CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE（Untitled）Wranth

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Wranth

My bride glows with strength and purpose. She’s never looked more beautiful than now, when I’m about to lose her forever.

This is the reason the Moon Goddess brought Naomi here, to open the doors of Faerie. It’s far more important than her being my bride.

But I hate it. I hate that I’m not the most important thing in my moon bound’s life. I’m probably supposed to be all noble— kingly , even—and put the good of everyone else first and enjoy doing so.

I cannot.

I’ve spent my entire life having nothing and no one to call my own, plagued by the eternal question of where I come from and who my family is. Naomi helped me discover the truth of my parents and how much they loved me. She helped me find my cousin, Aldronn.

Yet all of that pales compared to her.

I got what I thought I always wanted, and it’s not enough.

I want her. I want her for always.

As she meets my eyes, the smile falls from her face, which only makes me scowl harder. This, I do not want. I never want to cause her pain.

I force my expression to clear by focusing on the task at hand. “What do you need to do this?”

“I think I should carry more red crystals on me, just in case.” Naomi’s beautiful lips purse. “And I think we should do this from the standing stone, my standing stone, the one with the teleportation magic.”

“Agreed.”

A hand falls onto my shoulder, and Aldronn says, “Whatever you need. It is yours.”

“Thank you. I think we could use a couple of guards to keep the teleportation stone secure. The sluagh know where it is.”

“Of course.” He eyes his guards.

Grugg steps forward, assuming he’ll be picked, and my upper lip curls in a silent snarl. I don’t doubt he’ll fight for us, but I’d rather have someone I trust to give it his all.

“Brokk and Garint.” Aldronn waves them forward.

A pleased grunt slips from me—they’re the two I like best—and my cousin shoots me a knowing look, clearly having discerned as much.

We spend the rest of the day making preparations. Reta, the village weaver, makes something called “cargo” pants for Naomi so my bride can carry extra red crystals. The dragons bring several sets of entwined crystals, each matched pair stored in its own leather pouch.

Shadow leaves for the teleportation stone, walking the shadow roads, and similarly, Lukendevener takes off to fly there on his own.

I’m glad. I know my bride is strong, but I still can’t imagine her teleporting the bulk of a dragon, especially if she doesn’t need to.

Naomi ferries people and supplies to the standing stone one at a time. First Brokk, then Garint, and finally Aldronn, who refused to be left behind. “Whatever happens will change Alarria forever. I owe it to my people to be there.”

All three carry supply packs strapped to their backs. Lastly, she takes Zephyr.

Even though Naomi says it’s easy with the red crystals’ help, I don’t let her use her power to teleport me on these trips. Instead, the tether jerks me after her each time. I get used to the lurch and fall, finally getting to where I can hit the ground smoothly after each transition. It’s good practice, because I plan to do this when we travel to the other realms, to save her strength by having her only teleport the other person.

This tether might be temporary, but it exists so I can protect my moon bound. I will use it to its fullest extent.

We make camp in the teleportation stone clearing, gathering around a small fire as evening falls, eating the food Olivia packed for us, big hearty lengths of bread stuffed with meat and vegetables and drizzled with a delicious sauce that’s both tangy and spicy.

“Mmm,” Naomi hums with happiness after taking a bite. “A chicken sub sandwich with chipotle sauce. My favorite!”

“Is this the kind of food to be found on your Earth?” Aldronn asks.

“Yep, though this is better than you’d get at a regular sandwich shop. Olivia makes the gourmet version of everything, with the best ingredients.”

My cousin gives an appreciative nod and takes another bite.

The food-conjuring witch also sent along several bags of oats for Zephyr, and my friend stands near, chewing happily, or as happily as the grumpy equine ever gets.

When we finish, we sit quietly but for the crackling of the fire, the importance of everything happening in the morning weighing down the atmosphere.

“The three of us will take turns standing guard tonight.” Aldronn points between himself and Brokk and Garint. Then he stares pointedly at Naomi and me. “You should get some rest.”

A growl rumbles through my chest as I catch his implication. The feral side of me wants to chase her through the forest, pin her to the ground, and pound into her until she knows nothing but my cock. The gentler side of me wants to take her to my furs and let her ride my tongue until she screams herself hoarse.

