Page 113 of That’s My Orc, Tusk Off

We stood in the entryway, my coat still hanging on its hook beside his, our boots lined up by the door. Everything looked the same as it had this morning, but everything had changed.

“At least I don’t have to take my coffee maker back,” I said, trying for lightness.

“I don’t want you here for a month,” he said, tugging me into his arms. “I want you here forever.”

“We may not get forever.”

His hands found my hips, holding tight. “Then we live it like it’s forever. Not like we’re waiting for it to end.”

I looked up at him, taking in his midnight eyes and the vulnerability he wasn’t hiding anymore.

“My stuff stays,” I said.

“Yes.”

“Not because of the scribe. Because I’m choosing this.”

“Yes.”

“Even if we only get a month⁠—”

“Even then.”

I nodded.

Scratching came from the front door.

We both turned.

“That better not be Nix,” Traig muttered, crossing to open it.

Fred exploded inside, Amanda riding on his back. She held a tiny stick in her hand and brandished it like a sword. It was a good thing she was so small and not orc-sized or she’d defeat an army. Fred’s wings blurred as he beelined straight for me, grumbling loudly.

I caught him against my chest. “Hey, buddy. Did you miss us?”

Amanda’s crown flared pink, and Fred’s grumble dropped into a lower register.

“They know we’re mated,” Traig said, watching them.

“They approve,” I said.

“They approved weeks ago.” Traig’s mouth twitched. “I’m the one who was late to figure it out.”

Fred bumped his head against my chin.

Traig scratched behind Fred’s ears.

Fred grumbled some more before he left my arms and bobbed around the room, smacking into the ceiling and walls, nearly dislodging a picture Traig had hung on the wall.

“Alright, you two,” I said, heading for the kitchen. “Let’s get you settled.”

Fred floated after me, Amanda still perched on his back. I found a shallow dish in the cabinet and filled it with water, setting it on the counter. Traig pulled out some leftover vegetables from the refrigerator and chopped them into tiny pieces, putting them on a plate for our creature friends.

Fred settled on the counter, tucking his wings against his sides. Amanda climbed down from his back and inspected the vegetables before selecting a piece of carrot, taking a nibble.

“They’re staying,” I said.

“It looks that way.”