Chapter 1

Chapter

One

MIRANDA

V iolent heat strangled her throat and lodged in her chest. She couldn’t move. Couldn’t squirm. Metal caged around her, and in a frenzy, she squealed and panicked.

The metal cage held her down. Her shoulders, her back, her neck. Everything burned. She fought hard, twisting her arms, but they were caught against her sides. Her legs twitched and cramped.

She was wedged, muscles straining, bones cracking under the pressure. Her fingernails scraped against the metal, snapping, and tearing. The blood only made her scrambling more desperate.

She was stuck. In the vent.

The blinding prick of daylight a few dozen yards away burned her retinas. It was so bright.

But she couldn’t get out. She couldn’t break free.

The air vent caught her in its grip.

She would die here, agonizingly, slowly. She wailed and snapped and fought until her body felt broken. Her toes were curled, calves blistering, and mind racing.

She couldn’t get out! She couldn’t get out!

“Miranda!”

Someone screamed her name. She froze. She looked toward the light. The escape that was so close but impossibly far. Her lips were chapped, and her tongue swelled.

“Miranda, come?—”

An earth-shattering roar cut the words off.

The blistering agony of her eardrums rupturing slammed her. The quaking of the ground shook her out of her sanity. Dragged her back to Earth again.

She was in the vault. In the black. Reliving those terrifying moments, she’d spent locked up behind Blackridge Bank’s thick security door. Surrounded by the clanging of deposit boxes and the stink of metal. The rumbling shook, and the ceiling rained dust onto her face, into her eyes. She breathed in rubble and hacked for air.

The bombing went on for so long . Hourstrapped underground, just waiting for her boss to come back. Just wondering if he was even still alive.

She’d pleaded for any gods from any of the hundreds of religions to make the horrible boom’s stop .

Then it did, and she was alone in the silence. It rang around her, trembled in her guts. She’d screamed until her throat was tattered, just to hear something outside that agony of brutal silence.

She’d fumbled along the wall in the dark. Skating her hands around the boxes to find some means of escape. And she’d found it. A tiny vent near the bottom of one corner. Its grate had flung open, broken loose from the shaking of the ground. She could feel cool air coming through and saw an impossibly dim glimmer of light at the end.

She’d grappled with the horror of it. With the terror of what she must do. She’d paced and shivered and tried not to even look at it. It was too small . She’d never make it through that tiny pipe.

And it mocked her. Jeered at her. Wailed that it was the only escape.

Her desperation grew too high.

“Miranda! Come back!”

She couldn’t. She couldn’t get out .

Burning and panicking, she’d crawled inside the vent. Shoved her body where it couldn’t fit. The metal that was supposed to make it easy for her to slide only made it impossible to gain traction.

Her clothes caught on a jutting screw. It tore into her side and her blood dripped.

She was stuck. Trapped. The walls were pressing down. Down.

“You are not trapped, Miranda!”

But she was. This was the end. Another explosion roared around her. Her consciousness winked out for one blissful moment.

And then she was burning. Screaming. Pleading. The metal heated until she felt like she was being cooked alive. Her stomach rolled.

A burst of cold air hit her face.

She gasped, breathing it in. Something in the taste was familiar. Comforting.

Another gust. She heaved. Gripped tight to warm, soft flesh. Not metal. Skin.

“Come back. I beg you.”

Growling. Soothing growling. Her eyes unclouded, and the tunnel faded.

“Come back.” Hands stroked her hair, her neck, her cheeks. He exhaled gently against her face again. Air whistled across her overheated flesh. “Come back, Miranda.”

“I-I’m trapped,” she whimpered.

“Not anymore.” Govek gripped her fingers, right over the nails that should have been missing. They were gone a second ago.

“You’re in the goblin mines. On Faeda, not Earth.” He pressed her hand to the cool, rough texture of the wall. “With me. You are not alone. I will not leave you alone.”

His green eyes were glowing in the darkness as she stroked that wonderful rock surface. It abraded her fingers but soothed her agony.

“There are no bank vaults on Faeda,” Govek said, stumbling slightly on the foreign words. “No bombs. No quaking and destruction. No small vents.”

She shivered, clinging to his shoulders, and tucked her head into his fragrant neck. Spicy and clean. Nothing like it existed on Earth.

Her voice tore at her vocal cords, as if she’d been screaming. “But there is war.”

Govek’s grip tightened, and she relished it. The hold of his strong arms about her torso. Uneven pressure that gave when she squirmed against it.

This was Govek, the orc, not the air vent. She really was out.

Her throat closed and her eyes burned. “Earth is gone. We killed it. We killed our planet.”

