Page 62 of The Orc's Sweetheart
I clear my throat. “You’ll need to go to the hospital in Cape Easton to get a CT scan. I’d like to check the soft tissue and make sure there’s no nerve damage. Plus, I’d like you to be treated for exhaustion too. Your body has been through a lot. Doc Calla, what do you think?”
Doc Calla dips her head in a nod. “I agree. Would you like to accompany her or should I?”
Squaring my shoulders, I say, “I’d like to go.”
“I’ll go too.”
At the sound of Bodin’s voice, everyone turns to him, knowing what those words mean.
I’m already shaking my head, not wanting him to set foot in the city after what he told me, but Bodin walks up to me and frames my face in his large hands.
His jaw is set, his eyes determined. “I go where you go.”
I’m not going to cry. Shove those emotions down, Tilly. Process later.
Doc Calla claps her hands together once, and I turn my attention to her. “Great. Bodin and Tilly will accompany Annamae to Cape Easton University Hospital. I was just there yesterday, so it’ll be good for you to go this time.”
Not seeing any reason to argue the point with Bodin any further, I agree, “Good. Beck has readied the boat and Ren should have put our first aid kit on board. We only need to figure out how to get Annamae through this forest without causing more harm to her arm.”
Pierre gives a grunt, then says, “Wait.” He shoots into the sky a second later, but we don’t have time to question it before he’s back again, this time accompanied by Aurelius and Katie.
Doc Calla seems to understand Pierre’s plan, then makes a quick decision. “You guys fly out to the boat, and Arran can carry me through the forest. It’s been a while since I’ve been in the arms of a handsome vampire.”
Behind me, Bodin’s cringe is almost audible as he shudders. Maybe thoughts of his mom’s sexual escapades were not on his list of things he wanted to hear today.
I get Annamae ready for the quick journey until I can properly brace her arm on the boat.
Katie is much stronger than she looks as she picks Annamae up and flits to the sky, disappearing from view on silent butterfly wings.
Aurelius gives me a flirty once-over, stepping forward with his arms wide open. Before my own shudder can work its waydown my back, Bodin is in front of me and walking toward the mothman.
Aurelius’s nose wrinkles, but one look at Doc Calla’s arched brow has him picking Bodin up and unceremoniously shooting toward the sky. The picture of my big male in Aurelius’s arms will forever be branded into my brain. I almost wished he had gone bridal style, but that might’ve been a step too far.
Doc Calla steps in front of me before I reach Pierre. She pulls me down and I place one knee on the ground so we’re eye level. Voice tender yet stern, she says, “Take care of Bodin, and yourself, please. Annamae will be fine.” Leaning forward, she presses her right temple against mine and I suck in a breath as I recognize the familial goblin greeting.
Choking back tears, I whisper, “I’ll take care of him.” At her pointed look, I add, “And myself.”
As I soar into the sky in Pierre’s arms, I can make out Doc Calla’s words as she mouths, “Welcome to the family.”
Chapter 27
Bodin
Never did I think I’d be flying in Aurelius’s arms. But here I am, a big orc soaring through the air in the arms of a mothman. I guess love will make you do crazy things, because on top of flying, I’m on my way to Cape Easton—a place I never thought I’d return to.
But there’s nothing I won’t do for Tilly.
Aurelius doesn’t try to make small talk during the flight, and I’m thankful for that. It’s not that I’m scared of heights, it’s just that I’m not particularly inclined to look down, or talk while so farabove the ground.
In the distance, I can already make out Beck holding his boat steady as Richard and Katie help Annamae onto it. Ren waits with the first aid kit, looking awkward and uncomfortable as he stands off to the side and glances at the sky every so often.
Curving his big wings backward and forward as he slows our descent, Aurelius lowers us until we’re safely on the wooden dock. We both turn to watch Tilly and Pierre as they get closer.
Leaning into me, Aurelius bumps me with a wing. “You two look good together, happy.”
“We are,” I reply gently, not wanting to unnecessarily hurt his feelings. I look at him and the smile he gives me is wistful, but accepting. He nods once, and then flies back in the direction of town.
Pierre sets Tilly down and she quickly thanks him before she rushes to me and throws her arms around my neck. I pull her against my body, lifting her until her feet dangle off the ground. It may not be that long ago since we woke up together, but it almost feels like an eternity has passed with everything that has happened.
