Bound to the Orc Guardian (Brides of the Moon Blade Clan #4)

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

Both Bella and Dash wait for us outside our cottage, but I only have eyes for Wranth. Or more accurately, for the small paper cup he holds out to me. “Olivia said you’d—”

“Yep. Thanks.” I snatch the Cuban espresso from his hands, groaning as the first bite of sugary caffeine hits my tongue.

Sturrm stares at me with a puzzled frown as he uses his magic to shorten the length of the stirrups on Dash’s saddle.

I grin up at him and give a little shrug. “Welcome to my caffeine addiction.”

When I finish the tiny shot of rocket fuel, Sturrm lifts me onto Dash’s back, the stirrups exactly the right length for my legs. He waits for me to find my seat, his strong hand lingering on my lower back for a few extra seconds. “No trotting, just walking.” His voice sounds grumpy, but I know it’s because he’s worried.

“Just walking,” I promise. Then I pat Dash’s neck. “Okay, let’s do this.”

I’d told Sturrm during breakfast that I wanted to learn how to ride so I could do so on my own, and here he is, already making it happen.

“Yes, I like this,” Dash says. “All of the healing magic, none of the weight.”

“Humph,” Bella says. “Just you wait. When I’m bigger, I’ll be able to carry an orc easily.”

“I didn’t say I couldn’t carry an orc. Clearly , I can carry one.” Dash rolls his eyes. “I said I prefer not to.”

I chuckle as we take off, heading out of the village, Bella staying by our side so she can continue bickering with Dash.

It leaves Sturrm and Wranth walking together behind us, and I’m glad. The king arriving means Wranth will leave with him to take up his position in the guard again. The friends deserve a little time to talk.

We move past the wide rounded trunks of the heart tree cottages and follow a trail through a pine forest full of ferns and moss. Bright-yellow birds flit from tree to tree, singing happy morning songs, echoing the joy that still fills me from the night before.

By the time we reach the clearing holding the cleaning stone, I even feel a bit steadier on Dash’s back. Sturrm still comes forward to lift me down, and I don’t mind one bit. I sure don’t need to try to dismount for the first time in front of a king!

He stands beside Dravarr and Ashley, an imposing orc about the same age as Sturrm, which surprises me. I don’t know why I was picturing someone in his sixties. Besides being younger than I imagined, King Aldronn also looks more like a soldier than I ever expected of royalty, his wide shoulders tapering to a trim waist, the sword at his hip looking well-used instead of ornamental.

He clasps forearms with Sturrm. “It’s good to see you again. Is this your moon bound bride?”

“It is.” Sturrm pulls me forward. “King Aldronn, I present to you Selena Flores. She’s a healer.”

“Your majesty,” I say. Ay! I forgot to ask about the etiquette of meeting fae royalty. Am I supposed to curtsy or something? But no one else is, so I don’t try.

“A healer. That’s wonderful.” The king studies me with sharp eyes. “And you can heal anything?”

“As far as I’m aware.”

“She even healed us of deathsleep,” Sturrm says, his voice brimming with pride.

“Then I may send patients to you.”

“I look forward to helping anyone I can,” I say.

“Thank you, both,” King Aldronn says. “You’ve done everyone a great service by retrieving the crystals.”

“My king.” Sturrm dips his head.

“Yes,” Sheevora booms. “How is the antidote going?”

“It goes well,” Dravarr says. “My herbalist is already at work on the first batch, using the instructions you provided. ”

I don’t interrupt to say I’ve been helping Gerna. I like her no-nonsense attitude a lot. Gerna doesn’t take any shit, a mindset she acquired by nursing stubborn orcs. “Be warned,” she told me. “Orc men make the worst patients.” I try to picture what Sturrm would be like if ordered to bed rest for a week. Unimaginable! Thankfully, my magic heals so quickly he should never need much nursing.

Nope, the only reasons for my husband to remain in bed are all naughty ones. I grin.

Sturrm and I recount our travels for all of the newcomers. Besides the orc king, there are several unknown unicorns, a wolf, and a smoky gray cat the size of a leopard but with long hair like I’ve never seen on one of the big cats of Earth. The cat gives me a too-wide grin and almost disappears from view for a few seconds, popping back into solidity with a mischievous sparkle in their green eyes.

