Page 103 of Bound to the Orc King

The other witches don’t say goodbye to each other. They don’t need to.

Stalking across the icy ground, Aldronn comes up and gives me a quick kiss. “Wait here. I have something I need to do,” he says in his bossy voice. Then he claps a hand to Ashley’s shoulder and leads her over to Dravarr, where the three of them have an intense conversation.

A few minutes later, Ashley walks back over to me.

I hook a thumb toward our husbands, who are still talking. “What was that about?”

“You’ll see.” The redhead grins and picks up her broomstick. “In fact, I better catch the next ride home. See you in a bit.”

When Naomi pops into sight a couple of seconds later, Ashley grabs her arm, and the two of them disappear.

Is she right? Will I see Ashley any time soon? How close is Elmswood Keep to Moon Blade Village? How often will I be able to bribe Naomi into coming to get me for girls’ nights out?

I already miss the friendly, relaxed atmosphere of being around all of the witches and their husbands. I want more get-togethers, like the pizza night they threw for me back at the waterfall.

I love Aldronn, and I’ll do whatever it takes to be with him. But I sure as hell wish we could live in the village with the others. Moon Blade Village is also where the door to Earth and Ferndale Falls is—the ability to visit Dad and my hometown whenever I want sounds so good.

A snort escapes me. I’ve spent my entire adult life running as far away from Ferndale Falls as possible, and now I can’t wait to return. Irony, your name is May!

But everything’s different now.I’mdifferent now. I finally know who I am. I know where I belong. I found the magical, perfect place I was always searching for.

I found a love who believes in me so much he allowed me to discover my true self.

Aldronn turns to face me, his eyes snapping immediately to mine. He stalks toward me, power and command rolling from him in a heady wave. The look in his eyes is so heated I expect him to kiss me. Instead, he scoops me up into a bridal carry.

Naomi blinks into view, and Aldronn says, “Did Ashley tell you what to do?”

My friend nods.

Before I can ask what they’re talking about, we stand inside a bedroom made of honey-colored wood. A massive bed waits, made up with purple linens and furs—ourfurs. A lit glow stone on the nightstand fills the room with soft golden light.

My best friend’s eyes twinkle as she winks at me the second before she disappears.

“This building isn’t stone.” I crane my neck. “I thought Elmswood Keep was made of stone.” At least the parts I saw in his memories are.

“This is a heart tree cottage.” His arms tighten around me. “Ourheart tree cottage… in Moon Blade Village.”

“What?” My voice hits a high note.

He frowns. “I hoped to surprise you, but if it’s not what you want, I can—”

“No!” I fist his cloak and pull myself up to kiss him. “It’s perfect! It’s exactly what I wanted. How did you know?”

“I’ll have you know I’m a highly trained diplomat skilled in reading people.” He smirks. Then his smile softens. “The joy onyour face whenever you’re around the other witches takes no such training to see.”

“But don’t wehaveto live at the castle? Don’t you need to be there to be, you know, all kingly?” I flap my hand.

“My parents still do much of the day-to-day ruling of the kingdom. My role is to travel around the villages and lead larger battles. My premonition magic tells me we’re entering a time of peace, which means I won’t need to travel as much. We’ll spend some of our time at Elmswood Keep, but it needn’t be more than a few weeks a year.” He meets my eyes, his full of so much emotion it makes my breath catch in my throat. “You told me I needed to learn to be selfish, to care for myself better. I can think of no greater joy than spending time here with you and ensuring your happiness, my bride.”

“Aldronn.” My lips tremble. “Are we finally going to discuss this marriage thing?”

“Isn’t that what we’ve been doing? Discussing where we’ll live and what we’ll do. I’d like for you to rule by my side. Help the orcs of Alarria understand the humans of Earth and the peoples of any of the other realms we might deal with.”

“That sounds perfect.” All those subjects I love, travel, people—it’s as if it was made for me. But there’s one last thing I need to know… “And the rest?”

“What is left to discuss? As long as my heart still beats in my chest, as long as I breathe, I am yours, May. You are the blood in my veins, the air in my lungs.” His fingers cup my chin. “You are far more than my bride or my queen. You are my very reason for being. I love your stubbornness and determination. I love the joy you find in the smallest of things. I love you.”

His voice echoes through my mind.“I love you more than I ever realized I could love anyone. You have undone me and made me anew.”

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