Page 73 of The Orc Outcast's Mate

His father was right. She did not deserve to be dragged around like an animal. She did not deserve to have her choices snuffed out and her vulnerabilities preyed upon by his worthless instincts. The instincts that drove him to care for her and cleave to her would be the reason he lost her.

Her brow furrowed. “What are you thinking? Don’t you dare tell me to go sit with them. I’m staying with you.”

Her words soothed away some of his rage. “I’m not?—”

“I get to decide what I want to do, Govek. And who I want to spend my time with.” Miranda looked toward the table. Every eye in the room was on her, but those of the humans burned the brightest. “Maythra is over there, and I don’t see Viravia.”

Govek let out a long breath, agony rippling over him at the thought. Without Viravia, it was likely that every woman in attendance would be quickly drawn into tales of all his past transgressions. Not that it would matter. There was truly nothing he could say to paint his past actions in a better light.

He raked a hand over his face, trying to find the correct path through this.

“Hey.” Miranda was suddenly very near, her chest almost brushing him, her hands cupping the sides of his face. “You wanna just leave and go knock down a few trees?”

He blinked, shook his head. “What?”

“Could be a good way to vent frustration, right?” She hummed, tapping her chin. The sly smile she gifted him was so fucking lovely he almost choked. “And after it’s down, you could, ya know, bend me over it?”

This time, he did choke.

Miranda grinned as his thoughts spiraled. “That’s better. Why don’t you think about it while we get some food?”

Think about it? While walking through the hall? While every single eye of his clansman and Karthoc’s warriors were upon them? Was she being serious?

He supposed her little plan had worked because before he knew it, he was fetching her a bowl and guiding her over to one of the stewpots. He couldn’t help noticing how close she remained to his side, how her gaze rarely left him and never once lingered on any of his brethren, how her expression only brightened when their eyes made contact.

Fuck, he was so lost to her. His instincts roared with pleasure and the burning need to haul her over his shoulder and carry her back to the depths of his home eased away.

“Where’s yours?” Miranda asked as he handed the bowl of fish stew to her and began to guide her to a quieter spot in the hall.

“I am not having any.”

“Dude, you’re all muscle. You probably have the metabolism of a sports car. You’ve gotta eat.”

Govek huffed, mostly with amusement. “I did not understand a single word you just said.”

“I could get you to eat if I wanted to,” she threatened, forcing his mirth higher.

“I’d like to see you make the attempt.”

“Okay, but I’m going to be using the same methods I used to ‘handle’ you yesterday before we got to the butchery.”

Pleasure burst up his spine, especially when he noted a few of the nearby orcs close enough to hear had turned to look. “Fuck, woman. I thought these things embarrassed you.”

She leaned up a little and whispered, “Being smelled and flirting are two completely different things, Govek.” She looked around then, her eyes scanning the room. “Though I suppose I shouldn’t if there are kids around. Where are all the kids? Were they not invited to this?”

“The sons are with their families and instructors deep in the Rove Woods.” Miranda’s curious smile prompted him. “Every orc son, from the time of their birth, goes to commune with the seasonal shifts in summer and winter. That is when the Rove magic is at its peak and the best time for teaching. They will not return for another half moon.”

“Oh, that’s pretty cool. Kinda like a field trip?” She didn’t wait for him to answer. “Must be pretty fun.”

Govek shrugged.

“You didn’t like it?”

“I was not allowed to attend.”

He shouldn’t have said it so casually, because the expression that crossed his mate’s face was anything but casual. “What do you mean? Why not? I thought you said they weren’t wary of your magic until you were seven.”

His stomach twisted as he realized his blunder. How could he tell her one of the darkest tales of his past? The one that caused his father to take drastic, necessary action to separate him for the protection of all in Rove Wood Clan?

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