Page 101 of The Orc Outcast's Mate

“Your desperation to dredge is,” he muttered, tossing away the hunk of bread.

“Really?” Miranda inched a little closer.

“Oh no, you don’t. You sit there.”

Miranda glanced to where he was pointing. “Uh... that’s off the cliff.”

“We’re next to a cliff?”

“Yeah, the falls are over?—”

“I’m blind, not deaf. I can hear the falls. I thought we were at the bottom. For fuck’s sake, are the Fades trying to kill me?” The seer stalked back toward the tree line, and this time, Miranda stayed put. “All I want is to get to that blasted hall so I can have a half-decent meal and the Fades tip me around and put me here. They want me to be in agony and starve to death is that?—”

He broke off with a hiss. Doubled over.

Miranda hurried forward. “Are you okay? Do you need?—?”

“I’m fucking blistering,” the seer raged. “Get—wait. Don’t move.”

Miranda froze.

“Just... wait.” He took a hesitant step forward and breathed deep. Miranda chewed her lip.

He continued moving toward her. Each step made tension grow in her chest. She watched the male’s hands, her own shaking as they continued to wring her skirt.

Just a touch and this would be over.

Her lip trembled. She didn’t know how she was so certain touching this male would solve the problem, but she did. And god, it was everything she could do not to run forward and grasp hold until she finally found out what had happened to her babies.

The seer hissed sharply and began to walk away, then froze again, groaned.

“For fuck’s sake, get yourself under control.”

Miranda stepped toward him. “W-what do you mean?”

“Your grief. It’s maddening. Muddling. You must stop.”

Her grief? “I... can try. If I can be distracted, I’ll?—”

The male hissed again. “Fine. Fine. I admit there is something, but I cannot dredge it now. You aren’t ready.”

“What do I have to do to get ready?”

“I don’t blasted know.” He gripped his head again. “They won’t stop screaming long enough for me to figure it the fuck out.”

“Screaming? Who’s screaming?”

“The Fades.”

The... Fades? But weren’t they supposed to be asleep?

“Ha! I wish they slept. Would give me a reprieve from their endless wailing.”

Her eyes widened, shock making her cold. “Can you read minds?”

“I read what the Fades allow.” He slumped further. “And right now, that is mostly constant agonizing screams.”

Miranda’s chest tightened as she wondered what it was like to be constantly hearing tortured screams in your head.

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