Page 34 of Mountain Orc Daddy

He’s kind, gentle, smart, and a great leader. Anyone would be lucky to have him around.

I stop pacing. “I think…I’m falling in love.”

21

UZUL

“Are you all ready?” Blair’s family all nod. Why wouldn’t they be ready? It’s a good plan. Gideon won’t know what hit him.

Gideon. I can’t wait to get my hands on this guy. Teach him and anyone else what happens if they lay a hand on my Blair.

“Don’t worry,” Mara says. "We’ll be watching the whole time.”

“Then let’s get moving.” On my word, the Morgan family disperse, heading in separate directions. With their powers, they will be able to covertly watch me from a distance. I could do this on my own, but it’s nice to know I have some magic on my side.

With that, I start walking. I retrace my steps with Blair the other day and head back to the park. It’s another beautiful day, and it seems everyone in the city is out and about. Perfect.

With this level of cover from other people, Gideon is much more likely to be hiding among them. Drawing him out will be so much easier. But so far, nothing. My instincts and senses are quiet.

I make it to the park and begin to stroll around. The area is just as lively as it was when Blair and I were here the other day. Humans and supernatural creatures all living peacefully together. Meanwhile, somewhere among them, Gideon, stalks me, ready to mess it all up.

I take a lap around the park, but Gideon still doesn’t make himself known. So, I go deeper into the city. Who knows where this asshole might be waiting for me?

It feels weird to be walking in the city without Blair. I’m glad she listened to me and is safe at her parents’ house, but I can’t help but wish she was here with me enjoying the nice day. She introduced me to this city and everything great about it. I feel wrong exploring without her as my guide.

About an hour into my stroll through the city, the alarms go off in my head. All my senses and instincts are telling me I’m in danger. Just like the other day. Gideon must have eyes on me.

I don’t look around for him, I can’t risk him catching on. Instead, I give a subtle signal to Blair’s family, a quick tug on my braided hair. Time for stage two.

I take a turn and move in as straight of a line as possible back towards Blair’s townhouse, where he first grabbed her. The whole way there, the alarms are still blaring in my head. It’s comforting to know he isn’t very smart. A bounty hunter worth their salt likely would be a lot more wary. But I can feel Gideon right on my tail.

Once I get back to Blair’s townhouse, I move down the path leading to Gideon’s shack. I can almost hear how giddy he’s getting. He thinks it’s his lucky day.

When we get deep into the woods, it’s time to make my move. I can still sense him following me, but he is about to learn why you never mess with an orc in the woods. This is my home turf, no one can beat me here.

I quickly duck off the path into a thick patch of brambles. Disappearing from view effortlessly. Years of hunting have taught me how to blend into the trees. Instantly, the alarms in my head grow quiet. Gideon has lost sight of me, but I finally see him.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.” Gideon races down the path past me. “Where did he-?”

After he passes, I slowly step back onto the path. He’s so distracted, he doesn’t even see me coming. This fool really thought he could take me out?

I make my way behind Gideon and tower over him. He notices my shadow half a second too late. He spins around to face me.

“Oh shit!” Gideon fumbles for the crossbow on his belt. I punch him in the face and he slams into the ground. Honestly, I hoped for more of a fight.

“Fuck, did you kill him?” Phineas Morgan materializes from the thick woods. One by one his Mara, Remus, and Jade do the same, all looking at Gideon’s unmoving body.

“No.” I look down at the body, it’s hard to tell if he’s breathing. “I don’t think so.”

“He’s alive.” Mara kneels down next to Gideon and waves her magic hands over him. “We should move him quickly, before he wakes up.

I nod and effortlessly lift Gideon up. I throw him over my shoulder and continue down the path. Only one place I know is nearby.

At Gideon’s shack, Remus magically ties Gideon to the same chair he tied Blair to. Meanwhile, Jade hits him with a puff of magic that wakes him up. A dazed Gideon looks around the room.

“What the fuck-?” He finally notices me and starts struggling against the magic binding him down.

“Yeah, it’s me.” I crouch down to get eye level with him. “Now tell us what we want to know.”

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