Chapter 12

Twelve

Miranda bolted.

She slapped his hands away and dragged herself through the water.

Govek slashed to catch her, but froze when his claws came too close to her perfect skin.

He dragged air into his nose and unhinged his jaw to scent for threats.

There was nothing.

Nothing to trigger her terror.

Except for him.

He'd told her he would hunt her if she ran from him. She was a fool. A wretched beautiful fool.

Yerina had never been so stupid to run like this. She'd known what would happen if she did.

Miranda didn't.

And after the raging fire Miranda had built in his bones, he had no control.

Govek bounded into action, leaping to the bank to chase his woman down. His muscles blazed and his blood boiled and his instincts drove him mad.

Miranda's steps were skittering and strange, as if she were running blindly. She tripped on a rock and went down hard enough to make him flinch. Then she got back up and continued as if she hadn't even noticed.

She did not look back as he pounded up behind her. He cut her off before she made it out of the sand, leaping into her path. She did not recoil as he raged for her to halt.

Still she ran.

Straight into him.

She stumbled, and he caught her before she could plummet to the ground. She barely fought him as he lowered her to the sandy beach and caged her beneath him. His legs pinned her hips, his hands gripped her shoulders, so she couldn't even squirm.

He knew she would reject him. This was the way it always was. It was the natural course of things. And then he would win her back in a few days' time with boons and patience and a careful concealing of everything that made him vile.

His father's voice blazed in his mind, "You must control yourself, Govek. The mates of our clan fear you too much. You will chase them away."

Miranda wouldn't even look at him.

And he had no fucking boons.

Miranda hadn't even told him what she wanted. At least Yerina always told him what would quell her disgust and gave him hope that he could win her back.

Until he couldn't anymore. Until he had nothing left to give.

He had nothing now.

Why had he ever believed Miranda could be different?

"Let me out. Oh god. Don't leave me here!"

Govek stilled. Don't leave her?

"Oh god, oh god. I can't get out. I'm trapped." She was panting the words, whispering them on the wind, and she wouldn't meet his eyes.

"Miranda," he said in a demanding tone. She didn't flinch.

She was not here. She was inside her mind, caught in a horror.

He'd seen this with Karthoc's orcs when they'd traveled to Clairton. The terrors of their past had gripped them so tightly they relived it. The others had bellowed in their faces, forced them out of it by way of rage and harshness.

He raised his voice. "Miranda!"

She cowered, and he gritted his teeth. He could not bellow at her that way.

"Let me out! Let me out, please?—"

"You are out, Miranda." He moved back slightly so he wasn't crowding her. "You are out."

"Don't leave me." Her hands clawed at his bare chest, and he relished the sensation. She was trying to cling to him, not get away.

Blast, he was sick. She was lying naked and vulnerable, caught in her past agonies, and he was relieved she wasn't rejecting him.

"I'm not leaving. You belong with me, Miranda. You are my..." Fuck, what should he even call her?

"G-Govek?"

"Yes." He was lost to the haunted flickering in her gaze. Her fingers clung to him, and he moved closer until he could feel her breath fanning his flesh.

She touched his forehead, trailed her fingertips down his cheeks over and over until he was panting. Her eyes darted from his to the forest. "The siren."

"What?" he rasped, dizzy from her touch. She was still stroking him.

"To... to warn of the attack. So, we can get to safety."

Attacks? Hiding? "Speak more, Miranda. I don't understand."

Her lips trembled. Tears streaked across her cheeks. "I... I heard a warning siren."

Had she imagined it? "There was no warning, Miranda."

She gulped. "But I heard . . . I heard . . ."

She'd heard something or imagined it. Tension ebbed out of him. "I thought you were rejecting me."

Her eyes widened as she snapped to attention. "What?"

"I thought... I thought you were running away from me."

Gentle fingers played in his hair, smoothing it. She trailed down to his nape. "I wouldn't. I'm not. You don't scare me."

His breath huffed in a disbelieving snort.

Her eyes misted over again, and he went cold. "But I am scared."

He froze, heaved air. She curled into his chest, her bare body pressing into him and whispered, "I'm so scared, Govek."

The words broke him, left him crumbling under the storm of his own terrors.

Tavggol was gone. His father had ordered him to his death. His clan had abandoned him.

