Page 102 of Bound to the Orc King

“Where are the other soul stealers?” There’d been far more than two.

“Once we trapped them, the dragons torched them out of the air,” Dravarr says. “Quite the timesaver.”

Even as he speaks, Bellavesaria flaps by, incinerating one of the flocks and freeing all of the soul stealer’s victims to finally find peace.

The bag the orc guard holds squirms and swells, the final bird turning into the soul stealer itself. In a coordinated fashion, she tosses the bag into the air, and Drakonisrevener finishes it off. They repeat the sequence for the last sluagh.

“Now, about these dark fae?” Dravarr gestures to Severin and the others.

“Just fae,” Severin says, looking around at his people. “We may not be the elves we once were. But we are also no longer under the thrall of the Dark God.”

“You still have your tattoos,” I point out.

Severin extends his bare arm, seemingly impervious to cold, and shadow tendrils emerge from his skin. “This must be what the goddess meant when she said she couldn’t reverse everything that was done to us.”

“So you’re shadow fae,” May says.

“Shadow fae,” Severin repeats, his sharp features settling into a smirk.

Several members of our party gasp, both men and women, human and orc. “Fuck, he’s gorgeous,” one of my guards mutters.

“We’ll be going now.” Still smirking, Severin turns toward the door crystal, ushering all of his people ahead of him. He waits for the last of them to step through before spinning to face us. “I don’t know what the future holds, but I owe you a debt for freeing my people. Only, when next I visit, try to make it somewhere with trees.” Then he disappears.

“Cocky asshole, isn’t he?” Shadow says, grinning. “I like him.”

“You would.” Rune elbows him in the ribs.

I pick May up, lifting her until our faces are level. “Everyone,” I call out. “Our victory today is thanks to my amazing moon bound bride. All cheer your queen! All cheer May!”

Tears of joy fill her eyes as everyone does as I command. She smiles and laughs as I kiss the salt from her lips.

My May. My love.

Mine.

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

May

All the other witches surround me in a big group hug. Ashley beams at me. “That was a-maz-ing!”

“You freed a goddess,” Taylor adds. “That’s some boss-level play.”

“I only succeeded because all of you helped,” I say.

“Like us!” the lead pixie flies over, bringing the rest of his flock. “We were the biggest help of all!”

“You sure were,” I say.

“We will go back to the pizza village now.” He says it more like a statement than a question, but worry pinches his little face.

I share a look with Naomi. “Will you take them to Moon Blade Village?”

“I sure will.” My friend smiles. “In fact, they can be some of the first to go.”

The pixies whistle with happiness and cling to her cloak until she resembles a lit Christmas tree.

Naomi stretches a hand out to Olivia, and they blink away, the first of many as she starts taking everyone home.

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