Page 11 of The Orc Outcast's Miracle

The bitter, sweet scent of the horrible tincture caught her again and made her a little dizzy. The reminder of what had happened with Maythra lodged in her stomach. She looked down at her bodice to the wet spot at her neckline where the red discoloration revealed the extent that the woman and her cronies had gone to destroy this male she adored so much.

Rage spiked in her gut, and she clenched her jaw.

“We will get you to a bath now,” he said quietly, his eyes on the stain.

But she shook her head, determined. “No. I don’t want to wash away the evidence.”

“Evidence?”

“Maythra and those orcs aren’t going to get away with trying to frame you.”

His face went flat. “Miranda. We shouldn’t bother.”

She blinked. “We what?”

“It isn’t worth it. No one will listen, and it will only lead to more frustration and anger. Believe me, I have been through this before.”

She couldn’t tell if her stomach was churning more from fury or sorrow. “Govek, I know no one has been on your side in the past, and I’m so so sorry you had to go through that alone, but you have me now. Next to you. Supporting you.”

He shook his head. “You cannot get your hopes up?—”

“Look, you might be able to put it behind you, and I commend your ability to let things go, but I’m not like that. They attacked me, Govek. I want justice. They aren’t going to get away with this shit.”

“In the morning then?—”

“No. Right now. Morning will be too late. It will give Maythra the whole night to spin whatever story she wants.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

“It does,” she insisted. “Time does matter, Govek. We need to get to them before they draw their own conclusions. Please.”

He growled low, threatening, but she crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes until he finally said, “Fine.”

Her irritation soothed and the tremor in his voice caught her. She tugged him into a tight hug, gave him a gentle kiss, and scratched her hands along his scalp to the nape of his neck.

She would have her justice. And Govek’s too. And with it would come...

The seer’s words flooded her mind.

“You want to spark your healing. That’s what you need to do.”

She would heal, and then she would find her babies. “Are you ready, Govek?”

He sighed heavily and opened his eyes to meet hers. “Yes. I’m ready.”

She smiled and turned quickly to search the woods and find the lantern light that would guide their way back to the path.

Too quickly.

Her vision swam, spinning, lurching. Her stomach rolled, her skin went clammy, and bile rose up in the back of her throat.

She staggered, leaned forward, and vomited onto the icy forest floor.

“Ah, fuck! Miranda!” Govek rushed to her side. His hot hands soothed her back and gently stroked the nape of her neck as he pulled back her hair.

She spat and rose up slowly, taking deep breaths of the crisp night air. Even in the dark she could see the orange leaves glittering from frost. Their edges tinged with ice crystals.

At least until her vision blurred and her head spun, and her stomach threatened to bring up everything else it had in it.

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