Page 69 of The Orc Outcast's Mate

Govek let her go and Miranda blinked with shock, chest tightening at the fact that he could release her by someone else’s command so easily.

“Come, child,” the orc said, his voice smooth and coaxing. He gestured toward the stairs near the back of the stage. “Join me here so we may converse more easily. You have nothing to fear. We will not allow harm to come to you.”

“I wasn’t worried about that. Govek does a good job of protecting me.” Miranda tried to take back Govek’s hand, but he had balled it into a tight fist and her stomach twisted. “Hey, uncurl, don’t cut yourself.”

Govek ignored her and the chief continued. “What’s this? He’s cut you? Fades, Agol, call Hovget to my throne. We need to get her injury seen to.”

“What? No, I’m perfectly fine,” Miranda said, even as a somewhat muscular orc she hadn’t noticed before left his post at the back of the stage, descended the five steps, and disappeared into the ever-watching crowd. “I was talking about Govek?—”

“Hovget, good, you are here. Bring Miranda to the stage.”

They were back already? “Hold on, time out. I don’t want to?—”

“You should go.”

Govek’s strained rumble caught all her attention. “Govek, I’m fine with you.”

“I’m not...” He raked a hand through his hair, eyes darting back to where the orcs he’d almost brawled with were still sitting and talking animatedly. “I need a moment.”

Miranda let out a long breath, not wanting to leave him but...

The platform was taller. Would she be able to see the seer from up there? “Okay. I’ll go up, but don’t bolt on me. I don’t know how to get back to your house.”

“We would be happy to find you a home closer to the hall,” the chief said. “Hovget, she’s just here. Guide her up.”

The doctor orc appeared on her left and gestured toward the stairs without touching her. “Miranda.”

“Hi,” she said to the male with a nod before brushing Govek’s still clenched hand. “I’ll be right back, tough guy.”

Her pet name seemed to soothe him slightly. She would have given him a quick kiss to calm him further if the doctor hadn’t been ushering her up so quickly, sticking close to her back.

“Don’t mention the blood.” Hovget hissed into her ear as they ascended the steps onto the platform. They were a little taller than she was used to and she had to concentrate on each one to keep from tripping.

“Excuse me?” Miranda said.

“Govek’s blood,” Hovget said. “Don’t tell the chief I took some.”

What the...? She didn’t have time to question it because a second later she was being presented to the opulent orc whose wide smile and tucked away teeth were far more unsettling than Govek’s sharp rows.

“Welcome, welcome. Come, tell me your name. Hovget, examine her wound. We don’t want to leave her bleeding,” he said exuberantly, waving Miranda forward.

Was he talking about her period? Jeez, could every orc smell it? “I’m really not hurt.”

“She isn’t,” Hovget assured, passing her on toward the chief. “Can I go?”

“If there is nothing more you can do for her, then yes, Hovget, by all means, return to your mate. Come here, child. Let me look at you. My, you do look a state. We’ll get you some better treatment now that you’ve arrived.”

“I’ve been treated well by Govek.” Miranda was getting tired of repeating this.

“What are you called? I am Chief Ergoth of this clan. You may come to me if you are in need of anything.”

“You can call me Miranda,” she said, looking out over the crowd of orcs. Most of them were now seated, which made it easy to search for the seer.

“Miranda,” the chief said smoothly. “That is quite lovely and unusual. You are most welcome here, Miranda. We are glad to have you. It is very rare for us to have a woman from outside Rove Wood join us. Most come from Oakwall Village, you see. A community of humans we are quite peaceful with. All orcs of Rove Wood Clan are welcoming to humans. I’m sure you have enjoyed some of their hospitality so far, yes? Have you made any friends?”

“Uh, we just got here.”

“But you visited with Maythra and Viravia last night, did you not? They spoke very highly of you. I’ll make sure you can visit with them again. And that you can meet all the women who have chosen to make our clan their home. Them and their mates. We would be happy to host you here at the hall for all of your meals.”

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