Page 48 of Bound to the Orc King

A chuckle escapes me as I try to picture Shadow riding naked down Main Street in Ferndale Falls.

Before I know what’s happening, Aldronn pulls me backward, tucking me into his side.

Holy shit! Is he jealous?

CHAPTER TWENTY

Aldronn

“Shift or leave.” My voice snaps with command as I stare down the cat sith. “I don’t care which.”

“Fine. Fine.” Shadow shifts again, this time turning into a six-and-a-half-foot tall heavily muscled werepanther, his face something half man, half cat. “Happy now?”

“Yes.” Because he’s also covered in thick black fur tipped with silver, instead of naked in front of my bride.

May looks up at me, her gaze assessing. “Are you always going to be this possessive?”

“I don’t know.” I hate admitting that, but I also told her I’d never lie to her, and I don’t plan to start now. “I’ve never felt this way before.”

“It’ll get better after you knot and complete the mate bond,” Wranth says, my cousin taking pity on me. “But it’ll never go away completely.”

As if to prove his point, Naomi blinks back into view, and Wranth’s eyes snap straight to her.

She’s brought Rune with her in his animal form. The large cu sith regularly trains with my guards and is a fierce and loyal warrior.

“Is that a wolf?” May asks.

“Hello, I’m Rune,” he says, turning his amber eyes on her.

“Hi, I’m May.”

“Why are you a werepanther?” Rune looks at Shadow. “Should I be in my dual form?”

Shadow shrugs. “The orcs didn’t like my naked fae form. Bipeds.”

The unicorns snort in unison.

Rune shifts, becoming as tall as Shadow. He’s now a werewolf covered in brown-black fur, his eyes still amber.

“Boy, that’s rad.” May’s eyes bounce back and forth between the two of them. “You guys are shifters!”

Naomi says, “I’ll be coming back with the others in just a bit.”

“Wait a minute,” Aldronn says. “How many others? And why are you here?” He eyes the shifters.

“I’m bringing your guard. You guys tell him the rest,” Naomi says and disappears.

The werewolf turns to me. “As soon as everyone heard you were on a special quest for the Moon Goddess, each type of fae in the alliance wanted to send representatives along to help.”

“Can’t let you orcs get all of the credit,” Shadow adds, his green eyes dancing with amusement.

Naomi makes six trips in quick succession, bringing one of my guard each time. They bow their heads as soon as their gazes find me.

Kronn steps forward. “Your orders, my king?”

“Set up camp over there.” I gesture toward the other side of the clearing. “And establish a defensive perimeter.”

They hurry over, drop their packs and saddles on the ground. Two begin erecting tents while the others spread out to stand watch.

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