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Vienne

M agic.

I shove the worm into my pocket just as Raiden and the rest of the team appear at the top of the stairs. Raiden has a panicked look on his face, his jaw clenched. Then he spots me down below and his eyes narrow.

“Vienne!” He rushes down the stairs, the rest of the team following him. “We heard a horrible sound, like this place was caving in.”

Shit. I have no explanation for that. Still, it’s a little charming that Raiden thought I was in trouble and ran to the rescue.

Maybe there’s hope for him.

“It was a booby trap,” I say off the cuff. “You should’ve seen it. A big hole opened up in the floor, and these spinning blades came out.” I hold one of my hands up, stopping him in his tracks. “You shouldn’t come any closer. I don’t know where the rest of the triggers are.”

I pull out my gun and, feigning that I’m stepping carefully, head toward him and the others. The rest of the team is murmuring apprehensively as I make it to the stairs.

“We should leave,” I tell Raiden. “There’s nothing down here but traps. I looked all over.”

He scowls. “You shouldn’t have. Not before we got here. I might have noticed it before it almost killed you.”

Aw. He’s feeling protective.

“I’m fine!” I spin my pistol before tucking it away. “No problem. But really, we should go. I took some etchings of the writing already so we can compare it with the other carvings we’ve seen.”

Raiden searches my face for a moment with his dark eyes, but eventually, he nods.

“All right. Let’s get out of here.” He gestures for the others to head back up the way they came. “Step carefully. We don’t know what else is down here.”

As we head back up to the surface, I throw one more look over my shoulder. That orc... I didn’t even get his name.

I wonder who he is. How much he knows. Clearly, far more than I do.

The Stoneteeth Mountains . That’s where he’s headed next. And if there really is more of that “magic” stuff waiting for us there...

The orc materialized his huge pet lizard out of thin air, as if anything he wanted he could make real. I deeply fear what would happen if that kind of power were to fall in the hands of a wannabe soldier like Raiden.

And I think the orc was right. What would the King do if he found out such a thing existed? The last war raged for my whole life, up until a few years ago, when the conscriptions began and humans and trollkin spilled blood all across the world. I was only spared from serving because I was a part of the History Corps.

It took thousands of deaths for us to finally reach a truce, one made simply because the King and the Grand Chieftain were running out of bodies to throw at each other.

That’s all this is: a pause in the violence. There’s not peace, and there probably never will be.

I take one last look at the carvings on the wall before I follow Raiden up into the dark, stone tunnel that leads out of here—the human face and the trollkin one, staring into each other’s eyes, clasping hands.

It all means something, but what? I wish I could have talked to that orc a little longer. There was something familiar in his eager, curious eyes. He had no weapons on him, and he certainly wasn’t afraid of what he might find here, which tells me he hasn’t been to many ruins before. But he knew things. He had answers, and I want them.

I leave with far more questions than I had before I ever found this place.

* * *

That night, after everyone has gone to bed, I’m lying on my bedroll reading a book when the flap of my tent opens. I know it’s Raiden before he even crouches down and reveals his face.

“Hey,” he says with a smirk, because usually, I would say, “hey” back in a sultry tone, and then he’d crawl into my tent, take off his clothes, and we’d fuck until one or maybe both of us came—usually just him, though.

Tonight, I couldn’t be less interested. My mind is awash with a million other thoughts, all of them about what I saw today, and the orc who spoke inside my head, in my own language.

We could understand each other . This thought repeats over and over again. I spoke to an orc, and he spoke back. He is my enemy, I know this. But for a time, he couldn’t have cared less that I was human and he was trollkin. All he was interested in was the past, the world in which the magic came from, and in that way I felt... understood.

“Not tonight,” I hiss at Raiden as he starts wriggling into my tent. I put up a hand to stop him, and he gives me a consternated expression.

“What’s wrong?” He comes all the way inside, already taking off his shirt. “That booby trap today didn’t unsettle you, did it?”

“No!” I snap. “I just don’t want to fuck tonight, all right?”

Raiden freezes, gaping at me. That was surprisingly loud, and there’s a good chance half of the camp heard me. His hands drop back to his sides, and his brows fall low over his eyes.

“You’re sending me away?” he huffs. “You never send me away.”

That makes me sound so pathetic—and fuck, maybe I am. Raiden’s good looking with his dashing dark hair and chiseled chin, and I liked his attention. It felt great to have it once upon a time, but tonight, I just want to be alone with my questions. Besides, he was the first to send me into that dark ruin alone. Let’s just say my flame has been doused, and I want nothing to do with him or his cock.

