Page 94 of Bound to the Orc Hunter

Branikk takes us over to stand with them while Aurora joins the unicorns.

Then tiny balls of black fluff run out from under the trees. “Grace! Grace!”

I drop to my knees and open my arms as Astrid and Agnar race up, closely followed by Riselda and Rune. Soon I have a lapful of wiggling puppies, little puppy kisses tickling my chin.

“I thought we were going to vote before bringing the cu sith in,” Mist says.

“I apologize. I’m afraid the little ones got away from me.” Riselda tips her head to the dragon, ignoring the feline fae.

“Younglings will be younglings,” Sheevora says, wrapping massive claws around Drake in what must be the dragon equivalent of a hug. “Let the cu sith stay while we vote.”

“Then I call the vote,” King Aldronn says, his deep voice ringing through the clearing. “Do we add the cu sith to our alliance? What say the human witches?”

Ashley elbows me in the ribs and whispers. “That’s you. You vote.”

“Me? I’m brand new!”

“You also spent the most time with them and made the first friendships.”

I look at Rune, who watches me with serious eyes, and say, “The human witches say yes.”

Rune dips his head. “My lady.”

“The orcs say yes,” Kind Aldronn says.

“So do the unicorns,” Aurora adds.

“The dragons are in agreement,” Sheevora says. “What say you, cat sith?”

Mist saunters forward, her green eyes sparkling with mischief as she stares at the wolves for a few seconds too long,ratcheting the tension in the clearing higher. Then she sits and offers her wide grin, showing off lots of teeth. “Yes.”

Riselda lets out a bark of surprise and says, “The cat sith have long been our enemy.”

“I already told you those days are in the past.” The cat’s voice goes serious. “Besides, the cat sith are no fools. You are good fighters, and we need all we can muster to face the sluagh.”

“We are glad to join you,” Riselda says. “And my brother Rune will stay here to participate in the council. I trust him to speak with my voice.”

Happiness fills me at the thought that I won’t have to say goodbye to my new friend, and him living here means I might get more puppy visits from his niece and nephew.

“Then let the first proposal of the cu sith be this,” Rune says. “Our dens are protected by the fabulous machine made by the human witch, Grace. But we must find the other vulnerable populations of Wild Fae scattered across Alarria and warn them about the sluagh.”

Everyone agrees.

Then Branikk says, “We’ve got another thing we have to do right away as well. We have to find an antidote to this new version of the deathsleep! The Moon Goddess brings us human witches to help our fight, and we need to be able to cure them of the deathsleep as easily as we can any fae.” He looks at me, worry in his eyes.

I reach out and squeeze his hand.

“The dragons have found something in our historical archives that might work,” Sheevora says. “A special crystal we believe might be found in the Dular Mountains.”

“Can you give us some of the crystals and tell us what to do?” Branikk asks. To me he whispers, “They live there.”

“We will give you the information on how to use them. Alas, the caves they may be in are far too small for dragons.” When Drake lifts his wings, she adds, “Even younglings.”

“Then the orcs will send someone.” The king claps a hand to Sturrm’s shoulder. “I have here a retired member of my guard. One of the finest fighters I’ve ever battled beside, determined and unflagging. Sturrm will find these crystals.”

“You honor me, my king,” Sturrm says, sounding grumpy like usual, so I can’t tell if he’s happy, upset, or indifferent about his quest.

“Then it seems today’s business is done, but for one thing.” King Aldronn turns to me. “I would see this new magic that can protect against the sluagh.”

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