Page 98 of The Orc Outcast's Miracle

Estoc turned away purposefully. “Vaiteg! What are you chewing? Spit it out now.”

Karthoc grinned, clearly amused by Estoc’s distaste, as the male stormed off toward his son, who instantly dashed into the woods away from his father. Estoc cursed and broke into a sprint after him.

Before he could ask, however, Iytier cut in. “What spear did you bring to use, Govek?”

Govek snorted. “I’ll just make one here.”

“Are you serious?” Iytier muttered, eyes narrowed.

“Yes.” Govek shrugged. He’d made so many of the blasted things in his life he could do it one handed and blindfolded. “What of it?”

“Oh, he’s gonna make Estoc so mad,” Roenia said to Miranda, though loudly enough that the males could hear. “My mate spent hours this morning going over each of his fishing spears, trying to choose the best one. I had to talk him out of bringing them all. Now Govek leaves it up to chance? Ha!”

Govek grinned.

“That’s what he’s always done. Is that not the norm?” Miranda settled down on the blanket where Roenia patted.

“No,” Savili laughed, adjusting her baby so she could sit down next to Miranda. “It is not normal.”

Govek’s chest lightened as Miranda’s mirth lit up the forest. Her smile was radiant, and her relaxed posture soaked into every one of Govek’s muscles.

“There you are, Jehvlek!” Iytier bellowed as the male and his family appeared out of the woods. “We thought you’d decided you weren’t good enough to face us.”

Jehvlek met Iytier’s taunt with a lewd gesture, but both males were grinning.

“Be good!” Aralie called as her twins hurried off to join Estoc’s boys. Govek’s eyes followed the young ones, soaking up their chatter, basking in their delight.

They were so alive. So vibrant. He realized then why Miranda enjoyed children so much.

“Evythiken? Are you well?” Aralie called and Govek glanced behind him to see the seer clutching his head.

“Fine,” the male grated before he walked off into the woods.

“Should we help him?” Miranda looked at Govek.

“He’ll be fine,” Karthoc muttered, clearly undaunted. “This happens all fucking day. Nothing we can do to help anyway.”

Miranda looked stricken, but before Govek could think of words to ease her worry, Karthoc demanded, “Let’s get this going. Govek, hurry up and make your spear.”

“What?” Estoc said, as he appeared out of the forest carrying his son over his shoulder like the boy was a rucksack of dried beans. His voice almost shrill as he followed. “You’re going to make your spear? Right now?”

Govek snorted his amusement and walked over to snap a branch off the nearest birch without much thought.

Iytier burst with laughter and met Govek’s eye. “This is why I like you, Govek.”

Estoc cursed and barely noticed his son squirmed from his grasp and went to go roughhouse with the other boys.

“Language.” Roenia snapped at her male and he went mum.

Govek felt his muscles relaxing as a chuckle rolled through him. He caught Miranda’s eye, and she beamed at him, her pleasure so radiant that it brought his own higher.

This was from her. He was here, in these woods, with these males, feeling like this because of her.

Govek stalked over, bent down, and plastered a kiss to her lips. Kissed her with every breath of passion he had in him. Left her panting and flustered.

When he straightened from his smiling, blushing mate, Estoc stomped over to his own woman. He glowered at Govek before kissing Roenia.

Govek, unsure of how to respond to that, looked at Miranda and found her shaking from withheld laughter. He did not understand until Estoc stood back up and said. “Trying to show me up in everything, aren’t you, Govek?”

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