His world was blighted and dying.

Miranda's warmth pressed into his chest, his cheek, and squeezed around his neck.

He moved down into her willing, eager embrace. She wrapped both arms and legs around him and nestled closer.

She clung to him like he was her Fades-given miracle and not the other way around.

"I'm scared." Her voice broke, and he felt it to the pit of his soul.

Me too, Govek thought as he crushed her to him. He was so fucking scared. They were in this dread together, sinking side by side.

He held Miranda for so long he forgot where they were and the dangers that lurked.

Slowly, he sat up, though only far enough to see her face. Fades help him. She was a vision. Her eyes were clear, and her breathing was back to a steady rhythm. He wanted to bury himself in her neck and drink up the scent of her.

She smelled so fucking good.

"Can I pick you up?" he asked, voice thick.

She nodded, and he lifted her effortlessly, trying to keep the motion smooth. It was a difficult task with her clinging to him so tightly, but he managed to get her to the boulder she'd left her cloak and shorts on.

"I'm sorry," she whispered as she tucked her face into his shoulder. The sincerity in her tone made him ache. "I kinda lost it there, huh? I don't... know what happened." Her smile faltered, as if she were about to weep again.

He gripped her soft calf in his hand and drew her leg out, brushed the sand from it. She squirmed as he gave the other the same attention, and then he moved up to her torso and her back. He kept his gaze averted from her as best he could, but his eyes were drawn to every curve and her still bare breasts. His hands twitched at the memory of how soft and full they were in his hands.

Fuck, he was a beast.

"I'm so sorry." Her voice cracked, and he flinched, jerking his eyes back to her face. "I really don't know why I ran like that."

Her breathing was deep and slow as he tucked her cloak around her bare shoulders, protecting her from the forest chill. "It is fine, Miranda. You were just lost in a horror."

She went lax, and her expression of utter gratitude overwhelmed him. "That simple, huh?"

"Yes."

Her lips trembled. "I don't know what happened to me. On Earth. I can't remember some of it... a lot of it. I should be dead. I shouldn't have survived it."

Govek gulped, the mention of her death making the imprint rage in his veins. He tried to hide it, swallow it down. She needed his aid now but he was uncertain of what he could do to quell her fear.

But at least he could help her get warm. "You should get dressed." He crossed the beach to get the underwear and breast covering she'd thrown at him. The sun had done little to dry them, and they were basically tatters, but he brought them back to her nonetheless.

She took them and he started back toward his pack, determined to find her something more to wear. He glanced toward the still steaming pool where he had just wrung out her pleasure and gulped.

Miranda let out a little whimper, and he whipped his head back to her. She'd put on her underwear and was fidgeting with the strap of her tight-fitting top. It clung to her breasts even more now that it was wet. She grimaced, forcing him to ask, "What is wrong?"

"Just... cold," she said, touching the wet breast covering right over her nipples.

Full, rosy-tipped breasts, plump in his hands.

Fuck, he was vile for thinking about this while she was still recovering.

She shivered again and her discomfort flooded dismay into his marrow, making the imprint roar to life.

Her face suddenly paled, and he feared she may lose consciousness. He rushed back to her side.

"Oh god! There it is again!" Miranda was trembling, terrified.

Reaching for him, she brought her hands to his chest as he instinctively curled around her, caging her in.

Fades, she clung to him in her fear. She was not running away, and she was looking to him for comfort. The imprint roared.

She stared off into the forest, searching.

"What, Miranda?"

"That! That siren. The air raid—I... I mean the warning sound. That! You know, that." She somehow managed to squiggle closer, pressing her whole torso into his. "That sound. That sound right there. What the fuck is that? It's not?—"

"That's a riabell." There were no other sounds except the rustling of wind in the leaves, so she must have been referring to the riabell's low call.

"A-a what? What is it?"

"A bird."

She went still, eyes huge but focused. She was not lost to him this time.

He squeezed her. "It's a bird call. Can I lift you again?" She was already wrapping her arms around his neck before he finished the question.His flesh tingled with the contact.

He carried her part way into the woods, careful with each step and noise, scanning the tree canopy until he finally found his target. "There," he pointed to the white bird nestled in the branches above. "That is a riabell. They enjoy hunting for fish in the springs."

