Page 119 of The Orc Outcast's Mate

It took Miranda a second to realize what they were talking about. They meant the elk. “Okay, go on.”

“The butchers would never do such horrible work. The meat came to them like that. Already cut up.”

“What are you saying?” Miranda went cold as the other women avoided her gaze.

Hilva rose to her feet, skewering Miranda with her sharp, angry eyes. Her voice rose high enough to echo off the crystalline leaves of the Great Rove Tree, raining poison down around them all as she said.

“Govek caused those marks. He tortures animals as he kills them.”

Chapter

Twenty-Two

GOVEK

Govek found his father where he usually was—on his throne atop the platform, surveying the meal with sharp eyes.

Govek sucked in a deep breath, knowing what this conversation would entail. His father would not let the trade be their only topic. The merger would be brought up.

His father would never allow him to be chief, of that Govek was certain, but Ergoth likely expected Govek to find a way to change Karthoc’s mind. To stop the merger by other means.

His gut twisted as he tried to imagine what demands his father might make.

Helplessly, he scanned the crowd and found Miranda being led over to the women’s table. The other males were getting up to give his mate a wide berth.

Good.

“Govek.”

He turned around and found Karthoc, tense and glancing into the crowd as if looking for someone.

“Warlord,” Govek said quietly.

“You don’t scent Evythiken, do you?” Karthoc said, still searching the crowd.

“No.”

“Blasted male has a habit of popping up where he’s least wanted,” Karthoc said. “And he’ll skin my scalp if he finds me talking to you. Come over here.”

Govek hesitated. It was unwise to ignore an order from the warlord but he was unwilling to be interrogated if he could avoid it.

Karthoc scowled at Govek’s reluctance. “I’m not here to beat you down about becoming chief. I’m here to talk about the trade.”

The trade?

After a deep breath, Govek followed Karthoc into a darkened corner of the hall. “You are going to the trade, right?”

Govek furrowed his brow. “I planned to. I’m here to speak to Chief Ergoth about it.”

“Good. I need you to do me a favor and distract him so we can follow.”

Govek went cold. “What?”

“Don’t look so Fades-stricken. I just need to speak to the headman. I don’t have much choice after Brovdir...”

“What did Brovdir do?”

“I’ll tell you if you get us to the trade without your precious father finding out.”

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