Page 10 of The Orc Outcast's Miracle

“I’m not going, Govek.” Her words were clipped. “If we’re going to survive, it will have to be through this. You can’t control yourself forever.”

The agony of that truth rippled over him and cooled the rage with his sorrow. She was right. He couldn’t control himself. He didn’t deserve to have a mate.

“Govek, look at me.”

He couldn’t. He couldn’t face losing her.

“Look at me.”

The demand from his mate couldn’t be denied, and he snapped his gaze to hers. His mind raced as he braced himself against the emotions she would be feeling. Terror, disappointment, disgust...

But looking up, all he saw was... determination?

He searched her features. He was still breathing hard, still buzzing with need, and still on the brink of losing his Fades-blasted mind.

“I know exactly what you are, Govek.” Her voice hit him like the swing of a fist to his gut. “I know you are an orc. I know your magic is fueled by your emotions and you’re having a lot of bad ones right now. I know you’ve lost control and done horrible things that rack you with guilt.”

He bowed his head, eyes prickling.

Warmth cupped his cheeks as she used her hands to bring his face up. Forced him to meet her eyes. She stroked her fingertips along his jaw. The soft pad of her thumb soothed over his lips. She caressed the crook in his nose, his tusks.

He shivered under the force of her generous touches. His mind reeled to that not-so-distant day in the outer woods where she’d examined him, learned his features.

Her eyes were so gentle and warm and giving. She held his gaze as she pressed her thumbs into the hinge of his jaw. Her stare burrowed deep into him. She wasn’t learning his features this time. She was learning his soul.

And he could hardly stand it. It cracked his defenses apart, shattered him with the same force he’d used to shatter the table in the hall.

He could do nothing but crumble.

He leaned into her embrace, tucked his head into her chest as she bent down to hold him, soaking up her warmth, her light, listening to the beat of her heart as it thundered in his ear. Her scent—sweet, clean honey drenched in sunlight—flooded him.

He was drenched in that light too. It was so kind and gentle and consuming. It drowned out the burning blaze the Fades used. Her sunlight flooded his magical energy until it started to ease away.

“I have you, Govek,” she whispered into his ear. “I have you. I’m not going to let you go. I will always be by your side. I will always defend you and support you, just as you have always defended and supported me.”

Fuck, his guts twisted, and his voice was so thick he barely managed, “I couldn’t protect you from them. From Wolvc and Rogeth and all of them.”

“You did, Govek.” She wrapped her arms around his head, his face nestled firmly into the warmth of her chest, and he went boneless. “You made it to me in time. You heard me call, and you came. You did everything right.”

He let out a half sob, half laugh that made his frame shudder against Miranda and she tucked her cheek into his hair. Grounded him. Soothed him.

The tide of emotions ebbed. The light of the Fades was replaced with her. Miranda.

“We’re going to get through this.” She stroked his hair, running her hands down his back. “Together. I promise.”

Chapter

Four

MIRANDA

“Iam sorry, Miranda.”

Govek’s eyes were red rimmed, and his cheeks were damp as he kneeled before her.

He was past the storm, but still needed support. Her chest felt tight and hot and so full. He’d given her so much when she had fallen apart in the past, and now she could do the same for him.

“You have absolutely nothing to apologize for.” She rustled his hair as he got to his feet. “What just happened to us was...”

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