Page 17 of The Orc Outcast's Miracle

“I’ve heard enough,” Chief Ergoth said. “In light of my son’s lack of control, I have no choice but to confine him until a judgment can be held.”

Govek went cold.

“Confine him?” Miranda looked between his face and his fathers.

“Govek will be held in magical quiet beneath the Rove Tree. Govek, go with Agol and Sythcol. Do not fight this.”

Fuck fuck. He wanted so badly to fight, but his rage had soothed, and the clearing magic had his mind muddled and compliant. Copal swirled in his nose and his arms around his mate loosened.

“Govek, no, don’t you dare. Ergoth, he hasn’t done anything wrong. You can’t just lock him up like this.”

“No matter the circumstances, he did attack a member of this clan,” Chief Ergoth said, and Miranda tensed against him because that fact couldn’t be denied.

He’d ruined Wolvc’s jaw. Fuck.

“Govek, please,” Miranda whispered to him.

What could he do? He could not fight this. It was the way of the clan. At least Miranda would be safe from him.

“I must. I cannot fight them. It will only make things worse.”

“Govek, what is wrong with you?” She searched his face, and his mind blistered with confusion.

She’d asked that once already. What was wrong with him? She wasn’t making sense.

The vorial really must have had her completely muddle up.

“Wellia,” he said thickly. “I ask that you care for her.”

“Of course.”

“Govek, stop it. This isn’t right.”

But it had to be. It was the only thing that made sense. He leaned in, sucking in her scent one last time and nearly coughed on Rogeth’s pungent odor. “She smells of him.”

The words escaped him before he knew they were coming. The copal scent faded as the reminder that Rogeth had touched his mate slammed through him. Fury burst through him all over again.

“She smells of him?” Agol’s voice was quiet, but punctuated further through the cloud.

“Govek, I smell nothing,” Chief Ergoth said. “And my decision is final. Agol take him.”

“Rogeth did touch me! He covered my mouth when I tried to scream for Govek’s help!”

A wave of whispers rolled over the clan, spilling into Govek’s senses. Rogeth had touched his mate. He had touched her.

“Allow me to scent her.”

Agol’s request shot lightning down Govek’s spine. He looked into the males appealing face. His determined brow was creased from many seasons of stress being the lead guard.

His job was not an easy one, and Govek had made it even more difficult. But despite that, Agol had never treated Govek badly and had only ever followed Chief Ergoth’s orders.

For that reason alone, Govek let Miranda go, allowing Agol to approach.

“Agol, you do not need to go that far. It is unseemly to treat Miranda this way. She should have a bath and rest?—”

But Agol ignored Govek’s father and leaned in close to Miranda. Govek balled his fists and had to look away. Liquid warmth pooled in his palms.

“She does smell of him,” Agol said, stepping away, eyes wide on Miranda in shock. “Rogeth did touch her.”

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