Page 117 of The Orc Outcast's Mate

The male orc’s dark green eyes only narrowed slightly.

Oh, for crying out loud. This guy wanted to fight? Govek would flatten him.

And it wasn’t the best idea. Their low profile had been destroyed by Beleda’s address and most people in the hall were now looking in their direction, craning around each other to watch. Some were even getting to their feet.

So much for hiding in the corner.

“Miranda, it’s good to see you again,” Beleda said, her voice shaking a little.

“It’s good to see you too, Beleda,” Miranda said, glancing at the angry orc behind her.

Beleda hurried on. “This is my mate, Tayveth. We’re all eager to meet you. Would you like to eat with us?”

She heard Govek gulp.

To help ease the tension, Miranda turned to Govek, stroking down his cheek. “I’ll be all right with her.” She carried her touch down to his chest and gave a little shove. “The faster you have your convo, the faster we can go home.”

Govek’s jaw worked, and his eyes flashed from hers to Tayveth’s.

Miranda hooked a finger into the collar of his shirt and pulled him down to whisper. “Dude, you’d eviscerate that guy. He’s got the muscles of a toddler. I could take him for crying out loud. Ain’t no way I’m leaving this”—she stroked Govek’s bulging bicep—“for that twig.”

Govek’s heated chuckle shot triumph down Miranda’s spine and forced her to grin, helplessly. He buried his face in her hair a moment, nuzzling the top of her head. “Fuck, woman. You and your comparisons.”

He released her and addressed an angry looking Tayveth. Clearly, he’d heard Miranda’s insult, but thankfully Beleda hadn’t. “Keep her safe.”

Tayveth snorted. “As if I’m the one?—”

“We will,” Beleda quickly interrupted, putting a hand on her mate. The male huffed but relented.

Miranda watched pensively as Govek moved off toward his father’s platform.

He’d be gone for a couple minutes. Nothing bad could happen in a couple minutes.

And Maythra wasn’t here. It would be fine.

“Come this way, Miranda,” Beleda said, gesturing for her to follow. Miranda tried not to get all antsy about the way Tayveth followed close behind her, as if he were herding her along. “We’ve been hoping you would join us for a while. We wanted to see how you are, uh... settling in.”

“I’m settling in great,” Miranda assured them. “Govek has been treating me really well.”

“Of course,” Beleda said with a light smile just as they arrived at the table. As they did, all the orcs got up and went to sit elsewhere.

“Oh, they—they don’t have to leave on my account,” Miranda said, even as they were already gone.

Beleda fidgeted. “It’s not you, it’s...” She glanced toward where Govek stood. He’d paused half way to the platform and was watching.

Ah. Miranda understood then. None of these guys wanted to get into a punching match.

“Sit down here by me,” Beleda said, gesturing Miranda to one of the bench seats. “Let me introduce everyone.”

There were ten women seated at the table, and every one of them had the same expression on their face—pale shock and brow-pinched pity. Two-thirds of them were younger, around her age, and the rest were much older. She realized that all the middle-aged women were probably with their children at the seasonal communion.

Beleda rattled off their names so fast Miranda’s head spun.

“I swear I’ll try really hard to remember all of your names.” Miranda cast them a smile that she hoped didn’t reveal how tense she was.

One of the older women chuckled. “Just call everyone dear. That’s what I do.”

“You saying you don’t remember my name, Glenna?” another elderly woman replied.

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