Page 67 of Bound to the Orc Hunter

Rune bares his fangs, and his sister Riselda runs into the clearing to stand by his side, saying, “You’re no ally of the cu sith.”

“Yes, yes. Our ancestors were enemies back in Avalon.” The cat sniffs disdainfully. “It’s been three hundred years. Get over it.”

“She’s right that things have changed.” Branikk steps in between them, raising a hand palm out to each. “You might have fought in the past like… well, like cats and dogs, but we have common enemies now and must stand together.”

He looks at Rune and Riselda. “If you want to join our alliance, that alliance includes the cat sith.”

Then he faces Mist. “Said alliance would be strengthened by the cu sith. You cannot deny it.”

She sits and lifts a front paw to give it a slow lick, as if bored.

I bite my lip to keep from laughing. It seems that even sentient fae cats are stillcats.

She must hear my aborted chuckle, because her ears flick, and she looks towards me. “A new human.” Mist’s green eyes gleam with mischief as she eyes the bubble maker I hold. “And what is this ‘cat’ you’ve made?”

I hold it up and shoot a batch of bubbles toward her.

Her paw lashes out, wicked claws splayed wide as she swipes several of the bubbles from the air. Instead of being upset that the pink cat is a toy, she laughs, the sound a ratcheting purr. “Oh, this is delightful! It is truly worthy of being a cat.”

Then she faces Rune and Riselda. “Fine. I will view the hounds as temporary allies until the entire alliance can vote on their inclusion.”

“Hounds?” Rune bares his teeth. “You dare call us hounds?”

“You were good little hunting hounds for the elves, were you not?” Mocking laughter dances in Mist’s eyes. “The cat sith never bowed and served.”

“The cat sith were also never invited to court,” Rune spits.

I shake my head, a little dazed. There are so many different types of fae, and they all have a hell of a lot of history. I wish my phone hadn’t died. I need to take notes. Maybe I should try again to make a battery. I hold out my hand, but nothing happens. I suppress a sigh. It seems my magic’s still not fully under my command. At least it didn’t make part of a vibrator this time.

“Enough. We have more pressing worries.” Riselda’s eyes turn hard as she looks at Mist. “Such as how you got here. I thought cath sith could only walk the shadow roads to places they’ve already been.”

“This is true.” Mist dips her head.

“What?” Rune’s hackles rise. “You’ve spied upon our dens?”

“Spied is such a strong word for it.”

Rune steps forward, his voice a deep growl, “I’ll show youstrong.”

Aurora gallops into the clearing and comes to a stop in between them. “By the goddess, I can’t leave any of you alone for even a moment, can I?”

“Hello, unicorn.” The cat dips her head.

Aurora snorts in amusement. “Causing trouble again?”

“Who me?” It’s said with pure innocence, but Mist’s smile is hella huge and full of teeth.

I frown and whisper to Branikk, “Are cat mouths supposed to be that big?”

“For normal cats, no. But for the cat sith?” He makes a ta-da flourish with his hands. “Magic.”

I roll my eyes at him. “That’s still your answer for everything, isn’t it?”

He leans over and whispers in my ear, “You certainly didn’t complain when the magic in my stud—”

“Branikk!” I slap the back of my hand to his chest. “We’re not alone.” And his deep voice carries even when he tries to be quiet.

Astrid, who sits with her shoulder pressed to the side of my calf, turns little puppy eyes up to us. “What’s a stud?”

---