Page 3 of The Orc Outcast's Miracle

“Govek, don’t fight me. You will only hurt yourself in the attempt!”

“I only want to find Miranda.” Govek caught Sythcol’s gaze from the corner of his eye. The slender, pale green male had been on his way to his post near the back of the hall but paused to look upon Govek with wide, blinking eyes.

This male was the only one in the clan whose magic could rival his fathers. The only one who could fight Ergoth’s might.

Or at least he’d thought he was.

“My chief, perhaps you should release him,” Sythcol said, shocking Govek.

“Are you questioning my decision?”

“N-no, my chief. It is just?—”

“Govek!”

She called again. Miranda called.

And Govek’s magic spiraled into a frenzy, churned up by the force of his imprint, by the heat of his rage, by the bone chilling depths of his terror.

He had to save her. He had to.

The light of the Fades exploded in his mind and his father’s holding magic was caught in the inferno and burned out with a searing, electric jolt.

He was vaguely aware of his father’s cry of pain as the magic between them severed, of voices rising in shock, of clattering and commotion as orcs leaped out of his path as he bolted for the door.

He would find Miranda.

His rage broke free from his control.

He would rip apart any being who’d touched her.

Chapter

Two

MIRANDA

Miranda fell back and hit the floor.

The vent crashed in above her.

She writhed, but a heavy weight pressed her down. She contorted her body as she scrambled to escape. Jutting screws cut deep into her flesh. The metal was so hot. She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t move. Couldn’t get out!

Accept it.

Oh god, she didn’t want to accept it. It hurt. Everything hurt. The burning, the cutting, the clawing. The screaming.

The screaming of her babies.

Oh god, she had abandoned them. She’d escaped from the vent and just left.

Stop. Breathe. Clear your mind.

She tried. She flexed her legs, hunched her shoulders, and dug her fingers into the metal.

Was this metal?

No, it was soil.

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