“Get out, will you?” I push on his chest, knocking him back onto his ass. “This is my tent.”

For a brief second, Raiden looks hurt, but then fury clouds his eyes.

“What the fuck, Vienne?” he says under his breath. “You don’t have to make me look like an idiot in front of everyone.”

“Everyone’s asleep. Now go to bed, Raiden.”

With a final huff, he steps out, stalking away to his own tent. He’ll be salty tomorrow, and he’ll probably take it out on me. But I keep thinking about that orc’s strange, yellow eyes. His wild, unkempt hair and dirty cheeks, as if all the thoughts in his head are focused on one thing, and one thing alone:

Magic.

It’s real, and if I can find my way to the Stoneteeth by myself...

I reach into my pocket, where I shoved the tiny worm before the rock vanished into the ground. When I pull it out, the skin has wrinkled, but the inside still glows purple.

I saw what it’s capable of, and that power is as thrilling as it is terrifying. What could I possibly do with it?

I’m still riled up from the day long after Raiden leaves and goes to bed. Usually I use sex to work out my energy and fall asleep, so after tucking the worm away safely, I slide off my pants in my bedroll and reach down between my legs.

I don’t need Raiden to get off. In fact, I know that if I do it myself, I have a hundred percent chance of actually coming.

Strangely, as I run my finger in circles around my clit, that damned orc pops back into my mind. He was a big guy, bigger than Raiden by a long shot. I shake my head, trying to clear it as I rub myself harder, faster. Soon my body is seizing, my leg muscles tightening all over as I get closer and closer.

Ah, yes, this is what I needed.

I bite my lip as I finally crest, keeping my moan inside my mouth. It feels as good as I’d hoped it would to release. I lie there panting for some time afterward, staring up at the peaked ceiling of my tent.

I wonder if I’ll see that orc again.

* * *

Graz

I couldn’t be more thankful that the human woman understood me, that she grasped just how serious magic is—and how dangerous it would be in the wrong hands.

It’s interesting that she was suspicious of her own compatriots. The fear in her clear, blue eyes had been obvious. No, she doesn’t trust them, either. It’s surprising, but helpful. That’s the best outcome I could have hoped for.

Now it begs the question of what I’ll find when I reach the Stoneteeth. And in the meantime, I have Izzy with me, which may have been a foolish decision. Now I’m saddled with one grumpy horse and one lazy lizard both.

That night, far from the ruins, I return to my tent and dig out what food I have left. Fuck, I really should go home and restock on things I need. Kalishagg is on the way to where I’m headed, and it’s a port city, meaning I can get to the Stoneteeth much faster by ship. Alternatively, I could get on a train and head through the desert, ignoring the open ocean.

Options, options.

I have considered wishing myself places. Of course, that seems like the natural move. Acquire two dozen magic worms, wish myself to the Stoneteeth safely, and not have to travel at all?

I know now what a bad idea that would be. At least Izzy made it safely, but he’s still clearly not quite himself. I hope that I haven’t hurt him by using magic to transport him, and he comes out of his daze soon.

One lesson learned. The last thing I want is to scramble my own brains.

* * *

The next morning, we go back the way we came, and I think Jaks is more than grateful to be heading home. It will take us a week to reach Kalishagg, where I’ll check in with the boss and restock. Hopefully I can make it to the next ruin before that human does.

I think about her the whole way home, especially late at night when I’m having trouble sleeping. I don’t know if it’s fascination or something else, but her wide grin and bright blue eyes both haunt me. Curiosity lit her up in a way that felt familiar, like someone finally understands my fascination.

Now I’ve shared my secret with another being, and I’m both nervous and relieved. At least I’m not alone any longer in knowing the world is bigger, deeper, and stranger than we all believe.

Unfortunately, that other being was a human.

What if I saw her again? What if I could talk to her again? I want to know everything. Why was she there? Who is she working for?

By the time I reach the high, stone walls of Kalishagg, she’s consumed my thoughts, and in more ways than one. She’d been wearing shockingly tight clothing that day, and it showed off her big tits and rather voluptuous hips. Maybe I’m starting to understand what drew Lo’zar to his little human. Their faces are strange without tusks, and their bodies so much weaker and frailer.

And yet, I’m fascinated by the memory of her.

