Page 108 of The Orc Outcast's Miracle

“A challenge has been issued, Ergoth.” Karthoc’s voice was a pool of rage. “By the laws of our kind, you will fight or you will yield.”

“I will not! I demand to select a champion!” Ergoth said so confidently that Govek wondered if this had been his plan all along. To elect someone to fight Govek in his stead. Perhaps many.

But a deadly hush settled over the males of Rove Wood. Ergoth had destroyed himself already and was too delusional to see it.

Karthoc snarled. “You coward. You will fight your own battle.”

Govek cut in. “No. I will accept it.” He gave Miranda’s hand a final squeeze, earning her strength in return as he stepped forward to address the clan. “Any male here who wants to fight on Ergoth’s behalf, step forward now. Step forward and I will fucking cut you down and throw you out of the Rove Woods along with him.”

No one twitched.

“You cretins!” Ergoth snarled, shaking wildly in his fury. His hair came undone from his queue. His face was so dark it was a wonder it didn’t pop. “I am your chief. You will stand and fight. I command it!”

Not a single orc stood. Not one of them spoke on his behalf.

Govek’s chest swelled, and his mind reeled, and his thoughts turned to the stark similarities between now and that night that Ergoth ordered him to Estwill.

“Karthoc. Warlord. Nephew.” Ergoth raised his chin so high Govek could see into his nostrils. “You will fight for me. You are duty bound to answer the?—”

Karthoc bellowed laughter so loud it thundered through the room. “You are a fucking fool, Ergoth. Your Rove Wood rules don’t apply to me. You must fight your own battle and I have a mind to challenge you when Govek is done! If there is anything left of you.”

“You’ll have to get in line after me.” Miranda’s seething tone sent a shiver up Govek’s spine, and he could not tell if he was more terrified by his mate’s fury or impressed.

He reached to touch her cheek once more before he stalked toward Ergoth’s pretentious platform. Govek’s blood turned to pure energy as he barreled toward his father. His eyes pinned the male. The chaos of his mind swirled dangerously high. Govek struggled to comprehend what he was feeling.

All he knew was that his claws were aching to sink deep into something other than his own palms.

Ergoth held up his hands as he attempted his holding magic, a desperate effort to stop Govek’s advance.

But the magic was barely a glimmer in the back of Goveks mind. Hardly a prickle along his flesh. Govek used his rage like a shield and Ergoth’s magic was nothing against his furious power.

Ergoth’s eyes widened in shock, and he took a step back. His hands fell as he changed tactics. He address the clan again. “How dare you abandon me this way! I have only ever done good for you! I was saving you from having a tyrant for a chief. You all know Govek needed to die. You all know how vile he is! You wanted him as your leader? To follow in my footsteps? To steal this clan away from Tavggol’s son? The rightful ruler?”

Govek stormed up the steps, barreling his weight onto the wood. For the first time in his life, the platform welcomed him, beckoned him. He felt not a drop of hesitation as he approached his father.

Ergoth spun to face him and screamed. “Get away from?—”

Govek lifted his foot and slammed it into Ergoth’s chest.

The male flew backward, hurtled to the ground below. Ergoth slammed onto the stone, gasping and writhing.

And Govek felt no better for it. Instead, his chest only tightened and the foot that had struck his father broke out into pins and needles. The swirling turbulence in his mind popped in an instant. The desire to waste one more motion on this sniveling male was gone, disgust rolled into his stomach.

Govek lowered his foot, watching his father swing back around to his hands and knees. Ergoth tried to rise to his feet, but he tripped on his own opulent robes.

Further violence would only make Ergoth the victim and Govek the monster all over again.

So Govek looked to the clan, found the males tense, wide eyes engulfing their faces, fists balled as if they were prepared for Govek to go mad.

Instead, Govek stepped back away from Ergoth’s revolting form. A hush fell over the clan. A calm Govek had never sensed from them before.

Ergoth gasped and sputtered. Rage contorted his face when he saw that his once loyal males were not instantly coming to his aid. He rose to his knees. “Seize him, you fools. I did not accept! I did not accept the challenge! You see? You all see how vile he is? He attacked his own father?—”

Miranda appeared from nowhere and the crack of her palm across Ergoth’s mouth was so loud it reverberated through the hall. His own cheek began to prickle and burn. Ergoth started to speak again, and Miranda spat on his face.

Somehow, after everything, that was what stunned Ergoth into silence. His eyes glazed, his quivering hand hovered above the wet glob running down his cheek.

Govek swung down from the platform and picked Miranda up before his brave little mate could start battering Ergoth further.

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