Page 17 of Bound to the Orc King

CHAPTER EIGHT

Aldronn

The splash of water follows me into the forest, punctuated by the happy noises my bride makes. Goddess, May’s little gasps of delight will be my undoing!

I stop, leaning back against a tree as my ears strain for the next sounds from her. Cloth rustles, sending heated images of her undressing running through my mind. My cock hardens, tingling at the base, aching to knot for the first time in my life.

If the bond lodged in my heart wasn’t hint enough, the desire to knot her makes it clear.

She really is my moon bound bride.

My mate.

Another soft rustle followed by a moaned sigh makes my cock leap, straining against the leather of my pants. If she could read my mind right now, oh, the things she’d see! Such as my knot swelling and locking us together for the entire night.

No. I dig a fist into my thigh. Even if she wanted to have sex this quickly instead of being “wooed” in the human way, there’s no way I can knot her in dangerous conditions. The ogre could return at any moment. I grit my teeth and force myself forward. We’re both hungry after barely eating all day. I need to provide a good meal.

I quiet my footfalls and calm my movements, sliding through the forest, at one with it. My magic tingles in my chest as I use it, pulling me to the right. I don’t have my cousin’s tracking magic, but getting a premonition of where I’ll find prey works almost as well.

By the time I return with two rabbits and mushrooms and fiddleheads, May is dressed and standing with Starfall, chatting away.

A ridiculous twinge of disappointment goes through me. What did I hope? That my mate would lounge naked on my furs?

May leans close and murmurs something to the unicorn before shooting me a mischievous grin.

My old friend gives a whinnied laugh and rips up another mouthful of grass.

“You two are getting along.” I set everything down and begin clearing an area of ground for a campfire, then pull over a log for a seat.

“Of course we are,” May says. “I’m good company, and so is Starfall.”

I leave them to it as I enter the forest to gather wood.

If my bride can charm the grumpy unicorn, then she’ll be able to charm anyone.

Much like me, Starfall has known from a young age she’s destined to rule. It adds a weight to everything in life, and it sets one apart from those who would otherwise be peers. In her case, even the other grumpy unicorns remain a bit guarded around my friend.

In contrast, May treats my friend like a regular person, perhaps because she doesn’t know Starfall’s position. Then again, May knows I’m king and doesn’t treat me with any deference, either.

When I return to the meadow, May gives Starfall one last pat and trots over to me. “How can I help?”

“Do you know how to start a fire?”

“Not without lighter fluid and a lighter.” She shoots me a grin. “But I can learn.”

I nod and show her how to build a small cone of tinder, then spark it to life with my fire stone.

“You’ve got a lighter!” she says, picking up the crystal and staring at it. “A magical one.”

I feed more tiny twigs to the fire, working up to larger ones.

She watches me closely and mimics my actions.

“Good. Keep feeding it larger pieces, while I clean the rabbits.”

I prepare them where the creek runs from the meadow, letting the water wash away the blood. Then I bury the discarded parts in the forest, to keep predators away from our campsite.

May has a decent-sized fire burning by the time I get back. She grins up at my approving nod. “I like learning things.”

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