No, I can’t go down that road. It’s been too long since I got my dick wet, and that’s really the problem. I’ve had some decent fucks before, but nothing serious. When you’re involved in Gusak’s clan, trollkin come and go often, flitting from one smuggling job to the next.

And besides, none of them have been my mate, so what’s the point besides a single night to sate my animal needs? Maybe it’s a foolish hope when so few of us stumble across a true mate in our lives, but I’m holding out. I want what Lo’zar and Rimi obviously had. It was clear as day in their eyes how much they meant to each other—and I want nothing less for myself.

Not that it’s so likely for an orc like me. I’m nothing to look at, and I can’t seem to ever keep my hair under control. Still my cock is strangely hungry, and I don’t think it will stop bothering me until I do something for it.

When I get back to my shop, I’m absolutely exhausted, and feeling the beginning of a headache. Luckily, everything is mostly how I left it. Izzy is eager to see his cage again, as I’ve been able to find very little for him to eat on the go, and Jaks is happy to be returned to the stable where he can stand there and eat hay all day.

“Graz!” Kugara gasps as she emerges from the elevator that connects my mechanic’s shop to the hideout beneath Kalishagg. “You’re back!”

I squint as her loud voice makes my pounding headache even worse. She’s been much nicer to me since her disastrous episode trying to stop Lo’zar and his mate from leaving the city. He got one over on her and Gusak’s other goons during his escape, and even managed to kill one on his way out. I don’t blame him, but damn, did it have to be so bloody? It’s been tense around here ever since, with Kugara trying to kiss everyone’s ass to make up for it.

No one caught wind that I’d helped Lo’zar, thank goodness, or else I’d be dead right now. Gusak doesn’t take kindly to those who steal from him, and certainly not to those who shelter said thieves.

He wasn’t too kind to Kugara after her failure, either.

“Yup, I’m back.” I take off my pack and groan as I set it on the ground. “Fucking exhausted, too.”

“Did you find what you were looking for?” She taps the map on the wall.

So Kugara knows what I’ve been doing. Luckily, it only takes me a moment to come up with a plausible lie.

“Nope,” I say, taking off my goggles and smoothing down my hair, though it simply springs back again. “Walked all over, but there’s nothing in that damn swamp. I hated it, Izzy hated it, Jaks hated it.”

She laughs. “No surprise there. That horse of yours is a grouchy old man.” When she spots Izzy on my shoulder, though, she tilts her head. “I thought you’d left your damn lizard, but he went missing a week ago. I thought he’d escaped.”

I give her a puzzled look. “I took him with me.”

Kugara’s brows draw together. “What? I could’ve sworn...”

I pat her shoulder. “Gusak running you ragged?” He hasn’t forgiven her for her fuckup yet, and sends her on one annoying errand after another. “You must be imagining things.”

“Must be.” She rubs the side of her head. “Damn. I’m too young to be losing my marbles already.”

When she’s off to do chores in town—which includes picking up some fresh fruit for Izzy—I get into the elevator and head down. I should let the boss know I’ve passed through in case he needs anything from me.

Unlike the others in the gang, I don’t get too deep into Gusak’s matters. I don’t smuggle for him, though I do funnel his shipments through my shop. I don’t steal or lie for him, but I must still play the role of loyal dog if I want to keep my head.

After asking around, I find Gusak in his back room, sitting on a plush couch with an orcess under one arm and a trolless under the other. They’re both mostly naked, just a few strips of clothing keeping their tits and cunts hidden. It’s not an unusual sight around Gusak, but today I’m even more out of my element than usual.

I have to lie to him—and I’ve got a pounding headache.

“Ah, it’s the bookworm,” he says when I appear in the doorway. He beckons me in. “Where have you been?”

I’ve been working on this particular lie for a while. “I got wind of a tomb out in the swamp.”

Gusak sits forward. “A tomb? You didn’t tell me.”

“I thought I’d investigate first,” I hurriedly explain. “Didn’t want to waste your valuable time and all.”

Gusak snorts. “You’re too kind.”

“Thought it might be full of riches, but the damned place was empty.” I shake my head ruefully. “Nothing.”

“Nice try, anyway.” He narrows his eyes. “But next time you have a lead, do be sure to tell me.”

I duck my head. “Of course.”

I won’t.

Then Gusak waves a hand dismissively, so I nod and leave.

Thank fuck that went well. But I’ve always been good at keeping my head down under the powers that be.