When we finish, Sheevora says, “Now that we’ll have the antidote to the deathsleep for everyone, it will only make the soul stealers grow even more desperate.”

“I agree,” King Aldronn says. “It feels like they’re building to something.”

“They continue to attack the cu sith,” the wolf says in a deep voice. “But the carnival ride Grace made to protect our main den still keeps them at bay.”

“Bah,” the cat spits, the voice a smooth soprano. “You’ve only driven them our way. They attempted to attack the cat sith only last week.”

“Oh, no!” Ashley gasps. “Is everyone okay? ”

The cat grins, showing way too many teeth. “We led them on a merry chase, hopping back and forth from the shadow roads to Alarria until they gave up.”

I tug Sturrm down to me to whisper in his ear. “What are the shadow roads?”

“An in-between place, somewhat like where Dash took us when he used his travel magic.”

“I am glad you and your kin are well,” Sheevora says. “But I predict the sluagh will only try to find a new target.”

“We’ve warned all our allies,” the orc king says. “And we will rally to any who need help. The soul stealers will not win.” His voice rings with power and steady assurance, and the meeting breaks up not long after.

I say a quick goodbye to Wranth, then go over to stand with Ashley, letting Sturrm get a moment alone with his friend.

They do a quick guy-hug, full of slaps on the back, and then Wranth mounts one of the unknown white unicorns and rides out ahead of his king.

When Sturrm returns to my side, I quietly ask, “You okay?”

“I am.” He smiles down at me, and Dravarr calls out and waves to him to come discuss something with the wolf. My husband strides over, welcomed by the warlord, and I see Sturrm’s shoulders ease.

Happiness fills me. Ay! He’s going to be okay.

Bella stays with Sheevora and Drake, having a little family reunion before their mother leaves for the mountains.

Dash takes off, racing Midnight, the other pooka-unicorn of the village .

“Now let’s talk bras,” Ashley links her arm through mine, and we start the trek back to Moon Blade Village, walking and chatting and laughing.

My first sight of the heart tree cottages causes a happy little skip of my heart. This place is already so dear to me.

We all have a place here, Sturrm, Bella, Dash, and me. It’s the best feeling ever.

It’s home.

After lunch a couple of days later, Sturrm asks, “Are you all right having your riding lesson on your own today?”

“Sure. Dash is aware I can only do the slowest trots. I know he’s playful, but he’s careful when I’m riding him.”

“Good.” He gives me a quick kiss and hurries from the cottage.

I chew a tooth cleaning berry and wonder what he’s up to. Probably something with Dravarr. The clan warlord’s been making good use of all Sturrm’s years of experience in the king’s guard.

When I step outside, Bella’s waiting. She perks up as soon as she sees me, her feathery crest rising. “Selena.”

“Hi.” I hurry over and scratch all around the base of her horns until she hums with happiness. Even though she’s smaller than her brother, she informed me that her horns came in a lot younger than his did, just like her fire control is better.

“Are you riding the unicorn again?” she asks .

“Yep.”

“Humph. When I get a little bigger, you can ride me.” Her tone sounds excited. “Your healing magic will prevent any strain on my wings.”

“I don’t want to do anything that will hurt you,” I say.

“You won’t.” She bobs her head. “Flying is less about wing strength than about magic, and I have a great deal of magic.” To prove her point, she lifts a couple of feet off the ground without even spreading her wings.

“We’ll see,” I say, without promising anything. Sturrm still has quite the protective streak as far as I’m concerned. And after years of having no one to really watch my back, I can’t complain one little bit.

Dash canters around a cottage, coming from the direction of the village green. “I’m here!”

I lift the saddle off the ground and arrange it on his back, tightening the cinch on his belly. “Is that good? Did I do it right?”

He peers back over his shoulder, and his skin twitches as he makes it move in that way equines can do. “Feels secure to me.”

I grip the front of the saddle, set my foot in the stirrup, and swing up onto his back. Ay! I did it right the first time! Sturrm made me practice it a bazillion times yesterday for some reason, and I’m sure glad of it today.

