Page 33 of Bound to the Orc King

The mate bond thrums in my chest, happy to be so near her. Perhaps she will teach me how to be more like her? Perhaps with her I can learn how to love? She deserves nothing less.

I remain awake as long as possible, basking in the warmth of May’s trust, soaking it up like a light-starved tree finally bathed in bright sunlight.

We spend the next day much the same way, only this time, our conversation turns back to Faerie. By the time evening falls, I’ve gotten around to telling her of Moon Blade Village, where the other human witches live, describing the heart tree cottages and the excellent pub. “It’s quite the lively place, since each witch has brought with them various fae befriended during their adventures. Besides the typical unicorns, there are dragons, cat sith, and cu sith, and also sprites and the largest pixie flock in all of Alarria.” I give a wry grin. “As king, I usually try to follow myparents’ example and keep everything even between the villages, but the Moon Goddess chose to gift the human witches to the Moon Blade Clan, so one could argue it’s even more important than Elmswood Keep at this point.”

“Wait a minute.” May stares at me with wide-eyed amazement. “Your parents are still alive?”

“Of course. Queen Priva and King Lovarr,” I say. “Why would you think otherwise?”

“One, you haven’t mentioned them before now, and two, I don’t know… Isn’t that kind of always the thing in stories?” My bride gives a quick shrug. “The orphan forced to rule too young. Or the other kind, where the son has to kill the parents to rule.”

“This isn’t the orc way.” I frown. Humans seem to be just as bloodthirsty as fae at their worst if these are the kinds of tales lauded in their stories. “We rule together as a family, each generation taking on the duties appropriate to their age. I took the throne at two and twenty, when they were both in their early fifties and still hale. They settled at the castle, handling its day-to-day running, my grandparents took on advisory roles, and I took over visiting the orc villages and leading our military forces.”

“You guys are seriously hands-on for royalty.”

“Now thatisthe orc way.” I nod. “My parents divided the village visits between them as I grew up, so that one of them was always at Elmswood Keep with me, along with my grandparents. Then, once I completed my warrior training at sixteen, I traveled with the two of them, learning my new duties.”

I pause to stoke the fire higher, turning the haunch of venison so it cooks evenly. Knowing we were going to be here a few days, I spent the afternoon hunting for larger game. I carry plenty of the bespelled-leather food bags to keep the meat fresh.

“You got to travel with your parents?” May’s voice sounds wistful as she leans forward, her arms hugging herself. “What was that like?”

“They’re some of my fondest memories,” I admit. “The village visits were good, but what I liked best were the moments like this.” I wave to take in our campsite, the dark of evening held off by the coziness of the crackling fire. “In the castle, someone always needed their attention, and it was the same in every village we visited. But when we camped in between villages, Mother would have the guards set up their tents at a little distance, Father would do all our cooking, and it would be just the three of us.

“In fact, my journey to find you has been the first time I’ve been alone in…” I pause, lost in thought, but no matter how hard I wrack my brain, I can’t come up with a single instance. “Ever. I think it’s the first time in my adult life I’ve been able to leave my guards behind.” No one argued with the sanctity of the summons of our goddess, not even Kronn, head of my guard. The quest to find May had been mine and mine alone.

“You had Starfall.”

“True.” I stare at my bride, caught by her beauty. Firelight dances over her lovely features, sparkling in her lively eyes. She wears my shirt instead of her human one, the purple a perfect compliment to her golden skin. The sight of her in my clothing fills me with a possessive pride. “And now I have you, my little queen.”

“Yeah, we still need to talk about this whole ‘already married’ thing.” Her mouth twists. “You know that’s pretty unusual, right? Even in Earth cultures that do arranged marriages, the peopleknowthey’re being matched before it happens, and they have a ceremony.”

The meat pops, grease dripping into the flames with a sizzle, pulling me back to my task. I remove it from the fire and begin carving, the rich smell making my stomach rumble.

“It’s not normal for us either. Orcs typically do handfastings once they’ve found their partner. The Moon Goddess hasn’t brought moon bound brides to Alarria for almost three-hundred years.”

“Human witches?” Excitement fills her tone.

“Elves.” I hand her a plate topped with a steak and mushrooms. “One of them married the king, my ancestor, and the remainder married into the various clans. It turns out that all of my grandparents had one of those elfin brides in their family trees. It’s why I have premonition magic instead of a nature-based power like most Wild Fae.”

“I’ve always wanted to meet elves!” My moon bound takes a bite of mushroom and makes that little moan I love.

“When it comes to that, I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you.” I slice into my steak with so much force the blade scrapes across the pewter plate. “There are no more elves, not as they used to be. They’re all dark fae now.”

I repeat everything Tumbletoad, the brownie, has told us of how Avalon changed after the doors of Faerie closed three-hundred years ago. How a Dark God rose, transforming any fae who would follow him into a shadow creature, tricking the elves into his service. “I fought a dark fae briefly, but he got away.”

“I can’t believe that! You’re amazing.” Her mouth snaps shut as if she didn’t mean to say that out loud, and I can’t help the pride that swells in my chest.

“You think I’m amazing?” I smirk.

“You’re an amazingfighter.” She points at me with her fork. “That’s all I meant.”

“Of course, little queen. Whatever you say.” But my tone makes it clear I think it’s more than that. “Be that as it may, hesurprised me. His shadow magic formed wings, and he took to the air.”

“Your premonition magic didn’t warn you he’d fly away?”

“It doesn’t work like that.” I shake my head. “I typically get warnings of danger instead of specific visions. But now that I know he can fly, I will not be so easily fooled again.”

“Again? There’s going to be an again?”

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