Page 1 of That’s My Orc, Tusk Off

CHAPTER ONE

WILLA

I’d driven past the turnoff twice before I found it, which felt about right for how the last six months had gone.

The sign was small and easy to miss: Creature Rescue League in scrolling letters, an arrow pointing down a dirt road that disappeared into the trees. I slowed, squinted, decided it couldn’t be right, and kept going. A mile later I turned around, came back, and accepted that yes, my new job was at the end of a road that looked like it led to either a cult or a summer camp.

I’d scrolled past three other office manager postings before applying for this one and interviewing online. Portland jobs. Safe jobs. The type where you knew exactly what you’d be doing in five years because you were already doing it now.

None of them felt quite right except this one. The Creature Rescue League was run by orcs—orcs! Orcs had emerged from the ground a few years ago. After forming treaties, they moved in among us, taking jobs, buying property, and even dating humans. I’d only met a few orcs, but the thought of working with them and animals from the orc kingdom felt like the change I needed after ending a long-term relationship.

The job description had said the place was chaotic. It had also said “creatures from the orc kingdom, small team, and organizational support urgently needed.”

That sounded just right.

I turned onto the road that narrowed fast, trees pressing close on both sides, branches scraping the roof of my Jeep Wrangler in a way that made me wince. Mud season had left a few potholes to weave around, and for half a minute I saw nothing but forest, a pond, and the occasional flash of something moving in the woods that I chose not to examine too closely.

Then the gate and fence appeared.

Ten feet of heavy metal mesh, running in both directions into the woods, disappearing as if it had no intention of ending anytime soon. I came to a stop at the gate and entered the code, driving through when it opened. Once it had shut with a bang behind me, I continued. The road curved once, and the property opened up ahead of me to a two-story building with a stone foundation and log siding. Enclosures beyond. Pens. Pastures. Fencing that stretched back toward the tree line and kept going.

I parked in the lot out front, turned off the engine, and peered around.

This was it. The Creature Rescue League. My new job. The place I’d chosen after interviewing for three other office manager positions that had been perfectly fine and perfectly boring and perfectly not this.

I grabbed my tote bag, got out, and walked to the front door.

It opened before I could knock.

The orc standing on the other side had to be at least seven feet tall, and he had medium green skin, dark hair falling loose around his shoulders, and midnight-black eyes that went wide the second he saw me. Tusks. Actual thumb-sized tusks curving up from his lower jaw. I’d seen orcs before of course, but never this up close and personal. Everyone had after they’d emerged from the orc kingdom deep below ground and settled on the surface.

“You’re Willa,” he said.

“I am,” I said. “Willa Enford.”

“I’m Brovish, one of the owners.” He stepped back, gesturing me inside with both hands like he was welcoming me into his own home. “Come in.”

I stepped into the entryway and warmth and the smell of tea wrapped around me in a cozy embrace.

A small, round, bright orange creature rode Brovish’s shoulder. One of the creatures, with bat-style wings tucked against its body, a wide face, stubby limbs, and a limp look in its eyes that made you want to protect it even though you had no idea what it was.

Brovish caught me staring. “This is Sofia. She’s an emberkit.” He held out his hand, and Sofia hopped down his arm and plucked her way onto his open palm. She leaned forward to sniff my fingers. Smoke—actual smoke—curled from her nostrils.

I sucked in a breath. “She won’t burn me, will she?”

“She can shoot bits of fire, but she rarely does.”

That was not reassuring.

Sofia made a soft chirping sound and launched herself off Brovish’s hand, flying down the hallway, her wings beating fast enough to blur.

“She’s probably looking for Laina,” Brovish said. “Laina’s my mate and our vet here at the facility. We met when she came on a late-night call and was amazing with a clatterwing. How could I do anything but hire her—and then fall in love with her?” He grinned, all tusks. “But no worries about Sofia. She likes you.”

“Good to know,” I said, still watching the hallway where the creature had disappeared.

Brovish gestured around the entryway. “So—welcome. Officially. We’re happy you’re here. Much happy. We’ve needed someone to help manage things for too long. You’ll sit here for now.” He pointed to the reception desk against the far wall. “Until we hire a receptionist. Then you’ll have your own office. We’re working on it. Traig has a plan. He always has a plan.”

A high-pitched noise echoed from somewhere deeper in the facility, followed by a bang and the sound of tiny feet scurrying across tile.