Page 41 of Guarded By the Orc

“He’s not here,” I told her, sweeping my fingers through her curls. “But we can go visit him, if that’s okay?”

She nodded with enthusiasm, turning to look up at Tasia who was seated on a sofa. She was nibbling on her lower lip.

“I hope it’s not too much trouble?” she asked, worry heavy in her voice.

“It’s never too much trouble to spend time with my favorite niece,” I told her with a sniff, hefting her onto my hip and taking her to the circle. “I’m so glad you’re all here. I have a question that I need to ask.”

“We know,” Floria said with a nod. “I had a premonition that you would be coming. While my power is still stunted,” she added with a little shrug, “when it comes to the people I love, I can get hints of what’s to come.”

My heart swelled at her admission. Yes, this groupdidlove me, and I loved them right back.

“I’ll need wood for a wand,” I explained, my gaze moving from face to face.

“As a focus tool?” Hanna asked, nibbling on her lower lip in thought.

“Yes, exactly. I’m going to have to get my powers unbound, butthen I’ll be more likely to blow something up than anything else unless I can focus myself,” I sighed. “When I was younger, my mom made me a wand, but I don’t think it’ll work.”

Floria shook her head, turning to Tabitha. “I agree. Most children have wands but they’re nothing more than channeling tools. What she’ll need is something more,” she said in a low, thoughtful voice. “I only know one or two types of wood that could withstand her power.”

“Not even one or two. It has to be from The Grove,” Tabitha said while drumming her fingers on her thigh.

Floria and Hanna stiffened. “But The Grove’s dangerous,” Hanna whispered, shaking her head. “The Guardian—”

“There’s ways to convince the Guardian,” Tabitha said, cutting her off with a wave of her hand, but I could see the lines of worry creasing her forehead. “I’ll have to do some digging into the exact location, but I can be ready in half of an hour.”

She stood then, making her way through the hallway toward her bedroom. I blinked, looking at the other witches in the living room and they shrugged at me.

“What’s The Grove?” I asked, looking between them.

“It’s a rowan tree grove,” Floria explained, with a small smile. One that looked forced. “It’s a magickal grove and it’s hardly ever used. I only know of one wand—”

“And look what happened to her,” Hanna gasped, shaking her head. Tasia looked just as confused as I was, her gaze moving between us.

“Is there something I should be worried about?” I asked, leaning forward.

“No,” Floria started while Hanna said, “Yes,” in unison.

They turned to look at each other, a silent argument happening before Floria sighed. “Okay, so the last wand that was made from The Grove ended up killing its user, but—”

“Killing its user?” I gasped, my hand going to my chest. “Whatthefuck?”

“Language,” Tasia called, covering Gabbi’s ears too late.

“Fack,” she sounded out while playing with the blocks on the little toy table Tasia had set up for her.

“Oops,” I said with a grimace, and Tasia shook her head.

“Just ignore it and she’ll stop,” she said in a low voice. I nodded, but heard Gabbi saying,

“Faaack,” again.

“The wand only killed its maker because the wood was stolen,” Floria said, shaking her head and giving Hanna an earnest look. “That’s not the way it works. We’ll have to talk to the Guardian and convince him that you’re worthy.”

My blood ran cold at those words. “But what if I’m not?” I asked in a low voice.

Hanna and Tasia both reached out to take my hands, squeezing them with gentle support.

“Youare,” Floria whispered, her smile widening. “And the fact that you can ask that question shows how worthy you are. You’re not doing this to gain power, you’re doing it to protect. There’s a big difference.”

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