Page 45 of Bound to the Orc Hunter

“I am Rune, first son of Aethel.”

“I have heard of your mother.” The unicorn dips her head in respect. “She is a great warrior and leader.”

“She was. As is my sister now, who leads our pack,” Rune says. “Yet my people face unprecedented attacks from the sluagh, like none seen in the three hundred years we have lived in Alarria.”

A cold certainty fills me. “When did these attacks start?”

“About a month ago.”

I grunt and share a look with Aurora as I finish tying up her bird.

Standing, I turn to Rune. “The sluagh attacked my village a month ago. The orcs and unicorns killed many with the help of a human witch and dragons. It seems likely the soul stealers have turned elsewhere, looking for fresh victims to swell their ranks.”

“Then you must let my people join your alliance, for your actions have brought about our hardship.”

“It’s not my decision to make,” I say.

“You partner with the feline fae but not with us?” He bares his fangs in a silent snarl.

I hold up my hand palm out and say, “I will present your case to my king. He is a fair man.”

Rune’s hackles drop, and I gather up his bird and knot the net around it.

“One got away,” Aurora points off east with her horn.

The sluagh disappeared behind the heavy cover of the trees, but I do not doubt her words.

“I think it’s the one that threatened us at the standing stone,” Grace says, rubbing her arms as if she’s cold. “It felt like the same one. I don’t know how I know, but I do.”

I stride back over to her and relieve her of the bird, gathering her into my side. “It will never harm you. I swear it.”

Then I shove all of the trapped birds into a leather bag and tie them to Aurora’s saddle. The three flocks of sluagh hang in the air above her, each clump moving eerily in unison.

“That will nevernotbe creepy,” Grace says, her blue eyes troubled as they take in the mass of black feathers dotted with crimson beaks, eyes, and claws.

“My lady.” Rune trots over and bows before my bride. “You may not be an elf, but clearly you command great magic. My offer still stands. Come, protect my people, and I will be your loyal servant all my days.”

“I…” She shoots me a questioning glance.

“We will do what you want.”

Aurora clears her throat.

“Iwill do what you want,” I say, tossing a grin over my shoulder at the unicorn, “and then I will talk my good friend into doing it as well.”

The unicorn snorts. “All too true, you silver-tongued devil.”

“Please, my lady.” Rune looks up at Grace with beseeching amber eyes. “Our pups cower in our dens afraid, instead of running and playing freely. It is not the childhood I would wish for them.”

“Puppies?” Her face takes on a soft look, her wide mouth puckering in a sad grimace. Then she straightens her shoulders. “Of course, I’ll help.”

In that moment, my love for her grows a hundredfold, my brave and amazing bride.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Grace

“Thank you.” Rune leaps up, tail wagging. “Thank you. Thank you, my lady.”

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