Page 26 of The Orc’s Sweetheart (Creatures & Cottages)
Chapter 26
Tilly
I blink at the spot Arran disappeared from. He seemed nice, if not odd, covered in a thick layer of sunscreen. I’m not sure if I’d be able to recognize him if I were to see his normal face.
Bodin takes my hand and we continue heading west, his quiet presence is the unwavering support I so desperately need, even if I’m not able to verbalize it. That’s one of the qualities I love about Bodin, his dependable strength, not just for me, but for his entire community.
So far, he’s kept himself from asking me any of the questions dancing in his eyes, and I appreciate that tremendously because I can see all of them when he looks at me with that compassionate gaze.
But now is not the time. After Annamae is found, I can tell him about the incident at the hospital and how it shaped my future, and my reactions today.
Around us, the island is alive with activity, the search continuing in the sky, on the ground, and even out in the ocean. The fact that all of Starry Hill dropped what they were busy with to help one creature, makes the heavy weight sitting on my shoulders so much more manageable.
As we round the bend and the woodland comes into view, a flash of white speeds toward us and Bodin goes to step in front of me again, just as Arran stops a yard away.
Breathing hard, Arran pants, “I found her. She’s safe.”
A giant mountain of weight falls off my shoulders and my knees buckle with relief. Bodin is there to catch me, wrapping his arms around me before I fall to the ground.
“I’ve got you,” he whispers against my ear, helping me stay upright and keeping me tucked against him.
I take a deep breath and shove all my emotions as far down as I can. I’ll deal with them later. “She’s okay? Injured?”
Arran tilts his head from side to side in a noncommittal way. “I only talked to her briefly, from a distance. Her arm is pinned by a tree branch. But she’s in good spirits.”
I’m already stepping forward as I say, “Take me to her, please.”
I run, ignoring the screaming tendons in my ankle as I push myself. Concern radiates from Bodin as he follows behind us, but I don’t acknowledge it. I can’t, not yet.
Other creatures notice the three of us running and a few join us as we follow Arran’s reduced speed. Soon, a small group of us has formed as we’re led single file through the woodland toward the thickest part in the center.
The trees are dense here, their growth fresh, speaking of a lot of love recently received from a dryad.
Annamae must’ve poured herself into this place, which might now even be called a forest with its thick foliage, the sun dappling lazily through the leafy canopy above.
When we reach the densest part of the forest, the creatures behind us stop, choosing to remain there for any news but not wanting to overcrowd the forest nor Annamae.
My Bodin, though, plows ahead of me, holding back branches and helping me across fallen logs.
“How did you find her here?” My question comes in a huff, my breath short as I duck and climb my way through the forest.
Arran explains, “I scented her first, then ran closer until we were in shouting distance before confirming her well-being and going to collect you.”
“Oh.” I try not to let the stress overwhelm me that he hasn’t actually seen her and therefore doesn’t know what state she is in.
Not too long after, the forest opens up into a natural circle, and Annamae’s voice rings out brightly from the opposite side, “How lovely to see your friendly faces.”
I almost break into a run at the sight of her on her knees, arms wrapped around a tree, but Bodin’s steady hand guides me safely over the last few obstacles until I’m crouching in front of the beautiful dryad.
“Can you tell me everywhere you’re hurt?”
“My body is a little tired from being in the same position, but only my arm feels funny. I got a bit carried away with a tree-hugging ceremony—held on to this big boy a tad too long. Next thing I know, he grows a branch right down here, trying to hug me back, but also pinning me to him. Silly little thing,” she explains, making light of the situation despite the fatigue evident in her voice.
I reach a hand forward, pausing before I make contact. “Is it okay if I touch you?”
“Of course, Tilly,” Annamae answers sweetly, then continues as I prod at her stuck arm, “I know it must be difficult for you to see me like this, but I want to tell you that I’m fine. I got lost in all my happy feelings and the tree grew too fast.”
A sad smile pulls at my lips at her thoughtfulness. “I think Richard might have it worse than me,” I try to joke.
