Page 39 of From the Edge

“Fine, but you are going to be protected. I have your curse with me, so this is going to be interesting. Early morning.” She took some of the energy that had been left by the elite in her great hall and spun an armour-plated ward around the statue of Aspen.

She skipped back to the kitchen and called out, “Who wants pie?”

The thunder of feet caused her to pull the emergency pies out of the cupboard, along with the extra ice cream. The plates settled, and by the time the dessert seekers were there, everything was ready to feed the sharks.

She leaned on the counter and watched the pie disappear.

Achilles said, “Where did you get this? It’s amazing.”

“My kitchen. Apples from the garden. Honey from the bees. Cinnamon from the weird tree that moans in the rain like it’s having a good time.”

The alphas froze, shrugged, and kept eating. Rowan laughed.

Keres asked, “Weird tree?”

“My sex drive had to go somewhere, so I picked the weird tree. I tried the apple tree, but it nearly exploded with fruit.”

The healer leaned against the table and looked at her. “I am really recommending that you drop that shield before the morning.”

“Why?”

“Because your cousin needs you alive and not crushed in your own skin.”

Rowan looked at him. “Spoilsport.”

He smiled. “It’s in my job description. Fun sucker is right there as well.”

The other orcs laughed. One said, “It’s on his alternate business card.”

Rowan looked at Dante. “You. You don’t get a fourth piece until you let me know if the rough draft was good.”

Dante nodded. “They were precise. You are good to go. I also started a draft for the new building that just popped up.”

“Nice. Well, I will circulate the copies and sign them when they are filled out. If there is ever a problem with credit, I will take it to Avor.”

The orcs jolted, and she smiled sweetly.

The healer set his plate down. “Okay, come on, Rowan. Let’s get through that shell of yours.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t wanna.”

He walked up to her, put his hands on her waist and gently flipped her over his shoulder. “This is not a standard technique for dealing with patients, but I think it will get the point across.”

She bit him on the back, and he winced but kept walking. There was laughter from the orcs and dark elves and a gasping giggle from Mell.

She spit out his shirt and said, “So what is the game plan here? I can close the property wards. I can close one on your feet right now.”

“We need to find some of your blood on this property.”

She grimaced. “Go to the garden. The plants will give it to me.”

“What?”

“I watered them with my blood... accidentally.”

“It will be sufficient. Will you go and get a sample?”

She wrinkled her nose, knowing that he couldn’t see it. “Yes.”