Aldronn

The sun dips low in the sky by the time I help the others pack the last of the cooked venison away in the special food-preservation bags orc leatherworkers make.

“This might help us,” Rune says, closing the pack he just stuffed, “but what are the unicorns going to do once we’re in the Northern Wastes?” He’s in his unfurred fae form to help with the meat, and his concerned expression is clear to read.

“I don’t know,” I admit. “We’ll consult with Starfall and the rest tonight to see if they have any ideas.”

“They can eat meat in their fae forms,” Shadow says.

“That doesn’t mean they’ll want to.” Rune frowns. “They’ve lived their entire lives as herbivores.”

“We’ll let them decide,” I say to stop their argument before it can start.

I can tell the shifters like and respect each other, but every time I’m around them, all I can think of is May’s whispered colloquialism that the two of them get along “like cats and dogs.”

“Let’s finish packing up so we’re ready with Naomi arrives.”

I turn toward the waterfall. Slanting sunbeams warm the cliff face around it and set the frothing water alight. The memory of May shoots through me, of how her back arched against the rock as I licked her sweet wetness.

She sits hunched over a scroll, her entire body alive with excitement as she reads, pausing only to point out something to Lukendevener.

I’m glad she’s finally getting some answers as to how to use her powers, but did it have to be the dragon with two cocks?

“Go on. We’ve got this.” Shadow elbows me in the ribs, startling me. When I frown at him, he just grins.

“Go to May.” Rune waves me toward my bride. “You know you want to.”

When did these two become so familiar? Over the past several weeks, they joined me and my guard in daily warrior training. They’re already formidable fighters in their animal forms, but they wanted to learn how to fight as proficiently in their upright were forms as well. They often joined us at the village pub afterward, partaking in other new delights, such as ale.

The cat sith treats everyone with the same regard—as in, not much. And while the cu sith is more deferential to my station as king, I’m not his ruler. It’s meant that both of them have treated me with a familiarity I don’t often receive.

I quite like it. Somewhere along the way, they’ve become friends.

“Remind me to buy you a pint when we get back to the pub,” I say.

“You’ve got it.” Shadow grins.

As I head toward my bride, the two of them start bickering again, Shadow teasing Rune that he wears orc clothes better. “I know I look fabulous in anything, but I’m not sure blue is your color.”

I snort and shake my head.

Before I can reach May by the edge of the pond, Naomi appears in front of me. “I’m back!” she yells. “Who’s ready to go?”

May leaps up and runs over to wrap her friend in a hug. “Oh, my god! What was it like to ride a dragon?”

“It was fan-fucking-tastic!” Naomi squeals. “I can’t believe this is my life now.”

“I met a dragon, too.” May grins wide and leans forward to whisper, “He was naked at first, and you’re right. He’s got two dicks.”

They break into giggles, and when May catches me scowling from several feet away, she rolls her eyes and mutters, “Stupid orc hearing.”

“I heard that,” I say.

“You were meant to!”

“Hi, Luke,” Naomi calls out.

He finishes rolling up his scrolls and shoves them into his hidden pocket. Then he stomps up to Naomi. “You will take me to Sheevora now.”

“No, she won’t.” I move forward quickly to intercept.

“I demand to be able to report to my leader.” The dragon’s eyes flare, his red wings lifting from his back.

“And I demand to not be left out of anything you have to report about Avalon,” I say. “Especially considering it’s the orc’s home realm, not yours.”

We glare at each other for stretched moments, but I refuse to back down.

“Fine,” Lukendevener says. “It will be easier to tell the tale only once, anyway.”

I turn to Naomi. “You can’t take him until the rest of us are there.”

“I gave you my word!”

“You also gave your word to aid Naomi and Wranth in their quest to reopen the doors of Faerie. Yet you conveniently forgot that vow as soon as you gained access to the dragon’s home realm.”

“I had orders.”

I don’t respond, letting my silence speak for itself.

He stalks off, into the trees, and only once he’s out of range of sensitive fae hearing do I say to Naomi, “You’ll also take him last so that I can keep Wranth from punching him and creating a diplomatic incident.”

No matter how much Lukendevener thinks I’m being unfair to him, my cousin has far stronger feelings on the matter. He hasn’t forgiven the dragon for putting Naomi in danger.

“Good point.” She nods.

My guards are ready, each carrying their saddles and bags and one of the packs of meat. Naomi takes them one by one.

Then she takes Rune and Shadow, both carrying the bulk of the venison, since they have no other belongings.

Lukendevener stalks back out of the trees and stands, arms crossed over his chest, his clawed foot tapping against the ground.

Naomi pops into being in front of us, and I place a hand on May’s shoulder. “Go ahead.”

My bride spins in place, taking one last look at the waterfall, which is lit once again by the pink mushrooms. “I’m going to miss this place.”

“I can bring you back, if you want,” Naomi says. “Once all this goddess stuff is done.”

“I’d like that.” May offers her a soft smile, then cranes her neck to look back at the woods. “Where are the pixies? I wanted to say goodbye.”

“I bet they’re halfway to Moon Blade Village by now,” Naomi says. “They want to live where Pizza is.”

“How can they get there that quickly?” May asks. “Isn’t it weeks away?”

“Pixies, like many fae, have secret ways to travel quickly,” I say. “We don’t know exactly how they do it.”

“I’m glad I’ll get to see them again.” My bride reaches for her friend’s hand.

Then they’re gone, and I take a moment to also look at this lovely glen. I will never forget this magical place, which offered us sanctuary and where I first tasted my bride.

Naomi returns, and I adjust the saddle on my shoulder and nod. In a blink, I stand at the edge of a meadow. My guards already have a bonfire going, the light reflecting off the pale shapes of grazing unicorns in the distance, making them seem like spectral horses.

“Starfall?” I call out. “Lukendevener has returned from Avalon.”

Her answering snort echoes through the air, and I huff in amusement as she trots toward me, the rest of the unicorns following.

My eyes search for May, finding her with the others at the fire.

Sheevora stalks toward me. “Where’s Lukendevener?”

Naomi takes that as her cue and disappears, reappearing only a few seconds later, the other dragon with her.

“Sheevora the Magnificent, I am returned to you.” He steps forward and bows. When he straightens, firelight limns his features, outlining how grim they’ve become, his handsome face a series of hard angles. I know before he says another word that it can’t be good news.

“It’s even worse than we feared.”

Fuck. Sometimes I hate being right.