Page 36 of Valpar

“Get off of him!” I stomped my foot and walked closer to pluck at his wings.

Karma’s mischievous laughter echoed through the air as he swiftly soared away from Valpar’s body, slipping through my fingers like a playful breeze. “Aw, is Calliope jealous? Jealous that someone else is touching what shouldn’t be hers to begin with?”

If smoke could come out of my ears, it would have. “He’s mine! You leave him alone!” I swung my arms at Karma, and he laughed again, along with the posse of pixies in the trees.

“Calliope, he isn’t yours. Why would an orc have you? Orcs can have anyone they want. They are the heroes of the realm, and what have you done? Become the kings’ favorite, and more like a nuisance everyone is trying to get rid of.”

I tilted my head in confusion.

Nuisance?

Karma landed on a high branch. His close friends nudged him to continue while other pixies shook their heads at him. They didn’t come to my rescue, though.

“Yeah, Osirus is just trying to pawn you off for a while, so his highness Birch can have his mate to himself. King Osirus and his mate can have time for themselves and not have to watch you. These poor fae can’t get anything done with you around getting hurt and being weak all the time.” He waved his hand in the air.

I grabbed a nearby branch to steady myself. “What are you talking about, Karma? Valpar and I are mates, chosen by the Moon Goddess herself. He told me so!”

At least, that is what I was starting to believe.

Karma scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Do you really believe that? The Moon Goddess choosing a mere human as an orc mate?”

I clenched my jaw, trying to control my anger. “Yes, I believe it. And even if it isn’t true, it doesn’t matter because he chose me.”

Valpar came around after a while. He recognized the bond in the end, right? Then again, Uncle Osirus went to talk to him. Did Osirus have something to do with us getting together?

Karma snorted. “Choose you? More like your uncle persuaded him to be with you. Everyone saw his majesty leave the room with the fleeing orc.”

My blood boiled at the accusation. I wouldn’t let Karma think he won. “That’s not true! Valpar and I have a connection!”The desire in his eyes was proof enough of that, right?

The other pixies started gossiping among themselves, some siding with Karma while others murmured. But none of them came to my aid or stood up for me. They were all too afraid of offending the popular pixie leader.

Karma continued to taunt me, getting closer and closer until he was right in front of me, his face only inches away from mine.

“Face it, Calliope, Valpar is just your babysitter,” he sneered before flying back up into the tree and sitting on the branch with a laugh.

Why is he so mean?

I balled up my fists and stomped toward the tree. I was going to beat his tiny little butt into a pulp. I growled, stuck my bare foot onto the first limb and climbed.

Karma jeered, his close friends laughing along with him. “Look at her trying to climb! Where are your wings, Calliope? Why don’t you fly up?”

I huffed and climbed higher, higher than I should, but I continued to press forward. I would not chicken out. I was going to catch Karma, shove a stick so far up his butt and then roast him over an open fire until he popped like a popcorn kernel.

Skittles, I’ve become so violent.

Karma continued to laugh. The one brave pixie who hadn’t laughed flew towards me pulling my dress. “Calliope, just let it go. He’s a jerk,” Meadow said. “He’s jealous he wasn’t part of the court before you arrived and got all the attention. Come on, climb down.”

I growled and continued to climb, but Meadow stayed by my side. “Calliope, you are going to fall. Don’t!”

“I gotta do this, destroy him before he destroys me!” I snapped.

I wondered if Valpar would grind Karma’s bones and eat him in his bread.

Wait, giants do that.

Valpar is as big as a giant.

Just like that giant thing in his pants.

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