Page 18 of The Orc Outcast's Miracle

The clan burst into chaos.

“Quiet!” Chief Ergoth nearly roared over them and Govek was shocked by his father’s lack of control. “Sythcol, more clearing. I order you all to silence.”

The clan fell to quiet, but it was more stunned at their leader’s unusual outburst than from a result of the magical incense.

Govek dragged Miranda close again, leaned in, and used her scent to drown out everything. Including the clearing.

Miranda leaned against him in relief. “Don’t you dare let yourself get locked up for this, Govek,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry.”

“He attacked a male of this clan,” Chief Ergoth argued, loudly.

“He was defending me.” Miranda straightened and looked toward the males seated with their human mates. All of them were huddled close together. “Would you want to be locked away for defending your mate? While the one who attacked her walked free?”

Govek held his breath, shock radiating through him as the orcs voiced their agreement with Miranda.

His father’s face flattened; his eyes flashed in a way that made Govek go cold. “A binding then.”

Govek’s breath faltered.

“What’s a binding?” Miranda glanced between them.

“A magic our own Sythcol created that prevents an orc from committing any acts of undue violence,” Chief Ergoth answered.

“I remember... you told me about that.” Miranda touched Govek’s chest. “Govek?”

Govek clenched his jaw at the explanation. It made the spell sound so simple, but left out so many important details.

“Govek will be bound against all strife and violence. Unable to harm anyone or anything, unless, of course, they willingly ask to fight him,” Chief Ergoth continued.

“What if someone attacks him?” Miranda asked.

Ergoth shot her an annoyed look. “You are new here, Miranda, so you do not know, but there are none here who would attack Govek without cause?—”

“Would Govek be able to defend himself or not?”

Ergoth hesitated a moment before finally answering. “No. He would not. But, again, no one in this clan resorts to such violence.”

“And yet Maythra attacked me,” Miranda said low.

Ergoth’s face twisted. “As you say.”

“My chief, I do not think . . .”

Govek blinked toward where Sythcol was now standing before his worktable at the far left corner of the hall. His slender frame tense, his blackened hands clenched. His light green eyes flickered with uncertainty and his jaw was held tight.

“Sythcol, these are my orders.”

“But we discussed?—”

“These are extenuating circumstances,” Ergoth said firmly. “Or are you going against the will of your chief?”

Sythcol, surprisingly, straightened his back. “You should remember that the binding, when left in place for too long, causes extreme pain. It goes against my conscience to impose such a thing on another.”

Govek blinked in the face of Sythcol’s defense.

“Are you serious?” Miranda asked.

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