“Bye,” a sad-sounding Bella says behind us.

“Drake’s in the village green telling the orc younglings he’s much better at breathing fire than you are. ”

“What?” she squawks, her wings rustling on her back in agitation as she heads toward the center of the village. “He wouldn’t dare.”

Once she’s out of earshot, I murmur, “Did he really say that?”

“No.”

“But you wanted her to stop being sad,” I say. The unicorn knows how much she likes to compete with her brother.

“I did not. I just thought it would be funny.”

“Uh-huh. Sure. Whatever you say.” The big softie.

Instead of answering, Dash starts forward at a fast walk, giving me time to find my seat.

I wind my hands in his silky black mane, and say, “Okay, let’s go!”

He takes off at a slow trot that feels like a hundred miles an hour as we run into the forest, a laugh tearing from my lips. For all the riding I did with Sturrm, being on unicorn back by myself is way scarier… and also more exciting.

We run and run, well past the time we usually finish our practice. The light’s beginning to dip by the time Dash pauses to drink from a small creek, and the crystal clear water burbling over smooth stones looks so good I realize I’m thirsty, too.

“I think it’s time to head back now.” I give his neck a pat. “I don’t want Sturrm to worry.”

“Okay.” With a little laugh, Dash takes off running again.

All the parts of the forest still look kind of samey to me. I definitely need to get better at noticing differences beyond “ that’s a pine tree” and “hey, look—more ferns.” But even so, we run for a while without anything seeming familiar, the forest slowly darkening around us as evening descends.

“Are you sure we’re going the right way?”

“Yep.” Dash tosses his head, making the front of his mane flip in a dramatic fashion. In a few more minutes, he slows, coming to a stop on the edge of a blue birch grove, the leaves glowing with the last of the day’s light. “We’re here.”

“Um, no we’re not.” I crane my neck. “This isn’t the village.”

“You’re right, it’s not the village, but it’s where you’re supposed to be.”

“Uh, Dash…”

He looks back over his shoulder and whisper-hisses out the side of his mouth, “I’m not supposed to say anything to spoil the surprise.”

“Oh!” Relief rushes through me as I slide to the ground, my healing magic swirling through my butt and legs and soothing the muscles.

Sturrm strides from between the birch trees, his eyes flickering past me just long enough to offer the unicorn a thank you before they return to me. “Surprise.”

“See.” I grin up at him. “You’re already getting the hang of them.”

“You’ve made me see many things in a new light, my bride.” He cocks an elbow and leads me into the grove, stopping under a tree that stands out because it’s got green leaves.

A blanket of furs covers the ground, a picnic meal spread out and ready, lit by a glow stone. Sturrm’s travel guitar waits nearby, the case open so it can be plucked up at a moment’s notice.

“A picnic dinner? That’s so romantic!”

“More than dinner.” Sturrm reaches overhead, his long arm parting the green leaves to pluck a dusky pink fruit he holds out on the flat of his palm. “This is an apple tree.”

“An apple tree!” Happiness bubbles in my chest, like I just drank too much sparkling wine. “Just like the song.” Our song.

Sturrm tosses the apple onto the furs and scoops me up into his arms, his deep voice crooning for me and me alone.

Come, lay thee under the apple tree,

And I’ll eat your fruit all night.

For you are the lovely lass for me,

Who bathes my heart in light.

“Just all night?” I say, my tone seductive and teasing.

“No.” He frowns his serious, thoughtful frown. The one I love so, so much. “One night will never be enough. I will lay with you and love you forever, my bride.”

His mouth takes mine, sweet and hot, in the first kiss of the rest of our glorious lives together.

Thank you for reading Bound to the Orc Guardian . I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Want more Selena and Sturrm? Read on for a special bonus story!

Want to see what happens when Wranth finds out the secret of his birth? Eager to discover who the Moon Goddess picks to be his very special moon bound bride? Dive into Bound to the Orc Warrior , book five of the Brides of the Moon Blade Clan! This book is going to crack this entire world wide open!

Or read on for a sneak peek at Bound to the Orc Warrior :