Page 62 of Bound to the Orc King

I clear my throat and nudge her legs with my knees, adjusting her stance. Then I mold her body to mine, changing the angle of her torso, the contact the sweetest torment. Once she’s positioned correctly, I guide her through the set of motions several times, more than any teacher ever would have shown me, because I don’t want to let her go.

After one last tightening of my arms, I force myself away and say, “Now you try.”

She repeats the motions and drops her hands to her sides. “Okay, got it.”

“No, you don’t.”

She glares at me and does her best attempt again. “See? Just like you.”

“The only thing you did that wasanythinglike my motions was that you happened to be holding a blade.”

“Okay, big guy.” She gestures. “Show me how it’s done.”

I pull out my sword, drop into my stance, and repeat the set pattern of motions slowly a few times. Then I speed up. My blade becomes a blur whistling through the air. After twenty repetitions, I come to a halt, my sword held at the ready.

Kronn shouts, “Excellent form, my king!” Several claps come from guards’ campfire.

“So, you’re better at this than me.” May rolls her eyes. “Big surprise.”

“Exactly my point.” I sheath my sword. “Of course, I’m better than you. My mother made me practice that set of moves for hours every day for an entire month before she taught me the next.”

My moon bound gapes at me, her voice losing its sting. “A month?”

“A month.” I nod. “I remember being so proud that the next training set only took me three weeks to learn. But that’s my point. I’ve honed my fighting skills with decades of constant diligence and practice. None of it came quickly or easily.”

May grimaces. “Here I was hoping for a training montage. You know. A couple of close ups of me straining really hard.” She grips her necklace and scrunches up her face in comical exaggeration, then lets the crystal drop. “Then bam! I’d be all done.”

“Sadly, that’s not how it works.”

“Yeah, okay.” She offers me the knife. “But what’s the telepathic equivalent of learning this first set of moves? What should I try first?”

“I don’t know. Is there any common element to the times your telepathy has worked in the past?”

“You mean besides all of your dirty, filthy thoughts?” Her eyes sparkle.

“Besides that.”

“I don’t—”

My premonition magic flares to life, plucking at my nerves like an archer releasing an arrow. I spin and run for the guards’ campfire. “The door! Something’s coming through the door!”

They leap to their feet, swords at the ready as the roiling air above the crystal solidifies into a person.

A male dragon in dual form steps through. Six-and-a-half-feet tall, he matches my height if you count the two horns spiraling up from his head. Large red wings flare open upon his back as he faces several armed orcs. He has dark auburn hair and bronze skin, much of which is on display.

Because he’s naked, with both his cocks showing.

May comes to a halt beside me, her eyes wide as they fasten onto his groin. She murmurs, “Sothat’swhat she meant.”

“What is the meaning of this?” he snaps, gesturing with a clawed hand. “Dragons and orcs are allies.”

“It’s interesting how readily you use that term when it suits you, Lukendevener,” I say. “Yet you seem to forget any such obligations the moment you want to do something that benefits the dragons instead of our alliance.”

“Anything that aids the dragons will also aid you.” He lifts his chin, his tone as arrogant as I remember.

My eyes flick past him to the door, expecting to see the shadow fae emerge at any second. “Were you followed?”

“I’m not such a fool as to lead the dark fae to our door.”

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