Epilogue

Blade

My mate was fidgeting with the folded note she was carrying, nervous enough to make her face go pale. I knew what she feared; the stones wouldn’t work again, and she’d be left with her letter and her feeling of guilt. I wished I could assure her that it would work, but this was a gamble, a madly concocted idea in the middle of the night.

“You’re not nauseous, lass?” I said when I noticed her shift a hand to her belly to press it against the still-flat surface. After her healing, we’d shared the party my grandmother had organized, and then I’d bestowed her with the pretty gifts I’d asked her to arrange. That had followed a very wild, very pleasurable night, and the result had been the orcling now growing in her belly.

I couldn’t believe my fortune at how I’d gone from one lonely orc, just taking a ride to clear his head, to mated with a little one on the way. Hannah was right; it had happened fast, and I loved every minute of our adventure.

Pushing her hand away, I cupped her belly, hoping I could feel my offspring kick. I’d been doing that every day this week, but so far, no luck. Hannah said it was too soon. She was only four months along, but I knew my orcling would be strong.

“No, I feel fine. The morning sickness has passed,” Hannah said, twirling the envelope in her fingers. She pressed her free hand against my fingers on her belly and offered me a grin. “Let’s just get this over with. No point dawdling.” She slipped from my grasp with a laugh and danced out of the way to reach the mossy stones.

This was the faithful clearing where she’d claimed me as hers; we’d taken a slow three days to fly back to it so she could attempt to deliver her letter. I’d make the journey home with her in one afterward, so she could get back to town in time for the spring festival. Turns out, my Hannah was very good at planning events and she’d happily stepped into the role of my grandmother’s assistant as the town’s event organizer. I couldn’t be prouder of her, and how well she fit in.

I followed close on her heels, making sure she could not slip on the mossy rocks. Then we stood together as she pressed her letter against the stone. I felt like this was coming full circle. She had healed; what if the stones sent her home, rather than her note? With a sense of urgency striking me, I placed my hand over that envelope with her. The stones would have to take me too.

I loved my Hannah, and I loved the little orcling growing in her belly. I would go to the ends of the worlds and beyond to stay at their side.