“Not ominous. But concentrated Solstice magic,” August says, again too loudly—she only seems to have one volume level—leaning forward in excitement. “Supposedly, whoever holds it gets their deepest wish. And a kiss, if they aren’t the same thing.” She giggles and takes a sip of cider and prosecco mixed together.
“Ah, interesting.” Addy picks up her fork and takes a bite. She doesn’t meet my eyes.
“Poppy, what was the ornament you said was my prize as Santa?” I ask, trying to keep my tone light, or at least neutral.
“Oh, that!” Poppy’s voice is higher pitched than normal, and clearly fake as she watches her sister watch her. There’s a beat of silence.
“Poppy, the ornament you had me hold early in the evening?” Addy eyes her sister with suspicion. Poppy laughs, rubs the spot on her belly where the baby keeps kicking or she’s suffering from indigestion already.
“Yes! That was the thank-you prize for Leif for being Santa! Oh, Tasha, will you pass me the carrots? These are delicious. I love the little bit of heat—is that ginger?”
“I see you changing the subject,” Addy says with a long look like that I imagine her giving our orclings when they try to sneak out of doing their chores. “You purposefully gave me a magicked ornament that was also the gift for Leif. And now we’re here together, in love after a night snowed in together. What were you thinking?”
Heat ripples through my body, concentrating in my chest where my heart demands to be heard. My mate, it shouts withevery beat. My mate says she loves me. I’m ready to crow, but gazing at Addy, her cheeks a deep red, eyes shut as she takes several deep breaths, I decide that maybe I should wait.
She didn’t mean to say that.
There’s a clanging of forks and cups as folks set their utensils down to look at us. Or rather, from her to me and back again. Her hand is still in mine; that’s a good sign. It flexes, as if to leave. I squeeze it gently, letting her know I’m not letting her go. Ever.
She looks at me, a slight wince on her face, as if my response might be negative. Never. Thoughts of joy and need and desire fly around in my head like chaotic reindeer. Opening my mouth to let them flow, nothing comes out. A raspy whispered, “You love me?” is all I can manage.
The silence is almost complete, except for the crackling of the fire and the snort of a hedgehog.
Chapter 13
Addy
It’s hot in here. My cheeks flame.
I just said I was in love with Leif, in front of all these people, before even thinking through the repercussions—let alone saying it to him! What was I thinking? This post-blizzard impromptu holiday party has turned into a sauna in the middle of a blazing desert. I want to rip off my sweater and wool socks and run outside and roll in the snow. I imagine steam billowing off of me, like some cartoon character who puts out their flames by dunking themselves in an icy river.
Gathering my breath, my courage, my loins, I carefully peek over at him. Yep. His eyes literally smolder as he gazes at me, his nostrils flare the tiniest bit, then he licks his lips. I wouldn’t think anyone else heard. But orcs, and I assume minotaurs and gargoyles, have excellent hearing. Bjorn whoops. August smacks him in the stomach to shut him up.
Closing my eyes for a beat, I think through my options. But anything other than the truth is painful even to consider. I open my eyes, shifting to look straight at him. “Yes. I know it sounds crazy. I went back to Koru and Poppy’s place and cleaned up. Tried to shake the idea of you off of me. It was as if I’d left a pieceof me behind; I’d left you behind. And it hurt. I don’t know what the future holds, but I want you to be a part of it. Of course now, maybe it’s all a game. Maybe this silly ornament is playing with my heart like it’s a marionette.” I refuse to cry, but the thought that these feelings aren’t real, aren’t true, is devastating.
That my sister played some sort of mean prank on me hurts so much. My big sister, who has always looked out for me. Who sacrificed her own morals and well-being to ensure I was safe. Who worked hard to give me the opportunity to go to university. Did this same big sister set me up? Are all these feelings for Leif fake?
My hands tremble. Rather, the one he isn’t holding tight to is trembling. Leif doesn’t let go. Doesn’t look away. Reaching forward with his other hand, he cups my cheek, cutting off our audience. It’s just him and me. His thick, callused hand is gentle, soothing. “Addy, I’m yours, and you are mine. Magic, Solstice, ornaments, and meddling sisters and witches be damned. No offense, Poppy.”
“None taken,” Poppy whispers from a thousand miles away.
“You’re my mate. I will gladly be snowed in with you, trapped on the side of a mountain with you, stuck in a boat at sea with you. I need only you. I love you.”
My cheeks are wet. I can’t help but transform into a soggy puddle of joy as he kisses me tenderly. He wraps one arm around me, pulling me across the floor and into his lap. His other cups the back of my head as his tongue licks my lips, entering as I part my lips for him.
There’s cheering around us. The pitter-patter of a herd of hedgehogs on parade around us. Lucy giggles.
But barely any of it truly registers. Leif’s heat is all-consuming. The knowledge that he loves me sets me aflame with desire and, yes, surprise. This isn’t anything that I expected, or thought I wanted, before I arrived at Moonfang Haven this week. This grumpy orc has matched my desire and need with his own. We have collided, creating our own celestial binary system.
I push into him, maneuvering to straddle his lap, needing the heat of him deep inside me. Hands clutch at my sweater. Mine pulls on his Henley.
Coughing from somewhere in the solar system breaks through the heat dream state I’m in. Choosing to ignore it, I deepen my kiss, threading my hands through his hair.
Another sound, this time louder.
Leif pauses, pulls away just enough so we are nose to nose. He’s breathing just as hard as me, and there is something deeply satisfying in thinking I’ve made my orc out of breath.
That’s right. My orc.
