Page 70 of Enchanted with the Orc
“You should have stayed at home,” Zara told me, sweeping over to hold my hands as well. “We could have protected you.”
“I’m the one who brought the danger,” I sniffled, tears leaking from my eyes as I looked around at the circle of women who had taken me in when I hadn’t had anyone else in the world. Gabbi ran back from where she’d wandered over to greet the males, her little brow furrowed with worry.
I swiped my tears away again, giving her a tremulous smile. “Hey sweetheart, why don’t you head back to bed?”
She shook her head, adamant. “I want to stay here.”
“How about I read you a story?” Floria asked, sweeping her upinto her arms.
“Three,” Gabbi said, holding out three tiny fingers in demand.
“Two,” Floria negotiated as they walked.
“Four,” Gabbi huffed, and Floria’s laugh was the last sound I heard before she closed the bedroom door.
I turned to look at where Zara was still studying me with worry. “He found us and he followed us to the park. Hanna was there with Gabbi but I went to grab groceries and he came after me. I didn’t know what to do, so I ran. By the time he caught me, I’d gathered enough power to blast him. But he’s—”
“Human,” Zara sighed, rubbing her palm over her face before shaking her head. “That’s fine. We’ll call the Magickal Bureau. Did you receive a summons?”
I shook my head. “Not yet, but I’ve been staying here. I’m not sure if they would have sent it home instead—”
“I changed our official coven address,” Zara said with a shrug, “but I haven’t seen anything for you. Let’s reach out to them soon. We need to get you empowered again.”
I nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly. How could I protect my family if I didn’t have any magick to do it with?
“In the meanwhile,” she told me with a stern look, “you’re going to trust that mate of yours to get Hanna back. Those orcs know what they’re doing.”
I felt heat rush to my cheeks and I ducked my head, but Tabitha tsked. “As if we wouldn’t know,” she huffed. “With the way you both can’t seem to stop looking at each other.”
Even though she said it—or perhapsbecauseshe said it, my gaze swept to Enka where he was already looking at me. He sent a small wink my way, and it melted my heart. This male was going to do whatever he could to help us.
“We’re ready to leave,” Dristan called, and Savla already had his hand on the door, opening it and gesturing for everyone to exit. “We’ll be back with Hanna, don’t worry.”
“Thank you,” we all said as one, and I sent up a silent prayer that all of the males would be safe. David might be human, but he still had tricks up his sleeve. I wasn’t sure what he would do, but I could trust that it wouldn’t be fair.
“Be safe!” I called to them, and they waved as they filed out. Enka blew me a small kiss, sending a jolt of love shooting straight to my heart—along with a sharp fear that I’d never see him again.
Please Goddess Mother, protect him. Protect them all.
Chapter Thirty-nine
Enka
The plan that Dristan had set in motion was simple but straightforward. One that I was certain we’d be able to execute quickly and efficiently. I was so grateful to the mates of these males for sending them to assist us. Dristan had grumbled fiercely about how Pen—so pregnant that she was about to pop—had shoved him out the door and told him thathe wasn’t allowed back without Hanna.
We were going to locate David by letting Rudgar’s team hack into the street cameras near where Hanna had last been seen. When they found her, they’d find him. Once we had a close enough range, we’d canvas the area until we found him.
“No one’s going rogue,” Dristan said to the group of us that were squished together in his car. Rudgar and Darak’s cars were behind, carrying everyone else.
As it turned out, transporting our clan was going to require more vehicles. I eyed the way Dristan drove with quiet confidence and was glad that he’d been the one who had taught me to drive the smaller automatic vehicle that I used. Now, though, I needed something bigger so I could help with this part of the clan’s needs.
“No one,” we all agreed, except Savla who sat next to me, his gaze on the darkness outside the window. I nudged my shoulder against his, but he didn’t respond, still lost in his thoughts.
I left him alone, knowing that when he was like that, he needed to sort out whatever was going on in his head. I wasn’t sure if it was because a female had been abducted—it was eerily similar to what had happened to Zara, his best friend.
Perhaps this had brought back terrible memories. Either way, I returned my attention to Dristan, knowing that we only had a short time to prepare.
“Is this a good idea?” Krusk hissed to Rok, who shushed him just as quickly.
