Page 83 of The Orc Outcast's Conquest

She paused, her mind working. A snort left her, and he relaxed. “Okay, tough guy. Come here.”

His chest warmed with pleasure at her prompting, and he set the rabbit down by the fire. He snagged his pack so he could get her water and food to quell her hunger while he cooked her meal.

He lowered himself in front of her, ready to dig through the pack, but she grasped his hands instead, probing them with her deliciously warm fingers.

She’d gotten dressed while he was gone, in his shirt, her underwear and the cloak he’d made for her. The delicious memory of her naked body had him longing to strip her bare again. She trailed her soft fingertips over his, as if searching for damage.

“Looks like you’re okay,” she mumbled. “Why did you knock over a tree? Did it insult you?”

He grunted in amusement. Amusement which died away as Miranda rose and placed a chaste kiss to his lips. All warm and sweet against his icy skin. Blast him as a fool. He was dangerously close to tearing off her only set of clothes. By contrast, she lifted his cloak and slung it around his shoulders.

“You’re freezing,” she murmured, fumbling with the tie at the neck. The warmth of the cloak was nothing compared to her generous actions. Her eyes turned thoughtful, and she said, “Does the air seem... different to you?”

He blinked, tipped his head. “What do you mean?”

“I dunno. It’s weird, it just feels kinda electrified.” His confusion went deeper, and she let out an adorable snort of amusement. “I mean, like there’s going to be a thunderstorm soon.”

She could sense the incoming storm? “I believe a blizzard will descend upon us soon. That may be what you are sensing.”

“A blizzard?” She glanced toward the low fire and pulled her cloak up tighter.

Govek gulped thickly and went to the flames. Using his magic to build them up as he added in a few more logs. “I may need to put the boulder back in place so that the heat inside this cave can be better preserved.”

Fuck, would that even be enough? She was wearing literal scraps.

And her face went pale. “Is there somewhere else we can go?”

He shook his head. “My cla—Rove Wood Clan is still a two-day journey from here. All will be well, Miranda. I will not allow harm to come to you.” He’d battle the Fades themselves to keep her hale.

Her throat worked in a swallow, but she nodded.

He finished with the logs and returned to her side. How long did they have before the storm hit? Did he have time to hunt for more supplies? “I may need to go back out. Collect more provisions.”

“I should go with you. I can help.”

His throat felt tight. “No, Miranda, it is too cold for you.”

“But if there isn’t much time, then we should both?—”

“You can best help by keeping the fire high,” he said firmly. “Keeping yourself warm and safe.”

“I’m not some fragile butterfly, Govek”—she rose to her feet, ignoring his scowl—“and you can warm me up when we get back.”

A low rumble left his throat, and he raked a hand through his hair. He should not rely on her like this, but an extra set of hands would be useful with their limited time.

And he was reluctant to part from her again.

“Fine,” he muttered, “but you’ll wear my cloak too.” They’d left her shorts on the rock at the spring the day before so all she had was her underwear and his oversized shirt. He’d give her his pants as well but his underwear were in tatters from his overzealous removal the night before and he wasn’t certain what would discomfort her more, his nakedness or the cold.

“Keep it for now. I’ll tell you if I get too cold,” she insisted and he let out a long sigh laced with resignation. He could carry her if she got too chilled.

Deep in his bones, he felt that delightful thrum of her imprint soothing away his reservations.

He lifted his pack from the ground and gestured for her to follow him out of the cave. “Come then. We’ll go to the spring first.”

Chapter

Fifteen

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