Page 60 of The Orc Outcast's Mate

He sputtered, words catching on his tongue before he could push them out. “Why are you apologizing?”

Miranda wrapped her arms around his, and pressed her warm head against him as they walked. “Because I’ve had you do a bunch of magical favors for me. And in order to do them, you have to feel bad. I don’t want you having to feel pain or anger just to make my life easier.”

He blinked rapidly. “It’s... fine, Miranda. I truly do not mind. I’ve been performing magic all of my life. It is unavoidable in this clan, as you saw by how many things within my home require magic to function. That is why I was given a home on the outskirts to begin with. It was for everyone’s protection.”

“So, you’ve been completely isolated from your clan almost your entire life because they didn’t want to help you?”

“Help with what?”

“They could have found ways for you to live without having to use magic so much. And there are loads of ways to help anger issues, Govek. They could have helped you if they tried. Honestly, isolating you probably made it worse. It’s pretty shitty that they made you live all the way out there and wouldn’t even let you celebrate holidays with them.”

He shook his head. She didn’t understand. “My father did what he needed to do to keep the clan safe.”

Her eyes flashed with anger and she came to a halt. “You mean the chief. Your dad, the chief, was the one that alienated you?”

“No,” Govek said quickly. “No, it was my choice to keep myself separated.”

“So, you picked that house at the edge of the clan?”

“No, my father assigned it, but I went willingly.”

“And how old were you when you started living there?”

Govek’s brow furrowed, not quite understanding why that was relevant. He had to think about it a moment because he honestly couldn’t recall. “Seven summers or so.”

The anger evaporated from her face, and he almost managed a breath until pain replaced it. “Seven. You were seven years old when you had to go live out there. Alone.”

“Yes.”

She shook her head. “You were a baby.”

Govek jerked in shock. “I assure you I was not. I was twice the size of other Rove orcs my age.”

Her lower lip trembled, and she stepped toward him. “Come here. Just... dang it.”

Her voice broke as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Govek could not fathom why she was so upset by this information. “Orcs are not humans, Miranda. I was perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”

“All orcs get their own homes at seven?”

“Well... no,” he mumbled. “But it had to be done.”

“Stop it,” she said, squeezing harder. “Just... stop.”

So, he did. He was enjoying the lush feel of her curled around him too much to speak anyway. Her honeyed scent and warm body and firm breasts pressed into his chest.

“I’m not going to argue about this with you right now, but damn.” Miranda reached up to scratch at the base of his neck, and he nearly shivered. “Why the heck did you stay here? If they were treating you so badly, why did you stay?”

“They were not treating me badly,” Govek insisted. “They have every right to be afraid.”

“Karthoc didn’t seem afraid of you. Why didn’t you go live with him a long time ago?”

He wasn’t. In fact, Karthoc’s powerful warriors had accepted him into their fold when they had traveled to Clairton. But until then, Govek hadn’t thought any other orcs would want to give him sanctuary. What chief would want to harbor a male so dangerous? Karthoc had invited him, but that did not mean the rest of the clan would accept him.

And aside from that. “Tavggol was here.” His elder brother had been the only orc that Govek had considered a close confidant. Tavggol was the only one who came to visit regularly, brought him food, celebrated the seasonal shifts, foraged with him, fished with him, and even invited him to join his friends occasionally.

Miranda tightened her hold on him again, turning her face so she could nuzzle his cheek. He relished every gentle touch she gave him.

“If I had left, I would not have met you,” he said before he realized the words were forming.

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