Miranda stared at the large creature. It was half as tall as her, with a long beak and longer legs.

"It looks like a heron," she said softly. "But they're extinct. Not enough clean water and food and?—"

She broke off, flinching as it gave a low cry. The sound started deep and built higher before trailing off.

"Dang." She raked a hand over her face. "That's horrible."

"Riabell's are considered a good omen," Govek said carefully. "Stories say that they lead lost travelers out of the forests or guide hunters to elk herds."

"You get lost in the woods?" she asked skeptically.

He huffed in amusement, "No."

Miranda curled around his neck and he closed his eyes, relishing the sensation of her warmth as she willingly cleaved to him. He was certain he would never grow accustomed to it.

"Then I guess you don't need guidance."

"Riabell's guide humans, not orcs."

"Fine, I don't need guidance then. I've got you for that, right?"

"Yes," he soothed, taking her hint. He jerked his arm toward the creature, startling it into flight. It rose above the canopy with brilliant bursts of its wings and disappeared.

His woman relaxed slowly, rewarding him with a deep sigh and a caress to the back of his neck. "Th-thank you."

He nodded, returning her to the spring, pondering on her description of the bird's call. A warning siren. What in her world needed such warnings? And why was it so terrible that it caused her mind to fracture?

Her world exploded.What could cause such devastation?

His throat tightened, but he would not prod. It would do no good and he did not want to dim his relief.

She had not fled because he'd scared her or disgusted her. Or even because he'd admitted his longing to take her as a mate.

Which meant . . . would she consider it?

He set her down on the same stone and gave her a good once over. She was no worse for wear. A little sandy still. He brushed the rest of it off her arms and sides and out of her wet hair.

He tried to keep to the task of checking her over, searching for any cuts or bruises on her tender flesh. But his mind kept returning to those precious, incredible moments they'd had in the spring.

To think, a few days prior he'd been certain of his swift death at the hands of the Waking Order.

"Govek?"

Miranda's sweet voice drew him from his thoughts. She wrapped her bare feet around his legs and stroked her toes up the back of his thighs. "You okay?"

Fuck!That should not feel so good. And she should not smell so fucking sweet so soon after she'd had a release. It should have taken half a moon, at least before she was willing to receive him again. Half a moon and a mountain of fox furs and berries and even a few tinctures for good measure.

But it hadn't. The honeyed scent of her could not be denied.

He did not deserve such bliss. "Where are your shoes, woman?"

She gestured to the ground, and he huffed with embarrassment that he hadn't noticed her shoes right at his feet. Other than the shoes, which were strangely intricate, she also had a pair of tiny trousers that may as well have been a blasted handkerchief. The useless scrap of filthy fabric was better left abandoned on the rock.

Govek went to retrieve his own abandoned slacks, cloak, and pack, and returned to her. "Are you hungry?"

"Always." Her voice was husky from screaming, but the tone was lighter. She was overcoming the darkness more swiftly than he expected.

She was strong. His chest swelled with pride.

He handed her some dried elk meat and more hard bread. He would need to hunt for her soon.

"I have your bag here. Do you want anything from it?" he asked, after searching through his things and finding her blue pack tucked near the bottom. Did she have any extra clothes within it?

Her brow pinched. "No. I don't want it. God, to think I'm polluting your world with plastic. That stuff should have stayed on Earth."

Govek didn't know what plastic was, but it didn't matter. She clearly missed some aspects of her fallen world, and one day, she may want these few remnants. He would keep them until she did. He shoved the blue bag back to the bottom of his pack, out of the way.

He'd found his extra shirt when her voice broke. "Was this... meant for someone else?"

Glancing up, he found her fumbling with the edge of the cloak, eyes wary, as if worried what his response might be. "What?"

"It isn't big enough for you. Did you bring it for someone in particular?"

Catching her discomfort, he said, "I made it for you."

She blinked, eyes huge. "What?"

Govek considered taking back his words, but he examined the fit of the cloak, the smooth set of the shoulders, the length that covered down to her ankle without dragging on the ground, the width that would allow for her slight frame to fill out some.

The blasted thing fit her fucking perfect. Like the Fades had guided his hand with her in mind while he cut and stitched it.

