Page 74 of The Orc Outcast's Miracle

When they parted, she could still feel his warmth against her mouth. His love. She went boneless.

And then her stomach grumbled. Loud.

“I’ll make you food now.” He rose to his feet and took her with him effortlessly.

“Can I walk? I need to pee.”

God, she really needed to pee. He set her down, and she rushed toward the bathroom. Her steps were jerky as her limbs protested. How long had she been asleep? She was so sore.

She finished up quickly. The very practical task grounded her, and she rejoined Govek in the kitchen. He was already preparing her meal, and she was too exhausted to do anything but sink down into one of the dining room chairs.

“Thank you.” She glanced out into the bright sky. Birds whizzed by the trees, a squirrel hopped from each branch, leaves rained down covering the forest with their color.

Everything inside her was falling apart, but everything outside continued on. Lived their lives. Took every day as it was.

She wanted to do that too. Focus on now and forget everything else. Watch the trees and animals out the window. Breathe in the scent of the bacon Govek was cooking.

To just be here, in their house, in the woods. On Faeda, where nothing could hurt them.

Except Ergoth, she remembered. Chief Ergoth had looked terrifying when he lost the judgment. Maythra and her cronies were taken care of, but suddenly, she felt like their battle had only just begun.

“Man,” she breathed. “That judgment was... a lot, wasn’t it?”

“Yes,” he agreed, beginning to chop up vegetables and throw them into the pan with the sizzling bacon. “It is a bit...” He paused, considering.

“It’s a bit insane, is what it is.” She focused on the turmoil of the clan and finally let her own horrors fall to the wayside once more. “Govek, my impression was that most of the clan had no idea of who you really were. Your dad had them all thinking you were some kind of psycho monster. Others were framing you for things you didn’t do. Is that... right?”

He let out a long sigh, but nodded slowly. “That is my conclusion as well.”

“But how?” she asked a little too loud. “How is it possible that no one in the clan really got to know you? You were raised here. Wouldn’t they eventually come around? Figure it out?”

He was silent a long moment, stopped mid chop. “It... may have been my doing.”

“Don’t go blaming yourself for everything again, Govek.”

“No, that isn’t what I mean. I...” He cleared his throat. “I have always enjoyed solitude.”

“Don’t tell me you liked being alienated. I know it’s hurt you.”

His jaw went tight, threatening to hide away his teeth. “It... has.”

She could see how much it took to admit that and got up. Her legs were still stiff as she went to him. Wrapped him up in her arms. Pulled him down for a kiss.

When he pulled away, he had a bird on his head.

“Oh my gosh!” She laughed with surprise and the sharp sound made her chest lighten even as the bird fluttered its tiny brown wings. Its dark eyes blinked at her. It was smaller than her fist. But the little thing recovered from its scare and stayed put, nestling into Govek’s hair. “What the heck? Where did he come from?”

“The window’s open,” he said so casually it made giggles burst up her raw throat all over again.

“Birds just fly in and sit on you whenever you leave your window open? You really are Snow White.” She resisted the urge to reach up and touch the precious little thing. “Oh gosh. I hope he doesn’t poop in your hair.”

“He wouldn’t dare,” he muttered, though his eyes narrowed.

“What would you do if he did?” she pressed. “Cook him up in the stew?”

He snorted, amusement curling his lips. “That would be a lot of effort for very little reward.”

“A one bite reward.”

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