She waves me off. “He’ll be okay. Believe it or not, this is not the first time I’ve gone missing, nor the worst situation I’ve gotten myself into. Did you hear about the tangerine grove I once grew when Richard and I were feeling a bit adventurous on an anniversary? Roots make for good bindings, let me tell you.”
I snort a laugh as I massage the tips of her fingers, trying to see how much sensation she’s lost. “I’ll keep that in mind about the bindings. Now, I have good news and bad news.”
Annamae’s forest-green eyes stare at the fingers I’m trying to restore blood flow to. “I think I can already guess the bad one.”
“Go ahead. ”
Sighing sadly, she guesses correctly, “You’re going to have to cut the branch off to free me, don’t you?”
I kneel in front of her and brush some hair behind her shoulder so I can see her face more clearly. “Unfortunately, yes. We need to do it fairly soon too, because it’s cutting off circulation to your fingers. If we wait too long, it could cause tissue damage and you could lose your arm.”
Annamae leans her forehead against the tree, speaking to it directly when she says, “I’m sorry that we’re going to hurt you, friend, but it might be better than me losing my arm. I’ll come back when I’m healed and do another ceremony, then you can try to grow a new limb. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to grow another one, so it has to be you.”
Her easy acceptance makes it a bit easier to figure out what to do next, and I turn to Bodin to give him instructions, but find his rapt attention already trained on me, seemingly having followed every word.
He nods. “I’ve got the hatchet, but we might need a saw too. Let me run and get it.”
I add, “And your mom, please.”
Arran steps forward. “I will retrieve the saw and the doctor. It will be faster for me to run through the forest than you lumbering your way through.”
Bodin doesn’t take any offense to Arran’s words, and explains where to find everything. Then the vampire’s off in a blink of an eye, much faster than either of us could possibly travel.
Bodin sits down next to me with a hand on the small of my back as we chat to Annamae. He keeps the conversation light and breezy, even manages to make Annamae smile as I continue to massage her fingers, hand, and arm while we wait.
As I help Annamae adjust her position and get more comfortable, I realize that the ferocious fist around my heart has lessened, and I know it’s mainly because of Bodin’s unshakable support.
That male, my male, is more than I’ll ever deserve. I want to make him just as happy as he makes me. I want to relieve his worries, be the reason for his joy, and share a future with him. I’m not holding back any longer. As soon as we’re out of here, I’ll tell him about my past and explain why I’ve acted so strangely today.
Above us, the sky darkens as Pierre descends through the opening in the canopy. He places Doc Calla on her feet, and she rushes toward us, giant earrings swinging with the motion.
Bodin and I stand to make room for his mom as she points a long finger at her friend. “Annamae, I know you always go where the trees call you, but don’t you ever dare go anywhere again without at least telling Richard the exact location of where you’ll be.”
Annamae shrugs. “But I didn’t know where I was going to be until I got here. I listened to the trees and they led me to this spot. Such is the life of a dryad, old friend. But I appreciate your concern nonetheless.”
Bodin and I step away from Annamae and Doc Calla as they continue to lovingly bicker through the doctor’s examination.
Knowing Annamae is not in life-threatening danger and that she’s in Doc Calla’s very capable hands, I allow myself to close my eyes and take a deep, calming breath. When I open them again, Bodin’s tender gaze is fixed on me and I give him a reassuring smile before walking into his body and wrapping my arms around him.
Right there, in the chaos of the day, I find my anchor, my center—my Bodin—and a piece of my soul I didn’t even know I’ve been searching for clicks into place as he holds me in his sweet embrace.
I’m pulled out of my bubble when birds burst from the trees with angry twitters, and take to the sky. Their abrupt departure is followed by the sounds of cracking twigs as Arran rushes back into the forest and comes to a halt in front of us, Bodin’s bag of tools in hand, and sweat dripping down his forehead.
Bodin keeps one arm around me as he takes the tools. “Thank you. I owe you one. Might get you your own caulk gun as a thank-you present.”
Arran shakes his head, but a faint smile pulls one corner of his mouth. “Don’t you dare, young orc. Besides, your female has freed me from a prison I’ve been in for centuries. If anyone owes something, it’s me who owes her.”