"I made it for you, Miranda." He gripped the hood, hands moving to the sides of her face. Her cheeks were pink as he pulled it up. Her skull filled it out so it couldn't fall in front of her eyes.

He lost his reservations for the briefest moment and trailed his still gloved hands along the rim of her ears. She shivered and leaned into the touch. Warmth bloomed in him.

"For you." His voice was barely a whisper. "My..." mate. He wanted to say it so badly, but the image of her bolting from him was too sharp. Even if he now knew that wasn't why she'd fled.

Her breath fanned his face.

Her soft lips brushed his cheek.

She kissed him. She willingly kissed him without the barest hint of prompting. Heat spiked from the lingering touch and radiated throughout his chest.

"Thank you, Govek," she said, and he felt as if he would burst apart. "I don't know where I would be without... well, I guess I do know. It wouldn't be good." She leaned in and kissed his cheek again and tightly clung to his neck. "I have no idea how I'm going to pay you back, but I swear I will. If you ever think of something I could do..."

Fuck! He was a greedy wretch, but he would not pass up this offer. "You must stay with me then."

She leaned back to meet his gaze.

He swallowed hard. "Stay with me until... until I can think of a way for you to repay me."

Her lips quirked and the barest hint of a chuckle left them. It skewered him, drawing him back into those moments she'd rolled with laughter while bathing. The incredible sound was more gorgeous than anything he could have possibly imagined.

"All right," she agreed. "I'll do that."

She'd finished the food, so he offered the water pouch. She took slow sips before continuing. "Thanks for coming after me, too. I probably would be in Timbuktu by now if you hadn't snapped me out of it. Or whatever place is super far from here. I'm not usually like that... I've never..." She took a deep breath, gulping hard.

"I told you I would chase you, and I will do it again if you try to flee." He pulled the extra shirt he had out of his pack and shook it out.

Her smile returned. "I know you mean that like a threat, but it doesn't feel like one." He stilled. "Maybe we should try it out sometime."

His blood heated as pleasure danced in his veins. The image of her darting away from him, laughing as he raced after her, hair billowing behind her, with cheeks and lips red, chest heaving.

While he fucking chased her? Hunted her down?

Fuck.

He shook for control. "For Fades' sake, put on the fucking shirt so we can get moving."

"Yes, sir," she conceded, handing him back the pouch. "Should we fill that with more spring water? What if you get hurt again?"

He would fill it here, but... "The healing effect diminishes with distance and time. By the morn, it will have no magic left."

"Oh," she said, seeming a bit disappointed. His heart twinged. Was she worried about him?

She tucked the shirt he'd given her beneath her cloak so she could put it on. It drowned her, the arms baggy and rolled to fit the length of hers. The neckline dipped so low he could see the top of her breast covering. It bunched at her hips, far too long to suit her torso. She gently stroked the buttons he'd made himself. "I think I'll just use the extra fabric to tie it up."

He turned his attention to digging through his pack for more clothing, even though he knew he had nothing. She needed something to cover her legs.

"Man, I'm going to look like something else when we finally get to where we're going. Not that I'm complaining." She rushed on. "I'm super grateful. I just..." she plucked at the oversized shirt, smirking down at how baggy it was.

Govek huffed, thinking it looked good on her, regardless.

"Where are we going, by the way?"

He paused his search.

"I mean, I don't know anything about your world. Is it all forests like this? Are there towns too? Civilization and..."

"There are villages of humans and clans of orcs. Goblins have retreated deep into their mines and sylphs live high in the mountains and have not been seen for decades," he said, half distracted. He'd just gone over every possession he owned. There were nowhere near enough medical tinctures. No blankets or furs to keep the cold away. No extra food to keep her hale.

Fuck! What was he going to do? Where would they go? Karthoc's forge was much too far, and the nearer orc clans were at war. They could run right into battle if he wasn't careful.

But he would not, he could not, return to Rove Wood Clan. It was not an option. He would have to think of something else. Anything else.

His claws extended in the gloves and he feared he might shred them, but he couldn't control himself. A deep simmer of rage bubbled in his gut.

"Govek? I'll follow you anywhere. And I can help you too. Kinda. If you show me herbs to hunt down, I could try to find them. I could learn to start fires and gut fish."

He wasn't going to be able to provide for her. Not like this.

