Page 85 of Falling for the Orc All-Star

“No, Mom. I think it’s a little crowded.”

“We’ll havea nice, quiet Christmas. King, we’ll have to meet your parents.”

I hug my future mother-in-law, my head still spinning. “Thanks. I look forward to it. I’ll get our bags and put them in the truck.”

“I’ll help.”

“Oh, no, Mrs.—”

“You’ll have to call me mom, now.”

“I got a second mom and a bride in one day. Best holiday ever.”

I’m shaking. Happy shaking. Upset shaking. Just shaking.

“Dillon is an ass.”

King nods.

“Janice is a bitch.”

“Such a bitch.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“I’m so happy. You did say, yes, right?”

“I did. But now our first Thanksgiving as an engaged couple is—”

King waits at the red light with his phone in his hand. “Our first Thanksgiving is going to be epic. Hang on.”

I see him swipe through his contacts, and in a minute, a deep voice answers. “Young lad!”

“Hi, Ian. Happy Thanksgiving. I have a favor to ask. Two.”

“All right. Fenclans and Silverbows have been allies for donkey’s years. What d’ye need?”

The more the voice speaks, the more I can tell about the person on the other end. It’s a thick, Scottish voice, and too deep to be human.

“Do you know if they’re still having the big dinner up at White Pines?”

“Aye,with Minegold in his element and Gloria playing hostess.”

“Are you going?”

“Nay, lad, we have Georgie and Claire, Georgia and Douglas, and Madge and Ray coming in an hour. Wild bird, two of them, from my own lands.”

“Well, Ingrid and I just had a change of plans. I was wondering if—”

“Get yersel’ here with your pretty lass!” Ian laughs, his voice booming in the car.

“What can we bring?” I interject, sniffling. My emotions are set on overflow, and they’ve channeled it into my eyes.

“Hmm. Cheese and crackers would be nice.”

“We can handle that. What’s the other thing?”

King takes a deep breath. “I, King Silverbow, of the Silverbow Clan, ally of the Fenclan Clan, and brother in honorable combat and in peace, wish to ask you, as a Fenclan elder, to read the Duties of Marriage at my wedding to Ingrid Antol.”