Yet as much as I want to spend this last night loving my bride, I well know she needs sleep.

I give him a sharp nod and lead her to my tent.

Naomi winds her bright scrap of satin around her curls. She covers a yawn as I strip off her boots and divest her pockets of red crystals. “I guess I’m more tired than I thought.”

“You did a number of teleportations today.” I lie down beside her and pull her into my arms. “And you’ll do even more tomorrow.”

“How about you? Are you okay?” She touches my cheek. Enough firelight filters through the leather of the tent to show the concerned look on her face. “Being pulled around by the tether is a little rough.”

“I’m fine,” I growl. Any discomfort of mine is well worth it to spare her. I press a kiss to her forehead. “Go to sleep.”

With the tiniest of sighs, she relaxes into my arms, falling quickly asleep.

I do not join her in slumber.

If this is to be our last night together, I will not waste a single precious second of it.

Morning arrives too soon, with a grunt of surprise coming from one of the other orcs outside. It jerks me upright, my hand instinctively finding the hilt of the sword I left within easy reach.

“Oh, did I surprise you?” Shadow asks, his tone full of pleased amusement.

A chuckle comes from Naomi, rich and throaty. “I guess Shadow’s here and already playing games.”

“Highly trained orc warriors aren’t ones to trifle with,” I growl.

Brokk’s laugh puts the lie to my words, and I scowl, which only makes my bride laugh harder. Goddess, I love that sound!

I lean over and take her mouth with mine, tasting her joy and love for life. Her soft gasp parts her plump lips, and I need no further invitation, plunging my tongue inside, wanting all of her. A groan tears from my throat as her soft breasts press into me, and my morning erection jumps against the confining leather of my pants.

“You do know we can hear you,” Shadow says from directly outside our tent.

“I hate to agree with the cat,” Zephyr says. “But he’s right. We can definitely hear you.”

“I don’t mind,” Brokk says.

Zephyr snorts. “Well, I do.”

A scowl tugs down the corners of my mouth as I throw off my furs and get ready to demand they mind their own business.

Yet my moon bound has an altogether different reaction. Naomi bites down on a knuckle as her whole body shakes with laughter.

Soon, I find myself giving her a wry smile.

“There it is,” she whispers, her fingers tracing over the quirked corner of my mouth. “I love this little half smile of yours.”

My breath catches in my chest at her use of the word, and I search her face, looking for proof of more.

A loud clap of giant wings beating air rings overhead.

“The dragon’s here.” Naomi sits up and reaches for the pack that holds her new pants, covered in pockets stuffed with red crystals.

I grip her busy hands and hold them still until she meets my eyes. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do today,” I say. “We’ve all put a lot of expectation on you, but the doors of Faerie have been closed for three-hundred years. A few days more makes no difference.”

“No, it’s okay.” She squeezes my hands, her beautiful brown eyes shining with sincerity. “I’m meant to do this. I can feel it. All my life I’ve dreamed of traveling, of doing something more .” Naomi smiles like the sun rising to warm the whole world. “And here I am, with magical powers, getting to be the most amazing version of myself.”

“It’s not your magic that makes you amazing,” I say.

“Yes, yes, very nice,” Shadow says. “Can you hurry it along? Having a dragon perched over one’s head isn’t exactly restful.”

Zephyr gives her whinnying laugh.

I roll out of the tent.

Lukendevener hovers on top of the standing stone, only his back feet touching. He’s at least five times as wide as the pillar. Magic crackles in the air—he’s clearly holding himself up with that instead of relying on his perch.

“Where else am I supposed to go?” he booms, craning his long neck until he looks down at us.

Brokk tends the campfire, stirring a huge pot of porridge. Aldronn and Garint join him as I pour Naomi a cup of mint tea.

She takes it from me gratefully once she leaves the tent, and we eat a quick breakfast together. Excitement sparkles in her eyes.

I wish I could match it with my own. Instead, I force myself to eat, the hot cereal sinking like a ball of lead in my stomach.

If everything goes well today, I lose her.

I lose the woman I love.