Page 61 of Romancing the Orc

“Madame Bovary?” I snort in amusement. “You gave me,a romance writer, the novel a man wrote to complain that women shouldn’t read too much romance?”

“It was the closest book in a foreign language I could reach.” She grins back, unapologetic, clearly still amused by how much I ranted about this novel in high school.

This edition is in the original French. I flip to the opening pages and read the first paragraphs aloud in English.

“You really can read other languages,” Hannah says.

Brokk bristles beside me. “My mate does not lie.”

“I didn’t mean she did. I’m just astonished you’re a witch.” My friend looks at me, breaks into a huge smile, and points. “You’re going to move back to Ferndale Falls and live here from now on.”

“How did you know that?”

“Isn’t it obvious? It’s like one of your lists.” She starts counting things off on her fingers. “We’re all witches, you love an orc, orcs now visit this town, and we’ve got the door to Faerie. Where else are you going to live?”

“It’s what we discussed.” Brokk takes my hand. “I’m even happier to live here now.”

“Me too.” I squeeze his fingers. “It just feels kind of easy.”

“Being kidnapped, shot at, and having to jump off not one buttwocliffs sounds easy to you?” Hannah says with a laugh.

“You’re right.” I grin at her. “I guess all of this is the reward for everything Elton Edgerton put us through.”

We eat takeout shrimp linguine from Luigi’s Restaurant and talk through the evening.

Wranth promises to carry a message to the king for Brokk. “We want to station fae warriors here permanently. Now that Ferndale Falls holds the door to Faerie, we need to protect the town. You can be the first.”

“I’ll still be an orc warrior,” Brokk says, his voice ringing with pride.

“You will.” Wranth tips his head. “And we will find a way to compensate you in a currency the humans recognize.”

I lean against Brokk’s side, enjoying the happiness that radiates from him, loving that he can still be the warrior he’s meant to be.

He continues to talk to his friend, and I turn back to mine, catching up on everything. Naomi’s story, if anything, is even wilder than mine. She met unicorns and dragons!

When it gets late, we finally call it a day and agree to meet again tomorrow.

Out on the sidewalk, my tablet pings with a text from Sherrie.Girl, where did you go?

It’s a long story, I type.Am I in trouble with the publisher?

Nah, since Miami was the last stop of the book tour, we’re good.

Great!

She texts,But the stylist wants his clothing back.

I wince. That’ssonot going to happen. The shoes are on the island, and the catsuit’s seen better days. Besides, I’m kind of attached to that catsuit and the way Brokk looks at me in it.

Overnight my phone to my home in Ferndale Falls, and as soon as I get it, I promise to call and tell you everything.

Will do.

“I’m going to need to figure out what to tell Sherrie about what happened to us,” I say as I unlock the car. “I’m not sure she’s ready to discover you’re really an orc.”

“Then keep it simple. A delusional man kidnapped you because he thought your fantasy magic was real, and I rescued you.”

“As simple as that? It’s not much of a story.”

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