Page 99 of The Orc Outcast's Mate

“I should get the fishing done, Miranda.” Govek moved to stand.

“Hey.”

She gripped his wrist and pulled him down and lingered a gentle kiss to his lips. Bliss radiated through his entire frame.

She broke off the kiss far too soon and he asked, “Do you want to wait here or come down to the pool with me?”

“I’ll wait here.”

His disappointment was stifled as she kissed him again. It took far too much effort to leave her, but he had to, or they would have no lunch.

He gathered his spear, tied it to his back, and began the slow climb down the cliffside.

Chapter

Seventeen

MIRANDA

Miranda waited until Govek was out of sight before going to the edge to watch him, then she breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him drop onto the slim bank far below. Safe and sound. She ducked back before Govek could look up and see how close she’d gotten to the ledge. He hated when she got close.

But the view was absolutely stunning, and it was difficult for her not to linger.

The positioning of the falls where they’d made their camp was a little dangerous. They were on a cliffside halfway up the waterfall. The glittering crystalline water plummeted from a ledge twenty feet above her and crashed into a deep pool nearly forty feet below. The cliffside seemed stable enough, Govek had examined it to make sure, but mist from the falls made everything around a little slick.

That mist also sprayed up, casting rainbows in almost every patch of sunlight that streamed through the trees. Gray-blue rocks covered with bright green moss framed the banks. They were offset by the bright red foliage of the trees surrounding them.

The rushing water itself was rapid, vivid, and loud. It helped clear her mind and eased her into relaxing.

Govek had built them a makeshift camp, and they had come up here from dawn till dusk for the last three days. He’d created a lean-to using sticks and animal furs, so they had a dry place to protect from the wind and falling leaves. The campfire had a tall wall of stones circling it to keep loose embers at bay. He’d even collected some of the moss into thick piles and covered them with soft deer hides so they had beds to nap on. And do other things...

Her chest warmed, and she suddenly wished he would hurry with the fishing.

The number of fish they’d eaten was out of hand. She almost felt bad about it. Govek’s skills with a spear would single-handedly cause the small trout to be extinct.

And yet, every day he would climb back up the cliff with a dozen more, like it was nothing. Green abs glistening from mist and sweat. Damp shirt sticking to his skin, accentuating his arms. Eyes glistening with pleasure when he saw her waiting.

He really was the best distraction.

“Fades have mercy.”

Miranda jolted to her feet and whirled around, scampering further away from the edge of the cliff just to be certain she wouldn’t slip.

And closer to the newcomer.

A bald white orc with misty eyes and a slender build stood at the edge of the tree line, scowling and muttering.

The seer. The seer was here. At their camp.

He let out another foul curse and then turned back to the woods.

“W-wait!” Miranda hurried toward the white male before he could escape. “Seer, wait!”

“Get away from me. I told you, you’re too much.”

“Too much what?” She’d been waiting for a chance to find her way back into the clan for days just so she could find this male and now here he was. Right in front of her! “Please, can’t you tell me? I could fix it.”

“There’s nothing to fix. You aren’t supposed to be here.”

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