Page 64 of Guarded By the Orc

“That’s so nice, thank you. He really is the best artist I know. I’ll pay you back when—” she started, but I quirked an eyebrow and gave her my best stern expression, cutting her off.

“What’s mine is yours, Gul-ar. It’s a payment from you,” I told her.

“Well if that’s true,” she purred, and my cock perked up at her tone. “Then I want that last cookie from Penelope’s mother that you’ve been hoarding.”

I sucked in a horrified breath. “Gul-ar, I love you, but not that much.”

Her tinkle of laughter was music to my ears.

It was a special kind of weird to watch Zara and her coven set up their makeshift “altar” to perform their spell on the wand. The odd runes that were etched and the crystals that were spread out across the coffee table while they all sat with folded legsaround it made me think that they were about to meditate. But the thrum of power in the air told me that something more was happening.

“You can stay,” Zara said, tipping her head back so she was looking up at me from where I was standing behind her. “You can even join the circle if you want to.”

I took a seat behind her before shuffling myself forward, lifting her into my lap as she gave a little squeak of surprise. The chuckle that followed as she nuzzled back against me told me she didn’t want me to move.

“That’s one way to join the circle,” Tabitha said, snorting out a laugh from next to us. She held hands with Zara, raising her eyebrows toward me. “We’re about to unbind her powers, so you might get hit with some unwanted shockwaves.”

I nodded, knowing that if it meant I could hold Zara, whatever it was, it would be worth it.

Tabitha turned toward the altar. She began a soft chant that was soon joined by everyone else in the circle. Different pitches and tones could be heard from each witch but it soon became a symphony of voices and when my Zara’s voice started, a gentle thrill ran through my body.

I couldfeelthe magick in the sound. A purple, gentle glow started under her skin and I frowned down at her as she closed her eyes and tilted her head back on my shoulder, baring her throat for me. My mouth watered, but I stopped myself from biting down into her delicate flesh to mark her. Instead, I just watched as her expression became a frown and the glow became brighter and brighter as the voices got louder and louder.

It wasn’t long before Zara was twisting in my arms, but keeping her hands tight in the other females’. Her chanting was becoming higher-pitched and I saw Tabitha watching her closely. I looked between them, terrified for my female, but knowing better than to intervene.

As the chant reached a loud crescendo, Zara released a cry as the purple glow became so bright I had to close my eyes, a thrum of power leaving her that was so great, I struggled to hold her to me as her body shook in my arms.

Fuck!

I didn’t know what to do, so I just held her tight, praying that she would be alright. As the light dimmed, the chants becoming quieter now, I watched Zara with confusion, stroking my hand over her forehead. She was warm, but didn’t have a fever.

She panted, aftershocks shaking her body as I kept her close, trying to figure out what to do.

The chants came to an end, and Tabitha released the hands she was holding, turning to face Zara, cupping her cheeks in her hands. Her brow was furrowed and I was grateful as the others gathered close, fussing over my mate.

She was right. This was her family—her clan—and they loved her. I watched as all the females gasped, yanking themselves away from Zara and landing on their butts. Their eyes were huge and then they held up their hands, marvelling as each of their palms glowed with that same purple magick that Zara had exuded not long ago.

“What’s happening?” I asked them, keeping my female cradled against me.

“Our High Priestess,” Tasia murmured, shaking her head from side to side as she looked from her hands to Zara. “She’s our conduit. When we unbound her powers…” she trailed off, disbelief filling her expression as she opened a palm, a graceful purple butterfly flittering from it, landing on Zara’s cheek. “She shared them with us.”

Tabitha’s lips parted and closed a few times, as if she was unable to speak. It was long moments before she found her voice. “Not even her mother could do this,” she murmured. “This is incredible.”

“Will that weaken her?” I asked, looking from Zara to them. “Sharing her power?”

Tabitha shook her head, sending me an understanding smile. “No, her power is so full it’s overflowing her. The coven becomes the conduit for more. She can tap into us when she needs it.”

Frustration was filling me as my mate continued to be unconscious in my arms. As if sensing this, Floria reached out, giving me a small smile.

“She’s fine. She’s just getting used to being an empowered vessel,” she told me, rubbing a soothing hand down my shoulder, the purple glow still bright. And with her hand, it felt like she took some of my worry.

My brow furrowed as I watched her, but my mate was stirring in my arms and I needed to give her my full attention. “Gul-ar,” I whispered, running my palm over her unruly curls. “Are you okay?”

Her tiny hands came up to press against my bearded cheek and a soft murmur left her lips. “Oh thank the Goddess Mother, you’re still hot. I didn’t know if you being in the circle would make you ugly or…” she trailed off, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

I grunted, leaning down to run my tusk over her neck and jaw. “You scared the hell out of me, and now you’rejoking? Gul-ar, I’ll have your ass for this,” I told her in a low murmur so the others couldn’t hear us.

“I thought it was already yours,” she whispered, her eyes blinking with droopy movements until she looked at me. There was something different in her eyes. Something strong. Something powerful. And from behind her gaze, a magnificent fury was lurking.

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