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“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. I don’t belong in this world. I don’t know how it happened, but this,” I gesture between me and him, “was not intentional. If I knew how, I’d gladly release you of it.”
My heart stutters, the bond protesting my declaration. We stare at each other. The suspicion in his gaze slowly fades, replaced with glints of relief, and my muscles, which were tensed from his ire, relax. He really was terrified I had forced him into something.
“Please,” I whisper. “Help me find a way home.”
“You’re not leaving,” he says.
My face scrunches. Is he serious? “Why not?”
“Because if you’re not a witch and this bond is real, we’re mates. Our souls are tethered and if you somehow find a way to get back to this Earth, you’d be in incredible pain.” His face inches closer. “You can’t leave.”
While the inner romantic in me swoons a little and screamsyes daddy, the part that’s rational rankles. “I’m curious why you think you have any right to tell me what to do.”
His eyes light with amusement. He’s so brutishly handsome when he’s not pissed at me. “This bothers you.”
My eyebrows pinch together. “Of course it bothers me.”
“Because you’re a lady?”
Yeah, sure, let’s go with that. “Precisely. A lady is never told what to do.” More lies, but he doesn’t know a damn thing about Earth, and I’m not about to let this big ogre bully me.
“You’ll stay,” he grumbles.
“I certainly will not.” I step off the bed and onto the cool stone. The towel sways around me like a maxi dress. I expect him to move, only he doesn’t. Sighing, I tip my head once again. Even when I’m standing and he’s squatting, I still have to look up.
Orcus scowls like I’m being the unreasonable one. Wasn’t he accusing me of using a spell to trick him into this whole mate bond? Wasn’t he just demanding to be released from it? The tether sparks, as if sensing my attention. Orcus is still blocking my way like a giant, stubborn boulder.
“Orcus,” I say softly, placing my hand on his shoulder. “If you would please move, I have a portal to find. Or a platform. Or however you all travel between the worlds.” I bat my eyelashes and pout my bottom lip, sending promises of sunshine and rainbows through the bond.
He suddenly stands. “Fine.”
There, sweetalwaysworks.
One problem? Even with the towel covering his waist, when he stands, his bulge is in my face. I stare at the cloth covered appendage.Holy. Wow.I’m being rude. I cringe and look up at him.
Swallowing the lump that’s suddenly formed in my throat, I say, “You’re… very tall.”
“Thank you.” That cocky smirk is back. “I’m one of the tallest ogres there is.”
The way he preens at my compliment makes me think it’s truly something to be proud of and that is more than a little endearing.
“I’m sure you are.” I can’t help but smile back at him.
His gaze shifts over my face and a wrinkle of confusion nestles between his eyebrows. “Come.” Turning, he walks through the massive cave. I follow after him, the giant towel trailing behind me like the train of a wedding gown. His height means I end up scurrying behind him, the best imitation of a run I can do in my makeshift outfit, and even still, he’s always ahead of me.
The hall is dark but as we traverse through it, light slowly begins to filter in. Orcus’ body blocks most of it. I try not to stare at him but fail. His back is broad, thickly muscled. He could crush me in his arms. His thighs are bigger than my waist, and his feet? Well, let’s say he’d make a pretty penny if he put those puppies on the internet.
I’m sure people would subscribe just to watch him stick those big toes into a cream pie.
We pass another corridor that shoots to the left. I wrinkle my nose at the faint scent wafting in my direction. “What is that?”
“The latrine.”
That explains the stench. While unpleasant, it could be worse. At least there’s a bathroom. Another fifty feet and he ducks under a jagged rock and steps out of the corridor. I’m suddenly blinded by sunlight. Lifting my hand, I shield my eyes and take slow steps out of the hallway and out onto the—edge of a cliff?
“Holy crap.” It had been night when I fell into this world, but the sun is high in the sky now and the winter’s bitter breeze is nowhere to be found. It’s almost hot. I squint as I adjust to the light and look around, or more correctly, down, at the breathtaking sweep of trees. Miles and miles of a vibrant forest sprawl across the landscape and the valley below, leaves of every shape and color. Dark green, light green, soft yellow, copper. The scene is an ocean of greenery, so vibrant. So alive. Each color is so vivid, I can’t quite decide which I love best. Spinning, I look up. There are a few trees that have taken root in the limestone mountain face, though not many at this height.
I glance around again, but for as far as I can see, there are only trees and the rest of the mountain range. Fresh, pine scented air settles in my chest. This is surreal. I’ve never felt so insignificant. Who needs Earth when you have this view? Someone on Earth needs me though. “Um, Orcus?” I ask the Jolly Green Giant.
