Page 71 of The Orc Outcast's Conquest

The space was quite roomy, actually. At least thirty feet in diameter with rough stone walls and a semi-smooth floor. It wasn’t a natural cave, rather it had been carved out of the hillside by hand to create an ovular structure. The entry had been built with stones and boulders stacked to look natural, but upon closer inspection, Miranda saw they couldn’t have been. It was too perfect to be done by nature alone.

There were a few circular fire pits made from old rocks, which were the only indication that anyone had ever spent time here before.

“Whose cave is this?” she asked.

“Goblins.”

Her spine straightened. “Aren’t they the guys who poisoned you?”

“Yes, but they did not poison me. Humans did. Using goblin poison.” He continued gathering debris to use as firewood. “Goblins abandoned this cave long ago. They no longer come to the surface.”

“Are... they friendly?” She wrung her hands, still wrapping her brain around orcs.

He shrugged. “The three sentinel races are at peace with one another. We cannot afford war among each other as well as the Waking Order.”

She nodded as he struck up the fire with wet twigs. “How did you know this place was here?”

“I stayed here once, with a party of other orcs.” He said this so casually, but it had Miranda reeling.

What did he mean by a party of other orcs? Who were his family? Where was his clan? What was his upbringing like?

“Miranda.”

She looked up to find Govek had finished arranging the fish to roast and was now staring at her. His eyes reflected the firelight. She lost every question she’d planned to ask as her gut heated deliciously.

Miranda pulled her cloak off and laid it out by the fire before sitting down on top of it.

“Wanna sit by me?” she offered, scooching over to make room for him on the cloak. Though it wasn’t much room.

He turned around, still watching her, looking like he might pounce. Her stomach flipped and fluttered, and she chewed her lips.

He kneeled near her, though not on the cloak, his gaze on her hair. He reached out but stopped short of touching her.

“It’s kinda wavy, huh?” she said breathlessly. “It’s nice, actually. I can usually just brush it and let it do what it wants, and it looks good.” She’d taken advantage of that many, many times when she pulled a daycare shift before work started at the bank.

“You are the loveliest thing I have ever seen, Miranda.”

All traces of humor died out in her chest at the husky way his voice rumbled over her. She broke the eye contact, feeling overwhelmed. “That’s a really sweet thing to say to someone who just survived the apocalypse.”

Govek’s brows rose, and for one staggering moment, Miranda thought he might ask. That she might finally get into this.

She wasn’t ready, though. She wasn’t sure she would ever be ready to relive what had happened to her on Earth. The emotional tide rose in the back of her throat and it was all she could do to keep it locked away. Out of sight.

“Miranda.”

Govek’s voice brought her back, and she blinked rapidly at him. “S-sorry, were you saying something? I swear I’m not so spacey on a normal day. I can multitask like none other. You have to, to take care of a group of toddlers all by yourself.” Her throat closed, and she choked on the words. Frick! She was trying not to think about this, and now it was all she could do.

Her babies were all she could see.

“Hmm.” A gentle brush through her hair brought her back to the present. Govek ran his gloved fingers slowly across her temple and back behind her ear. The leather pushed through the strands and felt cool on her cheek.

He wrapped a hand around the base of her skull and pulled her forward into his chest. The swift scent of pine and the heat of his skin soothed her like something out of her best daydreams. The lull of his heart thrummed a quiet rhythm into her muscles. His breath, against the top of her head, tickled her hair and forced her eyes to flutter.

She took a deep breath, soaking up the sensation of being surrounded by him. Just like when he’d caught her in the sand.

It was so easy to forget everything when Govek wrapped her up like this. And she wanted to forget. It hurt too much.

Why had she survived when everyone else was gone?

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