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My brow furrows. “But, maybe that’s good? You’re younger than you should be, right?”
He stares over the top of my head, lost in his own thoughts. I glance at Orcus, but he’s as surprised as I am. Maybe a little grumpy too. Though I’m starting to like the way his mouth pulls into displeasure, especially when I’m the one that transforms it into a smile.
“Point is.” Edgar’s voice is a little hoarse. “I found my way back and now I need to see a magical healer to fix my legs.”
That’s an optimistic goal. I don’t know the limits of magic, but no human medicine has been able to help him. For Edgar’s sake, I hope there’s someone who can help him.
Orcus eyes Edgar’s legs. “But I know a warlock who might be able to help.”
Rude. He’ll help Edgar but not me?
“I thought you hated witches.” I vaguely gesture at myself.
“I hate anyone who does my father’s bidding,” he counters. “This warlock is a good friend.”
Edgar holds out his hands to Orcus like a toddler waiting to be picked up. “Well, what are we waiting for?”
TEN
What do ogres and jealousy both have in common?
ORCUS
The folk talks too much. We’ve been traveling for hours and I don’t think he’s stopped to take a breath aside from when we paused to relieve ourselves. Daisy’s hand is draped over my shoulder to keep her steady as she stands. She tosses her head back and laughs at something Edgar says. I narrow my eyes, wondering how mad she’d be if I accidentally dropped them both. Probably really pissed.
Grudgingly, I keep them both safe in my arms. The path we’re on is well maintained, so much so that I’m more than happy for the sun to set over the tops of the trees. Autumn is approaching, but that hasn’t stopped the summer heat from beating down on me as we’ve traveled.
Normally it wouldn’t be so bad. Carrying Daisy and Edgar is taking more of a toll than I expected. The folk can’t walk and my mate is too short to make good travel time. I don’t mind carrying them, but I do mind how much Daisy seems to enjoy Edgar’s company. She’s smiling. The bond is filled with sunshine and rainbows again.She likes him, I realize with growing agitation.
It shouldn’t bother me, but it does. Taking a mate was never part of the plan, but by a twist of fate, she’s here. If my father finds out… I don’t want to think about it. I don’t want the kingdom he’s created. I don’t want to face the consequences of the things he’s done. Eventually, the furies will tire of toying with us and they’ll come for blood. It’ll be dangerous and deadly. It’ll put her in danger. I need to find a way to break this thing between me and Daisy.
The bond grows taught in protest and Daisy shoots a curious stare in my direction. Ignoring the look, I continue toward our first stop. The warlock I know lives in a village far from my cave. As strong as I am, we’ll need to rest along the way. I should continue walking and avoid other monsters for as long as I can, but Edgar needs a proper bed to sleep in and food. Besides, by the time someone can report back to my father that I have a mate, she’ll be back on Earth.
There’s a strange desire to help Edgar, probably because Daisy wants it, and I find myself paying more than close attention to him. Slowly, he says less and less.
“We’re almost there,” I tell them.
“He’s sleeping.”
I glance down. The folk’s face is red from being out in the sun. Maybe the heat got to him. “The inn is nearby.”
“An inn?” Her eyebrows fly up her forehead. “Not another one bed trope,” she whispers.
I have no idea what a trope is. “Did you expect a cave?”
“Honestly? Yes.”
Laughing, I gaze down at her for a moment. She braided her hair and used a scrap of an old t-shirt to cinch the one she’s wearing tight around her waist. I want to yank out the string she used to secure her vibrant red hair and set those strands free. I want to…no. Swallowing, I force myself to look away. “This inn is built to cater toward monsters,” I explain.
Her fear flits to me. “Do they cater toward cyclops?”
“Cyclops would never stay there even if they did. They’re more roamers than anything and hate being confined. And the next time I see the one who nearly killed you, I’ll make sure you never have to be scared again.”
Daisy sags in relief.
“I will protect you. No one, aside from a cyclops, would be stupid enough to hurt what’s mine.” They would more likely run to tell my father I’m traveling with company than come near her.
“I’m not yours.”
