon?” Aldronn asks.

“No,” I grunt.

“I wonder if some similar blight has befallen Umbria,” Zephyr says, naming the unicorns’ home realm.

“Or Dularia,” Sheevora says. “Many of our dragon brethren should still be there.”

“Is this why the Moon Goddess brought you all here?” Naomi asks. “To protect you from this Dark God?”

“Perhaps.” Aldronn tips his head.

“Then why didn’t she bring all of the orcs and dragons and everyone?” Ashley waves a hand at all the types of fae filling the clearing. “Why not save everyone?”

“We don’t know,” Lukendevener says. “In fact, we don’t know much about her, period. She’s not in any of the histories from before the doors of Faerie closed.”

“Clearly, we need answers. We need to know the state of the other Faerie realms.” Sheevora cocks her head and stares at my bride with an intensity that sparks my protective instincts. “And we have just the person to do it.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Naomi

Beside me, Wranth growls, one huge hand splaying across my back in a move that’s equally possessive and protective. Anger vibrates in his voice. “You would put my bride in danger.”

“Not willingly, no,” Sheevora says. “But if Naomi’s the only one who can get to the other realms, then she’s the only one.”

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