Page 80 of The Orc Outcast's Mate

“What the fuck is she?” Evythiken’s voice was jagged. Sharp glass slicing through Govek’s mind. He held Miranda tight in his arms and stepped away.

“Miranda,” Govek rasped, shaking her slightly.

Fuck, she was gone.

Her body was limp, her eyes closed. He was trembling too hard to tell if she was breathing.

Gone.

Fades help him.

“Get her away from me,” Evythiken said, gripping his head, half doubled over. He staggered toward the far edge of the path.

The seer’s voice blistered through him like a red-hot poker and Govek managed a few more steps away, fighting between keeping Miranda in his grip and the trembling agony burning through him.

“Away!” Evythiken nearly roared. “I’ve enough of my own agonies. I need not hers too. Get her away. Do not come near me again.”

Fuck, fuck. An order from the seer was higher even than Karthoc’s and still Govek grappled, caring only for his mate, who was now lifeless and still in his arms.

He had to get her to the healer. To shelter.

The storeroom.

Govek backed away from the seer and the bubble of agony popped around him the moment he was out of the male’s mental reach. He glanced back only once to find Evythiken limping into the forest, head still in his hands. Fighting his own terrors.

Or Miranda’s.

He nearly wrenched the door to the storeroom off its hinges and slammed it hard behind him as he entered. Inside, all was still, quiet. No one was here.

He staggered to the bags of stacked grain on the opposite wall and laid Miranda down, checking her breathing.

She was alive.

He fell to his knees next to her, his heart pounding, his blood coursing sharp terror through his veins. “Miranda, come back to me.”

Her eyes fluttered slightly, and he gripped her hands. They were so tiny in his. So warm. Red streaks from his own bloodied palms marred them.

“Govek.”

A croaking gasp left his throat as his mate’s eyes opened. He ducked his head to hide the gripping tide of emotions flooding through him.

“Govek. What . . . where are we?”

He couldn’t speak. He pressed her hands to his forehead. He wanted to rake his claws along his scalp, but refused to let her go.

“Govek, where are we? What happened? There was a bright light and...” She shifted her weight, eyes clearing, breathing steadily.

She was all right. She’d recovered.

Fuck, he couldn’t get his heart to stop pounding. His hands shook in hers.

“Govek? It’s okay.” She pulled her hands from his grip and grazed her gentle fingers along his scalp. Her soothing touch rolled over him like a balm. “I remember a bright light and... oh, the seer! Where’s the seer?”

Fuck the seer. “Gone.”

“What? Gone where?”

“Into the woods.”

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