Page 12 of Bound to the Orc Hunter

I can only gape at the gorgeous man who says he’s an orc.

And myhusband.

CHAPTER SIX

Branikk

“This is about as far from a speedy getaway as you can get,” Aurora grumps, stomping the ground with a hoof. “More sluagh will come.”

“I haven’t forgotten the soul stealers. The gnomes are going to help us with that. You’ll see.”

“Gnomes don’thelpanyone.”

“You simply haven’t offered them the right kind of trade.” I wave a hand toward the small imps playing in the yellow structure. “Gnomes love things.”

“Things are useless.Thingsend up being more weight in the saddlebags you already burden me with.” Unicorns weren’t big on possessions, needing little more than meadows for grazing toremain content—or as content as the grumpy equine fae could be.

I pat the side of her neck. “Good thing you’re so strong.”

She snorts but doesn’t disagree, somewhat mollified.

Grace stares at the gnomes, then at me, then at the gnomes again, her blue eyes full of uncertainty.

“Don’t listen to Aurora. Gnomes are harmless.” I step closer, happy my bride doesn’t shy away from me. “Well, probably harmless. Actually, come to think of it, don’t get on their bad side. I’ve heard they like to play pranks.”

“You don’t know?”

I shake my head. “Gnomes didn’t exist in Avalon, the original realm of Faerie my orc ancestors came from.”

Her brow creases as even more puzzlement clouds her beautiful blue eyes. I’m making everything worse instead of better. I keep forgetting humans know as little about Faerie as we do their world.

“We’re in Alarria right now, which is one of the many realms of Faerie. They used to all be connected to each other and to your Earth. Fae and humans used to travel between the different worlds, which is why you have stories about us.”

“Yeah, we havestories.”

I’m not sure what her emphasis means, so I continue. “Three-hundred years ago, all the doors closed, isolating each world. The Moon Goddess brought my ancestors and many other fae here from other realms, mixing us all together. Most of the beings here are Wild Fae, with animal forms or magic that connects to nature. Other types of fae, like elves, are still in their home realms. And now she brings us human witches.”

“Witches!”

“Like you.”

She stares down at her upturned palms as if seeing her hands for the first time. “So you’re saying I really did all of that? Made those things appear?”

“Pillows,” I purr, the memory heating my blood. “You made us many pillows. I’m only sad that we can’t remain long enough to make them our bridal bed.”

Her eyes shoot up to mine. “You don’t know me. How can you be okay with this… this marriage?” She gestures back and forth between us.

“I know the goddess bound us. I know you bring special magic to my people.” I shrug. “What more do I need to know?”

“Special magic.” Her voice sounds dull and flat.

Why isn’t she happier? She must not understand. “I know you didn’t have magic in your world, but you do here. And it’s the kind of magic orcs don’t have. The ability to conjure something out of nothing is amazing and rare.”

Yet my words don’t cheer her. Grace’s wide, expressive mouth presses into a flat line.

Before I can ask what’s wrong, the cries of the gnomes come to a crescendo, and the leader flies from the opening of the castle to somersault across the ground. She comes to a halt, standing on one tiptoe, her arms and other leg stretched out in perfect balance, the moss cap still centered on top of her head.

The other gnomes tumble after her in a series of flips and squeals until they surround her on all sides. Each holds an outrageous pose, trying to outdo each other, a few even upside down, balancing on one hand, their impish faces full of mischief.

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