Page 37 of Mountain Orc Daddy

“Rogue witches?” Mom asks softly.

“That is exactly what I am getting to.”

“Uzul is not back yet. Should we be worried?” Her words make me feel like I should be.

“I am not sure,” my father answers. “I can’t pick up on his energy right now.”

I am frozen. This is horrible. I want Uzul. When I hug him next, I will never let go.

“Rogue witches can be complicated,” Mom adds. “Gideon targeted Blair to get to Uzul, so he said. Perhaps Gideon was a tool of Rogue witches to get to rival covens? Uzul is clearly very dear to Blair, and Blair is very dear to us.”

Fear and confusion were swamping me. Gideon clearly said he was wanting to eliminate the orcs. Orcs plural, not singular.

“Let’s focus on what we know,” my father chimes in. “Gideon was a problem. Gideon is gone. You and I both picked up on the presence of witches. Not a coven we recognize. It must be rogue witches. The rogue witches are clearly behind Gideon’s presence, and this is something we agree on. Whether the rogue witches are after orcs, Uzul, or other covens is hard to say. We can discuss this more when Uzul returns.”

Mom doesn’t answer or comment, and the silence turns heavy.

“You are wanting to know what this means for us, Uzul, Blair, and other covens. I do not have an answer yet. Protecting what’s close to me is my priority.”

I am terrified.

I back away from the door and pace my way to the windows where I can watch the front drive and pace some more. I watch for Uzul. This is holy torture. I can’t help it. He is for me the way moonbeams kiss every sea.

23

UZUL

“I’m back.” I open the front door to Blair’s parents house and step in. I have no idea what to expect as I enter. I just killed Gideon, I had to, but there is no telling how they’ll all feel about it, especially Blair.

However, that does not seem to be an issue. As soon as I step inside, a figure starts racing towards me. Blair leaps into the air and I catch her. I can’t even say hello, as she starts kissing me.

It feels so good to be holding her again. I could stay like this forever, her body against mine, our lips together. I can’t believe I lived so long without someone like her in my life.

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” she says quickly before returning her mouth to our kiss.

“Don’t worry,” I say just as quickly, also wanting to return to the kiss. “I took care of it. I took care of all our problems. Everything will be fine now.”

I protected her today, and I always will protect her. The desire to do so is so strong within me, I can feel it control my every action. I’ve never felt like this before.

Before, as Chieftain to my tribe, I’ve felt a strong desire to protect them and keep them all safe. Of course, I have. But with Blair, the instinct feels even more primal. It’s almost a need not a want or desire.

Feeling this way for someone is scary. I never thought someone could out rank my feeling of duty towards my tribe. But as I kiss Blair and hold her close, I think it might be true.

“Do you want to go back to your place?” With Gideon gone, it’s safe to go back. I’m very grateful for Blair’s family and all their help but I want to get her alone.

I can’t stop thinking about our night together. I need to have her again. Feeling her heartbeat against my chest, the taste of her lips, the smell of her hair, it’s all driving me mad.

“Oh.” That’s the only answer to my question as she stops kissing me. I put her down.

“Is everything okay?”

Suddenly, Blair is refusing to look me in the eye. Her entire body language changes as she turns away from me. Something is wrong.

“Blair? What is it?”

“I… We need to talk to my parents.” She grabs my hand and leads me out of the front entrance of the house.

We find her parents and siblings in the kitchen. All of them are bushing and it dawns on me that they could probably hear us kissing. Humans definitely seem shyer about that stuff than orcs.

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