Page 34 of Guarded By the Orc

They lowered their eyes, and waved me off. Chuckling, I made my way over to Zara in the kitchen, leaning my hip against the counter and crossing my arms as I watched her bustle about.

“Hey you,” she said with a smirk. “Have you come for more kisses? Because I think we’ll make them sick and they won’t want to drink any of this delicious chocolate I’m making.”

“It’s always a yes for more kisses,” I agreed, “but I can hold out. I’m averydisciplined orc, after all.” I tilted my chin up pretentiously and she snorted out a laugh before shoving twomugs of hot chocolate in my direction and forcing me to drop the stance.

“Alright, alright, Mr. Big Disciplined Orc. Let’s get the chocolate out to the ladies and then leave them to rest.”

I nodded, helping her carry mugs. Then she hugged each of them and said good night. I gave them all new phones with new numbers that I’d grabbed from my office and asked them to use those for the time being—since we didn’t know if the warlocks had access to technology or a contact who did.

I’d asked them to turn off their phones before we left their home and Gabbi didn’t have a phone. They obeyed so easily I wondered if they were used to doing things like that. If they were, and if it had anything to do with their pasts, then I hoped we’d be able to help these sweet females in the future.

“Call or message me if any of you need anything,” I insisted as they shoved us out of the door. I sputtered as the door closed in my face, but Zara just laughed, hugging me around the waist, pressing her chin to my chest and staring up at me.

I wrapped my arms around her, too, tracing my gaze over her precious, perfect features. That little groove on the side of her mouth that I was sure was a dimple. That little mole in her left eyebrow that attracted my gaze and lips every time I looked at her.

I love this female so much.

And it wasn’t just because she was my mate. I’d fallen in love with her after watching her and learning about her. Her heart was so pure, so sweet. And she was just so damn brave. The bravest female I’d ever encountered.

She’d protect the world and sacrifice herself if given the chance. But she’dneverhave that chance if it was up to me. There would be no sacrifice for her. I was going to take care of her and make sure that nothing would ever touch her again.

“I can do magick now,” she crowed, wiggling from side to sidein my arms, using me to keep herself steady. “Finally!”

“What did you want to do first?” I asked her, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead.

She frowned, nibbling on her lower lip and it was everything I could do to not dip my head to kiss her so she would stop. “I don’t know. I hadn’t thought about it. But at least I can,” she said with a shrug.

“Can you break the curse?” I asked in a low voice and her frown deepened as she looked away, trying to pull away from me. I kept her in the circle of my arms, not letting her get away.

“That’s different,” she told me, clearing her throat. “That’s blood magick. There’s only one way to stop a blood curse,” she said in a low voice, keeping her gaze trained to the top button of my shirt. “And that means either the person who was cursed or the person who did the curse will have to die.”

Swallowing hard, I tipped my mate’s chin up. “Thenhe’sgoing to be the one to die, Gul-ar. Not you,” I assured her, stroking my thumb across her lower lip.

A shuddering breath left her and she searched my gaze. “Yeah,” she whispered, but she didn’t sound so sure of that.

CHAPTER 18

Zara

The sofa shifted but I kept my gaze trained on the book in front of me. My mother’s spellbook. Nowmyspellbook.

The reminder of what it took to break a blood curse had sent a shot of fear through me.

I don’t want to die.

My fingers tightened on the leather cover of the book. Now that I knew the truth of the coven, I had the family I’d always wanted. My eyes peeked up for a moment at the sexy orc sitting next to me, a book on his own lap, but his gaze locked on me.

And him. I can’t lose him. He’s my family, too.

He leaned closer, tucking a curl behind my ear and a smile spread across his face. “What’s wrong, Gul-ar?” he rasped, his nickname for me filling all the places that had been empty for years.

He completed me in all the ways I’d been missing. I reached up, gripping his fingers in mine, holding on with a desperationthat made his brow furrow.

“I like your beard,” I blurted, running my other hand down the silky hair on his chin. He’d been growing it out and I was astounded by how quickly it had sprouted.

His eyebrows swept up, but his eyes went soft and sweet as he settled his jaw more firmly into my hand. “It’s available for your attention at any time.”

“I’ll take you up on that,” I told him and I prayed he didn’t hear the catch in my throat.

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