Page 45 of The Orc Outcast's Conquest

He could not lose control and risk Miranda being hurt.

The swirling essence of Fade magic and might tingled up his spine and light flooded into his head. It was a pinprick now. Far below him. Almost too far for him to even grasp.

He’d never attempted to purposefully commune or conjure magic outside of Rove Wood before. The few times it had happened accidentally his power had been churned up by intense rage and grief.

The grief of finding his brother tortured to death.

His stomach felt like a pit, not just of sorrow, but of regret. He had committed many vile deeds throughout his life due to his inability to keep his anger in check and his magic under his control. But his actions that day, after discovering Tavggols body, had been a whole other kind of horror. The atrocity he’d committed at Clairton would always haunt him.

Gritting his teeth, Govek turned back to the task at hand, using the lingering pain from that wretched day to pull forth his connection to the Fades and bring about the conjuring of his magic. Wishing once again that he could be like his brethren. That he could pull his magic from feelings of serenity and calm. They made the act seem so dignified and peaceful.

Instead, he was forced to grow his fury and grief until it felt like a tight, red hot fist churning up his chest and stomach. He had to push it much higher and hotter than usual before the light from the Fades began to brighten in his mind. He knew this was because of his current location. Being deep in the outer woods with little to no connection to the Great Rove Tree and its blessings made communicating with the Fades difficult. Almost impossible.

It was no wonder that Karthoc’s warriors and the other clans outside Rove Wood had given up trying to commune with them.

“So... what is a conquest again?” Miranda’s voice was distant, and he tensed, reminding himself that his mind was far from her, not his physical body. Her light tone helped confirm that she was well, which made it much easier to draw in the Fades’ light.

He found it difficult to form words but managed, “Conquests are human females.”

“Human women who are cared for and protected by sentinels?”

“Yes.” The light of the Fades was growing in a deep well of black within his mind’s eye. Like a pool of dark water with a candle flickering at the bottom. He worked his way toward that light, using the tight ball of anger in his stomach to guide him. To drag him downward into it.

“But what do sentinels get out of the deal? Do you just enjoy the companionship? Do they stay with you long term?” Her voice sounded like it was underwater, garbled and thick. It took him a moment to process her words.

“Most human women return to their homes when their duty is complete,” he finally replied. He could feel the light heating his skin now. Tingling up his fingers and swirling in his veins.

“Their duty?”

He was far too distracted when he elaborated. “Conquests bear the sons of sentinels.”

Her sharp intake of breath cut through his concentration and his stomach dropped.

Govek yanked out of the communion and returned to full awareness. His eyes snapped open to assess his conquest’s condition and found her unharmed, but thunderstruck.

Miranda had paled. Her emotions flickered across her face so quickly he couldn’t keep track before she scowled and sputtered. “Excuse me?”

He could not think of words to combat her anger before she snapped, her voice loud and bold like thunder. “What the heck? I’m not having babies with you. You’re a complete stranger. Is that why you helped me? So, you could convince me to have your kids?”

Govek was struck by the accusation. “That is not why I helped you, woman.”

“Then why do you keep calling me this conquest thing? Do conquests have another purpose or something?”

“No... they don’t.” Why had he called her his conquest? Outside of wanting to protect her, she did not fit the role of one. Conquests only bore the sons of sentinels. There did not need to be emotional attachments involved, and sentinels certainly wouldn’t be imprinted on their conquests.

And there was no doubt he was imprinted on her.

Nothing about this situation was predictable, but one thing he knew, he wasn’t worthy of having children. His anger was too violent. His rage was uncontrolled.

And what if they were born like him? An abomination of the Fades, built like a warrior but able to conjure? Full of rage that tainted their magic?

Would his sons be subjected to the same isolation he was forced to endure?

“Goddamn, my planet explodes and now this?”

He blinked, looking up. Her world exploded?

“So, what? Your own women aren’t good enough for you? Or is it the other way around?” She waved her hand up and down as her eyes raked over him.

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