Page 53 of The Orc Outcast's Mate

Clean air, no exhaust fumes or chemical undertones.

Govek’s body felt a little tense under her as he pressed his mouth to the top of her head. She felt him gulp against her scalp.

Then he let out a very low, tender rumble.

The sound was like nothing she’d ever heard, like a buttery vibration easing away every drop of tension her muscles held. It rolled over her skin, wiped out all her thoughts and soothed her mind back into drowsy bliss.

“Thank you. That’s good,” she whispered, wanting him to keep it up. And he did. His body relaxed at her praise, and he growled again. “That feels good.”

He let out a pleasure drenched huff, a chuckle of disbelief. He growled again, and she shut her eyes. They lay like that for a long while, but unlike the other three times she’d been woken from nightmares that night, her mind refused to slip back into slumber.

“I’ll get your water,” Govek finally said. His voice gruff from exhaustion.

“Not yet.” She curled into him. She stroked his bare chest, and he huffed. “I’m sorry I’ve woken you up so many times tonight.”

“It is fine, Miranda.”

“Was I rescued by an orc or a saint?”

He didn’t respond, only moved away slightly so he could reach the cup on the bedside table. She’d forgotten how big he was. How easily he could reach across the massive bed.

Morning light was barely breaking through the bedroom window. Massive dark trees loomed around them. A subtle breeze blew leaves past the glass. The crackle of the fire from the living room was soothing, dappling shadows on the wood walls. Everything was naturally built. No plastic. Barely any metal, even.

She took a sip of the crisp water. It tasted unreal. So pure it barely had any flavor to it.

Nothing like Earth.

She took a deep breath and tried to push the memories of desert waste and burning chemicals out of her mind. Even before the bombs dropped, water had to be triple filtered so it could be drinkable. Five times in the case of Riverside Daycare. It was one of their selling points. A twelve-stage filter—only the best for them. Her babies.

Her stomach rolled and her eyes burned, and she thought she might upchuck the water she’d just had.

“Miranda?”

Govek tipped her chin up, and she looked at his unearthly face. Green gold eyes, light emerald complexion, strong jaw with a slight underbite, pointed tipped ears. She grazed her fingers along one and he shivered.

He was not of Earth and that fact brought her endless comfort.

“I’m sorry,” she said, withdrawing her hand. “I’m sorry I keep waking you up.”

The nightmares just wouldn’t stop. No matter how hard she tried to block out all her painful memories, they kept getting worse.

“All is well, Miranda. I do not mind.”

She shot him a smile before resting her head on his chest.

He took the cup from her and set it on the table again. His pillows smelled of him, musky pine.

She chose to use his shoulder instead of the pillow. “How much time do we have left to sleep?”

“Not much. It’s later than it seems. The day’s grow short as winter comes in.”

“Hmm.” She glanced out at the quiet dawn. “Do you think the seer will be at the announcement?”

Govek hesitated slightly. “Perhaps.”

“I just want to know,” Miranda said slowly. “I’m certain he’ll be able to help me recover my memories and tell me what happened to them. I know it’s a long shot, but do you think... do you think maybe they lived? The babies I took care of?”

Govek tensed under her.

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