Page 128 of The Orc Outcast's Miracle

She did. Miranda knew the lengths she would go to save the ones she loved.

“Tavggol knew. I told him everything in the outer woods before he took me back to the clan. He was so kind. He treated me as a sister.” She broke off, sobbing, unable to breathe. And then a contraction hit her, and Miranda pushed against her with all the force she could, desperate to keep her from writhing off the cliffside.

“Breathe!” It was the only advice she knew to give a laboring woman. “Just breathe, it will pass. Govek, please.”

“Oh Fades,” Viravia pleaded as the contraction ebbed. “Hear me, I beg you. Forgive me for all I have done. Please spare my son!”

Her wailing broke Miranda. She wanted to thrash the gods that had led them to this. Vent her fury at them. How dare they put her through this? Her and Viravia both. How dare they?

“Miranda!”

Relief struck, and she nearly lost her grip on the slippery rocks “G-Govek!” Her voice broke, tears flooded her eyes, and she couldn’t get out another word.

“Fuck!” He was right there. She couldn’t look up without the risk of slipping, but she could feel him. Moving above her. “Hang on! Don’t you fucking let go.”

“Wasn’t planning to,” she snapped, irritated and amused and so fucking grateful he’d made it. “Hurry up!”

“Ovinia!”

The roar was so potent and loud that Miranda couldn’t tell what orc had bellowed it.

Viravia’s eyes snapped wide. “No! No, he can’t!”

“Karthoc, what the fuck are you?—!”

Something slammed next to Miranda, and she lost her grip. She screamed, arms cartwheeling as she desperately tried to stay mounted. The raging of the river flooded her mind.

Someone gripped her arm, and she was yanked back, pressed into the muddy cliff then jerked upward by her wrist.

“Get her, Govek!”

More hands dragged her up. Into warmth. A chest. Her terror exploded as the scent of musky pine flooded her nose. She burst into sobs, going almost completely limp.

“Hush,” Govek said into her hair. He clung to the cliffside with one arm and cradled her in the other. She gripped his neck so tight it was a wonder he could still breathe. “I have you. Hold tight. I need both hands to climb.”

“V-Viravia,” she managed as he climbed up.

“Karthoc has her,” Govek said, and Miranda buried her face in his neck. He made quick work of the climb and finally, blessedly, they made it over the edge. Over the log. He carried her to safety. Away from the falls. Away from certain doom. “Hush, Miranda. I have you. You’re safe.”

She clung to him, refusing to budge, digging her nails into his back.

“I need to check you,” Govek demanded, running his hands along her body. “Are you hurt? Are you wounded? Let me look. Let me see.”

She refused, only tightened her grip and buried her nose in his neck and sobbed the way she’d wanted to since she’d first seen the cat.

“I was so scared,” she wailed and Govek stopped trying to check her and hugged her tight instead. “I was so scared.”

“I’m sorry.” His breath was hot against the top of her head. “I’m sorry. I should have been faster. I shouldn’t have left you. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t ever leave again!”

“I won’t. I won’t,” he vowed, clinging, “Fuck, I love you.”

“Let me go!”

Miranda came back to her senses as Viravia’s furious scream blared over the raging of the falls. She jerked her head up to find the laboring woman scratching and clawing at Karthoc as he carried her over the log to safety. The male’s jaw trembled. His breathing was labored. His face was contorted as if he were trying to hold back tears.

“Ovinia,” he breathed. “I found you.”

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