Page 77 of The Orc Outcast's Mate

“Only on one condition will I consider it.”

The whispers began again.

“Name it,” Ergoth said.

“If you want me to send the conjurers here, a score of my warriors will join to protect them.”

“Of course,” Ergoth said with an instant nod. “Of course, my nephew. We would welcome them warmly, just as we would welcome these new conjurers.”

“I’m not done.” Karthoc found Govek’s eyes again. “I will send my warriors and Govek will be named the chief of Rove Wood Clan. He will lead them—them and you.”

Govek’s ears rang, his stomach dropped and his eyes blurred as he tried to comprehend the words spewing from his cousin’s tongue. He could not discern if the roaring was from the voices of the clan or his own blood rushing through his veins.

“Silence!” Karthoc roared, though his demands did almost nothing this time. “Govek is the only male who understands what it means to wield strength and magic together. The only one who could understand their struggle. The only one who I can trust to follow my orders fully. It is that, or when I leave here to return to my forge, the whole of your clan will return with me.”

Govek rose from his seat, ignoring the onslaught of voices and orders and harsh rebukes. Ignoring even the screaming logic in his head that demanded he confront Karthoc and force him to undo this horror.

He needed to think. To catch his breath. To fucking escape.

He never should have come back.

He was dimly aware that Miranda, his precious mate, had grabbed his arm as he turned to go. The worry in her intense gaze skewered him.

And then she blessed him with firm words. “I’ll follow you.”

Chapter

Thirteen

MIRANDA

“Where are we going?”

Govek’s steps were heavy, his breathing was hard. She couldn’t see his face, but based on how tense his back was, Miranda suspected his expression was impressive.

“I can see sparks coming out of your ears, Govek,” she said, a desperate and failed attempt to lighten the mood as she struggled to keep up with his gait. “Govek, your house is that way, so what are we?—”

“Not my fucking house anymore,” he snarled, even as his steps slowed for her. She managed to catch her breath as he said, “We’re going to the fucking storeroom and taking every Fades-blasted thing and leaving this wretched place.”

“Okay. You sure we should make that decision right now?” Miranda asked, catching up to his side so she could see his expression. His eyes glittered with unchecked fury, jaw still tight around his tusks, a muscle in his cheek twitched. “Where would we go?”

“I don’t fucking know,” he admitted with a pain wrecked snarl that made her chest ache. “But it won’t be anywhere near this clan or my father or my cousin. I’ll build you a house near the mists and we’ll cut ties with every blasted—fuck!”

“Near the mists?” Miranda pressed, but he didn’t answer, only slowed his steps further. “Govek, tell me more. Talk to me.”

He finally looked at her full on and the desperation in his eyes made her stop. She pulled at his hand and forced him to stop with her. “Govek...”

“They ordered me to my fucking death, Miranda.”

Her stomach churned, but she managed to stay silent.

“My father ordered me to Estwill to retrieve women who he claimed wanted to live here even after I told him it would get me slaughtered. Even after I explained how wretched Estwill had become. That human city is a stronghold for the Waking Order now, and he expected me to just walk up to them without any aid. I would have been killed on sight at best. Brutally tortured at worst. And not one of the males in this clan gave a single shit. Not one of them said a word in my defense.”

Miranda squeezed his hand tight.

He looked down at her hand in his grip. “And why should they have? I’ve done nothing but cause strife and fear. They were likely thankful I was gone. And now Karthoc wants me to fucking lead them? He thinks I could be capable? He’s insane for believing that they would ever follow a single Fades-fucked thing I ever said.”

Miranda reached up to soothe his jaw, massaging it into relaxing. Govek squeezed his eyes shut. “And if I don’t, what then? Rove Wood Clan disbands? They are forced to join Karthoc’s forge because of me? Thousands of years of peace and power all destroyed because of me?”

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