Page 46 of The Orc Outcast's Mate

“I have never perfected the skill,” he said flatly.

Miranda couldn’t help laughing. “I’m sorry. Sorry,” she said, stroking the top of his head. She curled around him. “Thank you for telling me all this, Govek. I know it wasn’t easy.”

He huffed.

“Can I ask you some more questions? Or have you reached your limit?”

His grumble rolled through her, but he nodded. “Ask.”

“Are you still imprinted on Yerina?”

He pushed away from her again, looking aghast and confused. “No. Of course I am not, or I couldn’t be imprinted on you. It broke at Clairton. A full season ago.”

“Okay.” She moved her hands down to tap at his chest, pursing her lips. “So, this imprint thing. How exactly does it work?”

Govek brought a hand down into the water to curl around her hip. The tub was three quarters full and suddenly the tap cut off on its own. The room plunged into silence. She glanced up just as the pipe retreated and the door in the ceiling clicked shut. Magic was amazing.

Govek remained silent, so she pressed, “The women at Viravia’s... they made it sound like it took time. Like you needed to have pretty strong feelings for someone before you were imprinted.”

His throat worked in a gulp.

“Do you . . . have strong feelings for me?”

Finally, he met her eyes. His lips were set in a tight line.

“It’s okay if you do,” Miranda assured him. “It’s good if you do.”

His brows went up.

“I have pretty strong feelings for you too, or I wouldn’t be sitting naked in your lap right now.” She stroked his chest, and he shuddered under her. “I was only asking because the women made it seem like it wasn’t really possible for you to be imprinted on me so fast.”

“It . . . is not.”

She waited, let him gather his thoughts.

“I saw you fall from the sky, Miranda, and in that single moment, the imprint hit. There are children’s stories of instant imprints, but I’ve never heard of it being real.”

“Oh,” Miranda said. Her gut twisted a little. “Are you sure that you actually are imprinted then?”

“Yes. Very.” Govek wrapped his other hand around her hips now too.

“You mentioned before that you think the Fades did it?”

“I do.”

Miranda hummed, unsure she liked the idea of him being forced into this. “So, what does this imprint mean for us? You?”

“It . . . drives me to care for you.”

Miranda raised her brows.

“The imprint thrums when you are content and when you show me affection. It makes me want to offer you boons and protect you from harm.”

“So, you are forced to like me?”

Govek snorted. “No. I do like you, and that makes the imprint stronger, and thus, I want to offer you even better care. If I had found you annoying or unpleasant, it would have faded out. It may have started strong, but it is growing stronger because I find you so...” He paused to think, and Miranda held her breath. “Radiant.”

Miranda felt her heart filling up and flooding over with warmth. “Wow. You really know how to flatter, don’t you?”

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