Page 100 of The Orc Outcast's Mate

Before Miranda could stop him, he turned and disappeared back into the forest. Her mind worked rapidly. Govek would fume if she went after the seer right now, but dang it, she needed to talk to him.

Making Govek upset would just have to be the price she paid.

Before she could even reach the tree line, the seer was walking back into the clearing. He froze, white eyes blinking slowly.

“I’m back, aren’t I?”

“Yeah, you are,” Miranda said, somewhat breathlessly.

“Fuck.” The seer nearly snarled making his way over to the fire. “Give me some food.”

“Uh...” Miranda went to Govek’s bag and dug through it, producing the hardened bread. “Here.”

“Set it there,” the seer muttered, pointing to a rock nearby.

“Can you... see?” Miranda asked as she sat it down.

What were the extent of the seer’s powers?

Would he really be able to tell her what happened to the children at Riverside Daycare?

She wrung her hands. Her desperation for answers gripped her so hard that she saw stars.

“Did you honestly just ask me if I could see?” the male asked, voice clipped. Then he cursed, snapping his hands to his bare head, gripping hard enough to bruise.

“Are you okay?” Miranda said, hurrying over, but she was careful not to touch him.

“What do you think?” the male snapped. Miranda somehow managed to stay silent.

Silence seemed to be the right approach because the seer snatched up the bread and took a bite. His shoulders relaxed. His palm pressed into his forehead. “This is horrible.”

“Yeah, sorry. Govek is catching fish right now. We’d be happy to let you stay and eat.”

“I don’t want to be around you one split of a moment longer.”

Her stomach dropped, “What did I do wrong? Can you tell me that much at least?”

The seer paused, fingers digging into the lump of bread, white eyes lingering toward the fire. She wondered if he could see the light of it or maybe he just felt the warmth. He finally sighed, long and hard.

“I apologize. Things with that blasted fool of a warlord aren’t—thank you for the bread. I won’t be finishing it. Do you want it back?”

“No, it’s fine. You can keep it.”

“Are you certain? You could likely use this as a weapon. Use it to fend off those desperate fools pining and plotting away in the hall. Though I suppose Govek does that for you, doesn’t he?”

Miranda straightened. “Wait, what? What do you mean, plotting?”

“I’m sure you noticed. Most of the Rove Wood fools are desperate for new women. All they have are those humans from Oakwall who’ve known them their entire lives. Why do you think Tavggol took the risk of sparking peace with Clairton?”

Miranda’s brow furrowed. “Are you saying that the Rove Wood orcs are plotting to separate me and Govek?”

“Do birds squawk?” the seer muttered. “Some are too scared, and some are smart enough not to try, but there are a few shallow idiots that think themselves so lofty you would never refuse them.”

“Which ones?” Miranda asked, wanting to avoid them.

“I’ll tell you if you let me go.”

“Let you go? I’m not holding you here.”

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