Page 93 of Bound to the Orc King

Pride and love fill me, and I realize she’s been right about me all along. I love my people. I love my world.

And I love May, my queen, my mate.

Mine.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

May

The expression on Aldronn’s face as he looks at me takes my breath away. Pride and admiration shine in his eyes and echo down our bond. His voice fills my mind.“You can do it, my queen.”

Joy bubbles within me. Ever since I lost Mom, no one’s believed in me like Aldronn does—his faith in me is as big and strong as the rest of him. It’s the rock I can lean on when I need a bit of help. It’s the solid ground beneath my feet as I stand tall.

“Hell yeah, I can,”I send back.

Aldronn’s lips twitch, and he gives me an approving nod.

Our eyes lock, and we stand, lost in each other.

Fuck, I’m no longer falling. I’ve fallen. I’m so in love with him I can barely hold still. I want to dance, to throw my arms around him and whirl until I’m dizzy.

A pointed throat clear rumbles through the crater like rolling thunder. Shit, dragons areloud.

“When exactly are you going to find the goddess?” Luke bellows. “I’m fairly certain shecannotbe found in Aldronn’s eyes.”

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t get your knickers in a twist.” I grip my crystal, close my eyes, and picture myself on the moon. I take a single bouncy step on its surface and slam into the invisible wall again. “I’m still blocked. I think we have to find her physically.”

“Then what good is your power?” Luke says.

Aldronn growls and steps forward, his entire body vibrating with tension, ready to defend me. His belief in me gives me the strength to stand up for myself. In the past, I would have wailed on the dragon out of defiance and worry that he was right about me. But this time I speak out, because I know I’m right.

“My power is the thing that got us here.” I jab a finger at Luke. “You’ve had three-hundred years to find and free the goddess, and you didn’t do jack shit. And why? Because you didn’t have me. That’s why.”

Shadow laughs, the pixies cheer, Naomi shoots me two thumbs up, and Aldronn looks at me with so much pride it makes my heart skip.

“As for finding her, I don’t think she’s here in the center. That’s too obvious, too easy.” I spin and take in the crater. “I want to take a look at the crater walls.”

“I will carry you,” Luke says.

“No. You’re too big, too magical. I need to be able to feel the goddess without interference.” I turn to Ashley. “Can your broom carry two?”

“It sure can!” The bubbly redhead tucks her broomstick between her legs and leans forward. “Hop on.”

As soon as I sling my leg over and grip Ashley’s shoulders, we dart forward in a tingle of magic. She keeps low, flying only about six feet off the ground.

“This is amazing!” I say.

“I know!”

A flap of wings from behind us makes me look over my shoulder. “The smaller green dragon is following us.”

“That’s my friend Drake. If I know my husband, Dravarr sent him to watch out for us.”

The crater wall looms the closer we get, rising to an impressive height. Ashley banks right in a gentle turn so that we’re now circling the crater, flying about ten feet out from the wall.

We zip along for several minutes, which is long enough for some of my old doubts to creep in. What if I’m wrong? What if this isn’t the way to find her? The Dark God is aware of me now—how much longer do we have before the dark fae invade?

Then music brushes through my mind, the song my mother used to hum. “Do you hear that?”

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