Page 146 of The Orc Outcast's Miracle

She grinned at him.

“Govek! Hold for me?”

Govek slowed his walk and muttered under his breath. “Ah fuck. Sythcol again.”

Miranda shot Govek a wry look. “He is doing your job.”

“Don’t start.” Govek was genuinely irritated, and Miranda let it drop as Sythcol joined them. He started quizzing Govek about where they could get more firewood since they’d apparently run out.

The males of Rove Wood Clan often sought Govek for council and neither Brovdir nor Sythcol would make decisions without running them by him first. No judgments were held without Govek’s presence. No inventories of supplies were concluded without Govek’s approval. And not a single one of the trades had taken place without Govek at least stopping by for a brief moment to chat with the headman and keep up friendly relations.

And Sythcol was the main reason for that. The male ruthlessly dragged Govek into every nook and cranny of this clan. Miranda was glad he put his talents to good use because he really could be a criminal mastermind.

“Just take a bundle of logs from every house already set.” Govek almost snapped, obviously exasperated. “This wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t given them five instead of three to begin with.”

“But are three bundles enough?” Sythcol asked, tapping his charcoal pencil against the linen scroll he always had on hand. “With winter so harsh this year?—”

“For fuck’s sake, do you think five will be much different from three? It’s just to get them started.” Govek pinched the bridge of his nose. “They’re warriors, Sythcol. They’ll cut their own wood long before they freeze to death.”

“Right. Thank you, Govek. Your input is greatly useful and appreciated.”

Govek growled at the male’s genuine compliment and Sythcol was smart enough to not press his luck further. He shot Miranda a quick smile and went back to work.

Miranda grinned up at Govek.

“Go ahead and smile, Miranda,” he said, though the mirth in his tone betrayed him. “I’m never going to take that title.”

“You wanna bet on it, tough guy?”

He snorted, knowing better than to make bets with her. He’d lost too many times.

As they walked closer to the opposite edge of the clan, she felt anticipation roll into her gut. She gripped his hand tightly. “Do you think Karthoc won over Viravia?”

“I’m not sure. But he was very determined.”

“Viravia was pretty determined not to let him.” She gave his arm a gentle caress.

He hummed. “I suppose we are going to find out soon enough.” He grinned down at her mischievously. “Do you want to bet on it?”

Her heart flipped over. It wasn’t legal for someone to be so flipping handsome when they smiled. “I think not. Not with how confident you look right now.”

He shrugged. “I suppose I could be wrong. He was a fool not to bend to his woman’s will from the beginning.”

“Like you bend to mine?”

“Exactly.”

Her smile turned sly. “Hmm... I’m not sure I would agree.”

He forced her to halt and lifted her chin. The gold in his eyes glittered with equal parts amusement and irritation. “Care to repeat that?”

“I dunno,” she said coyly, tipping her head in his hand to increase the caress. “Maybe I want you to bend a little more.”

His low growl spiked heat through her entire body. “Careful with your teasing, woman, or I’ll be bending you over the nearest boulder and making you forget everything we planned to do today.”

She laughed and pulled him down for a kiss. One that went far too long and left them both panting.

“Fuck, woman,” he said, forcing her along as pleasure radiated off him. “We really will be late.”

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