"Not sure I'll ever be as good at catching fish as you, but I can try. And you really don't have to hunt for me. I'm more than happy to live off fish and plants. Though... I guess there aren't very many foraging options right now. Your planet is going into winter, right?"

Govek breathed deep, worked for calm and logic. There was a cave near here. An old entry to the goblin mines, long abandoned, but that was only a temporary option. It would not serve them through the harsh winter.

"Sorry, I'll try to shut up now," she murmured, jarring him out of his thoughts.

"You may speak as much as you like, Miranda," he assured her, though it came out too harsh.

She fidgeted on the rock. "I know it's too much. Sometimes it just... stops my brain, you know?"

"If I wanted to stop my brain, sleep would be my preferred method," he stated, earning a chuckle from her.

"Sleep, huh?" She narrowed her eyes at him, a sly smile striking up his longing. "I can think of something else that could keep us both nice and distracted."

Fuck. He gulped hard, moving closer to her. Desperate for whatever pleasure she was willing to gift him. His mind grappled with what boons he had on hand to give her to keep her lust high.

He picked up his damp slacks. "I'm going to give you these."

"I was joking earlier about stealing your clothes," she said. "I mean, not that I don't want you to strut around naked."

"I will give you my underwear too if you want them, Miranda." He grumbled low, causing her to blush. It was too easy.

Then her gaze raked down his body, and he gulped.

"Oh, wow," she whispered in a reverent tone.

Miranda's jaw was slack, and her gaze lingered on his groin, at the outline where his cock lay tucked beneath his undergarments, semi-hard and aching. She bit her lower lip and his blood simmered.

"Fuck me . . ." She breathed under her breath.

Heat speared him. Was that a request?

She lustfully moved her gaze from his groin to his chest, then his face. "Are you sure you're real?"

He was afraid to move less he startle her and ruin this. He'd never felt such hungry eyes upon him before.

"Come over here," she said and jerked him forward until she could rest her hands against his sides. She guided him to stand between her legs.

He lost his breath.

She gifted him with a hint of a smile before reaching up to tug his head down to her level. She lingered her lips on his cheek, just as sweet and potent as her first kiss had been. He held still, willing her to remain for a few moments longer.

Miranda moved off, and it felt like the sun had set on him.

Then her lips found his mouth.

Electric pleasure danced down his spine. Her incredible honey scent burst and muddled his thoughts. Her mouth fit perfectly between his fangs. Plump soft lips teasing his own. His heart was skittering at such a rapid pace he thought it might spark.

She drifted away far too soon and searched his face. Then she quirked a fucking adorable smile.

"Okay?"

"Fuck yes," he growled. The rumble came straight from his chest and reverberated with the same tempo as his frantic heartbeat.

She'd kissed him. On the mouth. Between his fangs and tusks. She had to have felt them on her cheeks and still she'd done it. He couldn't fucking believe it.

His breath left in a rush before she bridged the gap and claimed his lips again. Barely brushing. She was so fucking gentle, and he wanted her to scorch him with her mouth. Brand him as her own.

He dragged her essence into his lungs and almost collapsed. He couldn't believe his own senses, but her scent was unmistakable. Raw and rich and wanting him all over again.

She truly was attracted to him. Him. A hulking, unsightly orc who was despised by his own kin. Confusion made him growl into her mouth.

And her desire intensified. Tension shot up his back as she squirmed and pressed closer.

His growling had heightened her arousal, and he was fucking losing his mind.

He broke away this time. "You want me again."

Her eyes were huge, and her breath caught.

Uncertainty drove him to snarl. "You want me?"

She gulped, licking her sweet lips with her tongue, and she nodded.

"Fuck." He clumsily forced his pants off and shoved her feet into the legs. They drowned her but he managed to pull them up around her waist and tie the drawstring with shaking fingers.

He would take her to the goblin caves. They weren't far.After—once he had his blasted senses back—he would be able to logic through where they would go next. He threw his pack onto his shoulder.

"Govek?" Miranda was breathless as she allowed him to scoop her up into his arms. "Where... where are we going now?"

"To privacy," he said, earning a blush from her before she hid herself in his neck. Her embarrassment spiked deep yearning in him.

He would enjoy ridding her of it.