Page 104 of The Orc Outcast's Mate

She hated that he had a point and hit a low blow in retaliation. “An abandoned clan and a village of humans you’re on bad terms with.”

Govek growled and looked away again. “I don’t need to be on good terms with Oakwall.”

“For the last time, Govek you do. You absolutely do. You need community too. What if you got hurt and needed a healer?” He gave her a dubious look, and she amended. “Fine, what if I got hurt, and you tried to get me help and the residents of Oakwall turned you away at the gate?”

His expression turned stricken. It should not have made her feel so triumphant.

Govek looked away. Into the woods. Only the slight rustling of the wind in the crisp autumn leaves broke the tension as he thought.

She had to change his mind. She didn’t want to do this without him. She didn’t want to face the prospect of leaving him to find her babies.

But she would have to if he didn’t come around.

“A compromise then.”

Her heart thundered.

Govek met her gaze. “I will go to the trade with you in two days’ time and try to mend the bridge with Oakwall if you agree to ask Viravia if she knows a tracker who could help find your Earth children for us.”

Miranda’s heart was skittering all over itself and her guts twisted up so harshly she thought she might vomit. “How can you be sure that Viravia would even know anyone? How do you know we could trust them if she does?”

“Viravia has never betrayed this clan. She never would. The life of her son depends on the stability of these woods.”

His voice was cold and quiet and reminded Miranda that the clan was now facing a merger. She knew it weighed on Govek greatly, thinking about his nephew growing up at Baelrok.

But he’d also never once said he’d be willing to take on the role of chief to prevent that from happening.

She pressed a palm to her forehead. Things were so fricking complicated.

“Do we have a deal, Miranda?”

Did they? Her head ached as she went over all the moving parts.

There was no guarantee that Viravia would know a tracker. If she did, Miranda could still find a way to convince Govek to let her go with him to find her babies when the time came.

And they needed to get on friendly terms with Oakwall, regardless.

“Okay.” Miranda nodded. “We have a deal.”

Govek’s relief was so clear on his face that it transformed him. It smoothed out all the stress lines between his eyes, loosened his jaw. A wide, devilish grin broke across his face that made her stomach flip. Warmth spread through her, and she leaned into kiss his nose, his cheeks, his soft lips.

His expression had turned tender when she pulled away and it made her want to melt.

“Okay,” Miranda said softly. “So, first step I guess is having dinner with Viravia tonight and asking her if she knows someone who can help find my babies.”

Govek nodded slowly.

“And then day after tomorrow we go to the trade. Do you have anything you want to do to prepare? Should you hunt for it, so we have a peace offering?”

All the contentment in Govek’s expression fell away, and he was back to looking stricken. He raked a hand through his hair and sat back away from her.

“Govek, it’s okay. I know this isn’t going to be easy for you. I’ll do everything I can to support you.”

“Thank you,” he said softly. A quirked smile played at his lips. “It’s... odd to have someone on my side in this. I never have before.”

Her heart fluttered even as her stomach twisted.

“We will have to be very careful with how we proceed,” he explained. “They have the leverage necessary to issue a judgment against me. And if they do that... it will bring the worst upon us.”

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