“First,” Dagnar started, turning to one of three golden taps lining the back wall. When he faced me again, he rested a tankard full of frothy ale in front of me. “You’ll probably need this.”
Tambie cleared her throat. “And what about us? We’re hersupportgroup.”
“Alright, alright,” Dagnar replied, chuckling as he filled two more mugs. He leaned a forearm on the bar top and eyed me empathetically. “I need to warn you that I’ll help the best I can, but it could be different for orcs compared to—” He used a black talon to scratch the back of his emerald head. “—what are they?”
How did I answer this? I didn’t knowwhatI saw in the forest that day.
“He’s fae, but has this beast or monster he turns into—a wintry one.” I raised my arms above my head to gesture how large he’d become in that form.
“Like the abominable snowman?” Aella asked, holding her mug with both hands and sipping from a straw.
Tambie leaned in closer. “That’s hot.”
Dagnar arched a thick, green brow at Tambie and then turned to me for confirmation.
“No, no. Not furry and growly. He’s made entirely of ice with these spiky arm swords and spiky shoulder pieces.” I stared at nothing as I did my best to articulate into words what I’d witnessed. “His beard, his hair, his muscles, they all turned intoice.”
Tambie rested her chin on her hand. “That’s even hotter.”
Mimicking her action, I rested my cheek against my palm. “You’re telling me.”
“If he’s got a monster form, no matter if he’s permanently in it or not, like an orc or gargoyle, then I’m going to guess the rituals, if you will, are quite similar.” Dagnar held up a claw, pausing when a customer ordered a meat pie.
“Are you nervous?” Aella asked, rubbing my shoulders.
“Yes,” I whispered, my stomach catapulting into flurries of fireflies. “But I’m also excited at the prospect of something I never thought I’d be able to have.”
Aella hugged me to her side, pressing her rosy apple cheek against my pale one.
“Sorry about that, gotta keep the hungry fed.” Dagnar rubbed a hand over his apron-covered stomach. “Now then, the first step would be offering food. That lets the male know the female is interested enough to continue the process.”
My heart fell to my feet.
The cupcake. I’d offered him the first bite. Was he going to let me start this without telling me theimplications?
“You alright?” Tambie asked. “You look a little flushed.”
There’s no telling if Jack would’ve stopped it. The goblins ambushed us before he had a chance one way or the other. It was still something I’d put a giant pin into for later.
“I’m good. Please continue.” I gestured to Dagnar.
Dagnar crossed his arms, making his already titanic muscles bulge. Tambie’s gaze darted straight to them, and she covered her face with her mug, guzzling from it. “There’d be accepting it, which normally involves, um,bedroomtime?—”
“Sex,” Aella countered. “He means hot, sweaty, carnal sex.”
My stomach did a delicious dip, and I pinched my knees together.
Dagnar snickered and shook his head. “And the last part, the no turning back, clinching of it all—is the claiming. However, I’m not sure what his would entail, or yours. Every species is different.”
Tambie swiveled on her stool, doing one complete turn. “Maenads scratch the fuck out of their back.”
“Tambie, for goddess’s sake, you make it sound so barbaric. One scratch would do it,” Aella added, her cheeks turning crimson.
Letting them all converse, I busied myself with gulping several mouthfuls of ale.
“Says you, Aella. Me? I’d scratch the living shit out of my mate so that everyone knew—” Tambie lifted a small claw. “—that they aremine.” She leveled her gaze on Dagnar.
Dagnar scratched one of his tusks, obviously intrigued but attempting to hide it.
