Page 46 of The Orc Outcast's Conquest

Her words stung harder than he cared to admit. Building pain at the back of his throat and making his jaw come up around his teeth, as if hiding them would make him more human. More appealing to her. “There are no sentinel women.”

“What?” Her voice rose. “How does that make sense?”

“It is by the Fades design.”

“You mean your gods?” she asked, clearly incredulous.

“Yes.” He did not know how to react to her disbelief. Her Earth did not have Fades?

“You’re telling me you guys can get human women pregnant? There’s no way that’s possible.” Irritation flashed behind his eyes, but she kept on. “You’re not even human and you’re saying your DNA is supposed to just miraculously match up with mine? That’s crazy. I mean, look at you.”

Govek’s irritation quickly flipped to anger, and his muscles clenched, trembling. He knew not what this “DNA” was, but the insult was clear enough. And the implication that they were not compatible hurt much more than he wanted to admit.

“You’re built like a freaking Greek god and I’m a third your size. How could I, or any human, possibly carry a baby that big?”

Govek’s anger faded slightly, and he gathered his sanity. Fuck, he could not lose control like this. Not with her. He had to calm. Calm.

He watched the unflinching woman tap her chin as she examined him with a furrowed brow. Her unabashed curiosity and unflinching courage helped soothe him further.

“How big are your babies exactly?”

Govek blinked rapidly, unsure how to respond to the question. He’d never held a newborn before, was not even allowed near the orc sons, so he could barely venture a guess.

“Sorry, I’m getting off topic,” she waved as if trying to smack the subject right out of the air. “Seriously, though, are you honestly saying there are no orc women? I’ve never heard of a species that didn’t have its own female population before. That required a different species to procreate.”

“There are no orc women—or goblin women, or sylph women,” Govek confirmed slowly, confusion radiating down into his chest to smother out the last smoldering remains of his anger.

“So, there were never sentinel women?”

“No.”

Her lips parted, eyes widened, flickering in thought. Something was going on inside her mind and Govek would have given his right leg to know what it was.

“So . . . orcs want to have babies with humans. Like . . . I mean . . .”

He tipped his head. “You mean . . .”

“I mean, you find me attractive enough to have babies with me?”

Govek never expected that to be her next question. He was so taken aback that he couldn’t find words to answer her.

But Miranda had no such issue. She rushed on. “I mean, objectively, of course. Like you could be convinced to find me, er—or I mean, you could find any woman appealing enough to... you know. I don’t mean me specifically, not at all, just anyone. Any human woman. Or?—”

“Miranda.” His heart thundered in his ears.

“Y-yes?”

“What is a Greek god?”

“A what?” Her brow furrowed in confusion, and then realization flooded her face. Her cheeks went bright pink as she bowed her head. “Oh, uh. Well, you know?—”

“I don’t,” he said low and slow. “That is why I am asking.”

“Oh god.” Her words were so quiet he doubted she intended for him to hear them. “Don’t talk like that. It’s too much.”

Understandably, she didn’t realize how good orc hearing was—especially when it came to the female an orc was imprinted on. His chest tightened, knowing his growling must be unsettling her.

And then the scent of her arousal flooded his senses. Sweet and rich, like honey warmed from the sunlight.

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