Page 45 of Romancing the Orc

“No, anywhere will do.”

“Good.” Brokk places my right hand on one side of Grey’s tail, fingers pointing down. He interlaces our fingers so we’re holding hands with the tail running between our palms. His magic pulses through the air, and vines lash out, wrapping around our clasped hands and continuing down the length of the tail, locking it into a straight position that prevents Grey from pulling it out of our grasp.

“Orc.” He glares over his shoulder at us, showing his fangs. “You didn’t need to do that.”

“Yes, I did, or I wouldn’t have done it.” Brokk’s tone is firm, unyielding. “This way there will be no unfortunate mistakes on the shadow road.”

“Do you really think so little of me?”

“No. You’ve proven yourself an honorable fighting companion,” Brokk says with a small tip of his head. “But I refuse to take any chances with the safety of my mate.”

“You’re mated?” The panther’s brilliant-green eyes widen. “No wonder you’re so touchy. I did not know.”

Brokk grunts.

Grey’s tail twitches, jerking a little in our hands before being stopped short by the vines. “Ah, I see. Yes, I’m afraid my tail isn’t fully in my command. It does tend to have a mind of itsown. I agree to take you like this, even though the vines hide my glorious tail from view, which should be a crime.” He laughs, the warm sound a cat purr chopped into little pieces.

I can’t help but laugh, too. “Don’t worry. Both of us know your tail is beautiful.”

Pride assuaged, Grey takes a step forward, most of his head disappearing until only his wide smile hangs in midair. Somehow, it looks the same from the back as the front, which makes no sense!

“It doesn’t have to, Lara,” I murmur under my breath. “It’s magic!” A giddy joy fills my chest with bubbles until I feel like I’m walking on air. All of this is like every one of my teenage dreams come true. Faerie is real, fae exist, as does magic. And best of all, I have magic. I’m a witch!

Another small step, and more of the panther vanishes.

“Here we go.” I squeeze Brokk’s hand, and we step forward together.

The jungle disappears in a blink, all its bright light and color replaced by gray. A dark path stretches in front of us, cutting through heavy mist. There’s no sound, no warmth, no feeling of life in this place.

The way parts easily in front of the panther, but the mist reaches for me and Brokk, sliding ghostly fingers over my exposed left side.

“Speed it up, cat,” Brokk snaps. “I don’t think we’re welcome here.”

“Oh, I think it’s the opposite,” I say as the mist beckons, full of emptiness and hunger. “I think we’re so welcome it never wants us to leave. I also think that’s so it can drain us of life, like some kind of energy vampire.”

“Come on!” Grey surges forward, and Brokk’s strong grip on my hand yanks at my arm until I’m half walking, half doing an awkward skipping run to keep up with both of them.

We’re in the mist for what feels like forever, its reaching coils becoming more and more insistent.

Finally, a golden glow beckons ahead, and I instinctively speed up, rushing toward it.

We exit the shadow road as quickly as we entered, the world snapping back into being from one footfall to the next. Thick vegetation paints the view before me with every shade of green. A heavy roar fills the air. The damp heat of humidity coats my face, and I suck in a deep breath full of the scents of plants andlife.

“That was amazing!” Now that we’ve made it, all of my worries recede, leaving only the euphoria of having experienced a secret of Faerie. “I’ve got to put that in one of my books!”

“Please don’t. The last thing I want is for everyone to think the cat sith are some kind of travel service.” Grey’s tail twitches against my palm. “We’re here, orc. Get this abomination off me.”

Magic pulses through the air, and the vines drop to the ground. As the panther’s tail slips from between our hands, Brokk keeps hold of mine, bringing it to his lips to press a kiss to my knuckles. Then he spins us around. “Look.”

I suck in a startled breath, the roaring noise finally explained. We stand at the top of a waterfall, its foaming length splashing into a pond far below. A beautiful building waits just to the left. Only one story, it’s made of intricately carved pearlescent-gray stone, the decorations so ornate it looks like a miniature palace. Instead of a door, a fanciful archway beckons, its shadows promising treasures within.

“I can’t believe I get to see a fae building!” I dart forward, the soft dirt under my feet changing to hard rock as soon as I cross the threshold. Sunlight from behind throws my shadow across the floor as I slide to a halt. I do a slow spin. The room is only ten feet square. “I don’t understand. The building looked way bigger on the outside.”

“See, I told you there wasn’t anything here,” Grey says.

“This can’t be all of it.” I eye the smooth, un-carved walls. “Where’s the inscription from the photographs?”

“We’re not seeing all of the building. The rest of it’s behind this wall.” Brokk steps up to the wall opposite the door and runs his hands over it, and a ripple of high, piping sounds fills the air.

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