Page 4 of From the Edge
She grunted and shifted against him. “No shit, dickhead.”
He paused. “Dickhead?”
“Well, you called me a witch.” She looked at him, and her eyes were cold silver.
Mell squeezed her hand. “Rowan, you are a witch.”
“And you are a size twelve. If we are all sharing private matters.” Rowan’s hand squeezed Mell’s. “It is so good to see you again.”
Ted blinked tears away from her eyes and looked at Lucia. Her cousin reached out and held her hand, a gesture that had not been possible a few days ago. They stood and watched the other two reunite, and they wondered at the trust and affection that seemed to have gotten stronger during the curse.
Lucia murmured, “Relationship goals.”
“What? Being punched by a blue weirdo?”
Lucia paused. “Well, maybe not that.”
A large portal opened, and the men who had run off returned, holding an unconscious orc between them.
Ted blinked. “That’s... new.”
Rowan looked. “It’s just last call at the alpha bars.”
Mell giggled, and the noise must have reached the blue dude because there were shouts of men trying to subdue him again. Others were working on the unconscious body, and then Mell sighed. “I will be right back, Rowan.”
Rowan said, “I’m here all week. Try the veal.”
Mell giggled, got up with her cloak around her, walked to the unconscious body, and touched the head. She ran her fingers through the hair, and the body started glowing. She moved over to the blue creature, who seemed made of the night sky, and stroked the cheek, and then tweaked one ear. “Go home.”
The creature woke, shook off the mages who were holding it down, and looked at her with glowing gold eyes. He sat up slowly, and she pointed to the other body. “Get in there. He’s cold and probably irritated.”
Rowan contributed. “Yeah, you big blue moron. Get in the body so you can properly cuddle Mell and protect your little one.”
The blue creature growled, paused, got up, and got in the orc body with a shudder.
Mell chuckled. “You always did know what to say to him, Ro.”
Rowan smiled and looked at the hand on her ribs. “Okay, that’s enough. I am fine. I will heal the rest.”
He frowned. “You should stay still.”
“I should do a lot of things.”
Mell sighed. “She doesn’t like being touched by strangers; it freaks her out.”
Rowan grunted. “That would be it.”
She pushed away and said, “Thank you for the healing. What do I owe you?”
He frowned. “Nothing.”
“Well, thanks.”
She slowly got to her feet and walked over to Mell. “How fast do you want him to integrate?”
“Um, sooner rather than later.”
Rowan sighed. She walked behind her friend, wrapped her arms around the cloak, and placed her hand on the bump. The glowing figure started to thrash, and there was another roar.
