Page 115 of Bound to the Orc King

We stand a little longer, and I let the peace of the place seep into me. Then I turn and stretch my hand toward Naomi. “Let’s go.”

In a blink, we stand inside her bookshop, surrounded by shelves full of romance novels. A display table set up near the front is covered in monster romance, including some books with guys photoshopped to look like orcs.

I hold up the latest by Lara Jade. “Been doing a little inspirational reading, have we?”

Naomi laughs. “They’re popular now. People saw Wranth and Aldronn when they saved the town from sluagh. I convinced everyone it was a movie, but they’re still interested in orcs.”

Aldronn reaches over my shoulder and lifts the book higher, staring hard at the cover.

From this close, I can see the graphic designer did a really good job. The cover model has the same color skin as myhusband, the same type of tusks, and the same long, straight black hair. “He looks like a real orc.”

“He looks like Brokk,” Aldronn says.

“What?” Naomi rushes over to us, snatching the book from my hand. “Oh, my god! Why didn’t I see it before?”

Before I can ask who Brokk is, the door slams open. Hannah runs into the room, her arms thrown wide. “May!”

“Hannah!” I dart forward, meeting her halfway.

She leans over to wrap her arms around me, all tall and thin and beautiful. Then she pulls back and grips my shoulders to hold me at arm’s length. “Let me get a look at you!”

I drink her in, too. Everything from her porcelain skin to her smooth waterfall of straight brown hair looks as perfect as always. Hannah’s always been the most together of the three of us, the one who kept even Naomi, who can get lost in the good book, on track all through high school. It’s almost a little surreal to see human clothes again, but my friend looks great in dark jeans and a tailored top unbuttoned one button too far—her one tiny act of rebellion.

“May, you’re glowing! Naomi told me a little, but you have to tell me everything!” Hannah tugs me over to the burgundy velvet couches that make up the reading area at the side of the store.

We sink onto the comfy cushions, and I wave Aldronn over. “Aldronn, this is my other best friend, Hannah. Hannah, this is my husband, King Aldronn of Alarria, but you can call him Aldronn.”

“Your husband?” Her eyes go wide and she waves her finger back and forth between me and Naomi. “What’s up with the two of you not only marrying really hot fae but also marrying freakingkings?” She gets so excited her voice gets louder and louder until she shouts the last word.

Naomi plops onto the couch on my other side. “What can I say?” She spreads her hands and looks at me.

I finish her sentence, just like we used to do in high school. “If you got it, you got it.”

The three of us break into laughter, the two of them collapsing against me so I’m caught between all their friendship and joy.

Aldronn settles into one of the comfy chairs opposite, a pleased look on his face. “I already met Hannah once before, but it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance again and to know you’re such good friends with May.”

“Oh, girl.” Hannah elbows me. “You got a good one.”

I grin and nod. “I totally did.”

“Wait until you hear about May’s witch power,” Naomi says.

“What is it?” Hannah says. “You have to tell me!”

“Mind reading.”

“No!That’s so cool! I hope I get a cool one!”

“Wait, you’re a witch?”

“Supposedly.” Her mouth twists. “But I have no freaking clue what my power is.”

“Ferndale Falls has a lot of witches,” Naomi says. “But without the Moon Goddess to activate their powers, there’s a lot to figure out.”

“Yeah, no goddess for me.” Hannah pouts. “Boo.”

“Hey, the goddess wasn’t all that.” I wag my thumb back and forth between Naomi and me. “We’ll help you figure it out.”

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