Page 116 of Bane of the Wild Hunt

The witch gave me one of her tentative smiles as she walked by me with Ares, Helena, and Sofia behind her. She greeted Iris in the corner with whom her companions went to stand, and then she acknowledged the spy who jumped from his seat at the sight of her. She finally met Riordan who reached for her hand and squeezed it.

But I missed her words because all I could seem to focus on was the scent of her. A mixture of the sweetness from the wine that she had been drinking at lunch and her natural clove scent that seemed to suddenly sink teeth and claws into me.

I blinked in shock at myself and realized the full moon must be riding me harder than usual. Typically it was little more than an adrenaline buzz in my veins.

This was different.

I watched as the witch leaned against Riordan’s desk, oblivious to my stare while she was introduced further to the spy who was an orc male, named Olirik.

An orc who was certainly not blind as he looked at his king’s new mate.

Are you alright?Riordan inquired of me through our bond when fury ripped through me.

He is looking at her.

Of course, he is looking at her. She is beautiful. But she is not uncomfortable.

Perhaps it was alright to him, but I did not like it.

“You have a report for us?” Riordan prompted Olirik, and I was certain it was for my benefit that he moved the conversation along.

“I met up with Uruk who was in Ahnnaòin, so do you want my Spring Court debrief first or his from Autumn?” asked the orc.

“Please begin with what Uruk reported from Autumn,” Riordan requested as he sat behind his desk.

Olirik agreed and began with a quick update on how Uruk had gotten into the Autumn Court and then located the Wild Hunt once he was there.

I wanted to listen, but I was distracted every time his eyes would drift helplessly over the witch as if he were absorbing her without even meaning to. He tried to hide his intrigue with her by looking at Riordan as well. But he gave himself away every time his nostrils flared when she moved and caused her scent to drift to him. I was not sure if he was appreciating the warm and spicy clove scent of her natural smell or the artificial fragrance of her bathing oils that complemented it so well.

Either way, it agitated me that this stranger was able to savour any part of Riordan’s mate.

I moved before I had thought about what I meant to do and stood next to the witch. She glanced at me in surprise, but I ignored her as I crossed my arms and glowered at the orc. He understood, and that was all that mattered.

“Is everything alright?” she whispered.

“I am doing you a favour,” I advised her and inclined my head at the orc who now focused wholly on Riordan as he continued to give general details on Autumn.

The witch did not respond, but I could tell when she realized what I meant. I felt her freeze, her heart picked up speed, and her scent grew warmer and spicier.

Are you finished distracting everyone? Olirik is barely able to concentrate,Riordan chastised in annoyance.

He had trouble concentrating before I had to intervene,I retorted and felt Riordan’s equivalent of a mental sigh.

Thankfully, the orc had finished confirming details that we already knew about the Autumn Court and began to tell us new information about the Wild Hunt.

“Five riders, including the Autumn Prince. They are mostly a kind of fey called “aes sídhe” with the exception of the silver one that they call “the Guardian” who is not fey at all. Uruk did not feel like he could ask what that rider was without giving himself away as an outsider.”

“How many in the army? And what kind of fey have joined them?” asked Ares eagerly.

“Uruk said there were easily six thousand but hard to say because they constantly get more, and it sounds like he has allies in other courts. The fey he mentioned to me were orcs and centaurs along with some giants and trolls. Elves and pixies of all kinds too.”

“And are they trained?” Helena wanted to know.

“Not like griffins, but aye, always training. Uruk said he was very impressed,” admitted Olirik apologetically. “He said each race is trained separately, honing their own unique skills, and the leaders of each kind of fey form a war council that advises the Wild Hunt.”

“So much for hoping they would be uncoordinated,” lamented Helena.

“Rian knows he is not a general,” I guessed.

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