Page 104 of The Orc Outcast's Miracle

Miranda finished dressing and came around the bolder just in time to see Govek’s expression go slack.

“Iytier . . . scent here. That’s . . . it can’t be.”

The male leaned close to the boar’s tusk and his brow furrowed. Then he shot back with wide eyes.

“Fades be fucked!”

“What?” Karthoc said. “What is it?”

“Magic,” Iytier said. “Orc magic.”

“Who?” Karthoc asked just as Govek had made it back to the bank.

He swung Miranda up into his arms. Held her tight. A chill sliced at her scalp as he barreled through the woods. But not before he raged over his shoulder to answer Karthoc’s question.

“Ergoth!”

Chapter

Twenty-Seven

GOVEK

Govek kicked the door to the hall so hard it nearly flew off its hinges.

“Where the fuck is he?”

His roar sliced through the clan instantly bringing many of the orcs to their feet. He must have looked insane—covered in blood, wreaking of blight, eyes wild as he clutched Miranda.

Glowers and demands to explain himself from the males blasted Govek and licked the flames of his rage higher. He didn’t give a shit what the clan thought of him. He had attention for only one being in this room.

Ergoth.

The vile chief scrambled up from his precious little throne and narrowed his worthless beady eyes in Govek’s direction. “Govek! How did you survi—how dare you bring your anger and strife into this hall?—”

“I challenge you!” Govek roared so loud that Miranda covered her ears. The words echoed around the hall and ricocheted up the Rove Tree, reflected into the crystal leaves and rained down upon the whole of the clan.

“You what?” Ergoth began to laugh. Govek trembled with the need to rip his mouth off his face. The only thing that stopped him was Miranda held securely in his arms.

His mate. She was all right. He needed to breathe.

“I challenge you,” Govek said. “For sending a boar and nearly killing my mate?—”

“A boar? What is this about a boar?” Ergoth said. “You’re covered in blood. Did you hurt her?”

“The boar attacked while we were fishing, there were children present,” Miranda said. And thank Fades because Govek’s throat was constricting. “You could have gotten them killed.”

“Is everyone all right?” Hovget rose from one of the center tables. Wellia followed suit. “Was anyone hurt?”

“Yes, Hovget, please, go and check over those who were attacked. Quickly,” Ergoth said.

“How dare you feign concern when you were the one who sent it!” Govek snarled as Hovget went still. Govek needed to calm, needed to get his raging inferno under control before he lost his ability for reason.

But fuck, Ergoth stood there looking so smug. He smoothed his robes, and turned up his nose, and barely bothered with the fact that he’d nearly destroyed the only thing Govek cared about in the whole world.

“Govek.” Miranda stroked the side of his face. His breathing was so labored it made his head dizzy. “Tough guy, you’ve got this.”

He squeezed his eyes shut and concentrated on her soothing fingers.

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