Before Bodin can respond, I say, “It’s my pleasure to help, really. Plus, you never know, I might just ask you for a favor in the future.”
The two males stare at each other for a second, then at me, until I click that it might’ve sounded like a sexual favor. “Not like that. I was just thinking that Arran’s castle is big and if Audrey came to visit, she might rent a room from him since he’s our nearest neighbor and it would be nice to have her close by,” I ramble.
Arran makes a face that tells me exactly what he thinks about the thought of having someone live with him, but it almost morphs into something that could lead to considering the option.
Bodin tries to hide his amusement at the myriad of emotions flitting across Arran’s face, and cuts the line of conversation off before Arran can fully shut the idea down.
“Let me get started on that branch.” Bodin presses a quick kiss to my temple, then gets his equipment ready.
Doc Calla and I cover Annamae while Bodin saws, and Pierre and Arran hold up the branch so it doesn’t fall back on her once it’s cut off. The whole process feels like it’s taking forever but also like it’s over in a minute.
With a final creak of defeat, the branch is off and carried away by the males. My gaze shifts to Annamae’s tear-filled eyes as she cradles her limp arm and apologizes to the tree with a press of her forehead to the fresh stub.
I clear my throat. “You’ll need to go to the hospital in Cape Easton to get a CT scan. I’d like to check the soft tissue and make sure there’s no nerve damage. Plus, I’d like you to be treated for exhaustion too. Your body has been through a lot. Doc Calla, what do you think?”
Doc Calla dips her head in a nod. “I agree. Would you like to accompany her or should I?”
Squaring my shoulders, I say, “I’d like to go.”
“I’ll go too.”
At the sound of Bodin’s voice, everyone turns to him, knowing what those words mean.
I’m already shaking my head, not wanting him to set foot in the city after what he told me, but Bodin walks up to me and frames my face in his large hands .
His jaw is set, his eyes determined. “I go where you go.”
I’m not going to cry. Shove those emotions down, Tilly. Process later.
Doc Calla claps her hands together once, and I turn my attention to her. “Great. Bodin and Tilly will accompany Annamae to Cape Easton University Hospital. I was just there yesterday, so it’ll be good for you to go this time.”
Not seeing any reason to argue the point with Bodin any further, I agree, “Good. Beck has readied the boat and Ren should have put our first aid kit on board. We only need to figure out how to get Annamae through this forest without causing more harm to her arm.”
Pierre gives a grunt, then says, “Wait.” He shoots into the sky a second later, but we don’t have time to question it before he’s back again, this time accompanied by Aurelius and Katie.
Doc Calla seems to understand Pierre’s plan, then makes a quick decision. “You guys fly out to the boat, and Arran can carry me through the forest. It’s been a while since I’ve been in the arms of a handsome vampire.”
Behind me, Bodin’s cringe is almost audible as he shudders. Maybe thoughts of his mom’s sexual escapades were not on his list of things he wanted to hear today.
I get Annamae ready for the quick journey until I can properly brace her arm on the boat.
Katie is much stronger than she looks as she picks Annamae up and flits to the sky, disappearing from view on silent butterfly wings.
Aurelius gives me a flirty once-over, stepping forward with his arms wide open. Before my own shudder can work its way down my back, Bodin is in front of me and walking toward the mothman.
Aurelius’s nose wrinkles, but one look at Doc Calla’s arched brow has him picking Bodin up and unceremoniously shooting toward the sky. The picture of my big male in Aurelius’s arms will forever be branded into my brain. I almost wished he had gone bridal style, but that might’ve been a step too far.
Doc Calla steps in front of me before I reach Pierre. She pulls me down and I place one knee on the ground so we’re eye level. Voice tender yet stern, she says, “Take care of Bodin, and yourself, please. Annamae will be fine.” Leaning forward, she presses her right temple against mine and I suck in a breath as I recognize the familial goblin greeting.
Choking back tears, I whisper, “I’ll take care of him.” At her pointed look, I add, “And myself.”
As I soar into the sky in Pierre’s arms, I can make out Doc Calla’s words as she mouths, “Welcome to the family.”