She heard him gulp.

“We fought over everything —gods, politics, food, and water. Oh, Govek, there was nothing left. It was just ash and burned trees. Rubble, scorching heat, and poison. It’s gone and there’s no bringing it back.”

He cradled her, crouched on a hard stone floor. The darkness closed in around her and he breathed another gust of air onto her face. Her shoulders relaxed, slumping.

“Faeda is not Earth, Miranda,” Govek assured her, stroking his hands in gentle waves down her hair and back. “Our world was built by the might of the Fades and is protected by sentinels.”

“And humans are destroying it.”

His body grew tense, his movements stilled, and his breathing caught in his throat.

Miranda sobbed, because he didn’t deny it.

How could she have been inexplicably saved from the death of her own planet, only to be forced to relive that agony on another? It wasn’t fair. What had she done to deserve this?

“It isn’t your fault, Miranda,” Govek whispered as if he was reading her mind.

She choked out a half laugh, half sob. “How do you know? If it’s not my fault, then why am I the only one left? There were twenty-two billion humans on Earth, Govek. And I didn’t see one. Single. Body. I walked for days . Where did they go? How is it possible? Why am I still alive? Why didn’t I die with them?”

She must have been in hysterics because Govek started to rock her slightly. The motion helped her to breathe.

“The only living things I saw were those fucking dogs that chased me down and kept me moving and herded me to the ocean—oh, god, Govek. The ocean was gone . Dried up. I can’t ? — ”

“I have you, Miranda,” Govek vowed, continuing to rock, to squeeze, and to exhale his cool breath against her face. His life soaked into her frame and dragged her back to sanity.

“I don’t even know how I got out of that vent.” Her voice was a high sob against the cords of his neck. “I was stuck and then I wasn’t. I was burning and then I was healed. I was starving and parched and poisoned, but I survived. We don’t have magic on Earth, Govek. How am I still alive ? Why am I alive?

“And then I just... I just went to the ocean . I don’t even remember half of it. There are blanks spots. Missing pieces of time. It’s all spotty and distorted. Rotting dogs herded me and signposts guided me and there were cars. Strange cars that somehow survived the explosion and had food and water and... oh god, Govek, why didn’t I go back? I should have gone back to find them. I should have known they wouldn’t be at the ocean.”

“Who?” Govek asked.

“My babies .” Miranda’s voice cracked, breaking under the weight of the horrors she was speaking. Her mind blistered from the agony. Her eyes flooded. “Oh god. I left them . I should have gone back, Govek. I should have gone to make sure they hadn’t... that they weren’t... what if they needed me? What if they were crying, and I didn’t even bother to—Oh god. I can’t ? — ”

Miranda gasped on her sobs. She vented her confusion and sorrow and guilt all over Govek’s chest as he breathed gently against her hair. His heart was steady under her ear, anchoring her to him.

“You said that you cannot remember some of your final moments on Earth?”

She swallowed hard but still couldn’t find her voice, so she nodded against his shoulder.

Her thoughts scampered right over themselves trying to remember exactly what had taken place.

She remembered being in the vent, being trapped. It had been so brutally hot .

And then she’d been walking near the edge of New Seattle. Or what she assumed was the edge of it. She saw the lit-up road sign pointing her toward the ocean. Forty-two miles.

She’d turned back and had seen the destruction of her city. The vision shot agony through her even now. Making her want to curl in on herself. To wail until all her breath was gone.

She’d wanted to go back to search for survivors. She’d almost gone back. She’d stepped toward it. And then...

And then what?

She couldn’t remember.

There had been a bright flash. And she was further along. Near the car where she’d found the gym bag and workout clothes. She’d raided it. She’d administered the radiation boosters and switched out her clothing and drank the water and ate the granola bars and packed up and prepared to go back.

She’d wanted to go back to help. To find her babies. She was set. Ready.

And then the dogs arrived, and she’d ran.

And things got hazy again. A blur of chaos and destruction, of broken pavement and stale air, of heat and dust and pain .

And those fucking road signs . They shouldn’t have been working. Why were they working if no one was ahead of her fixing them? Why were they leading her to an ocean that had already burned up?

Why did she believe, to the deepest part of her soul, that her babies had had something to do with those signs? It didn’t make sense.

Nothing made sense.

“You should not blame yourself for things you are not certain of, Miranda.”

Govek’s words wrenched her back to the present, and she took a deep breath as he slowly continued. “You did what you needed to in order to survive. So too would they. You do not know that you could have saved them. Or that they were not somehow saved by other means. You made it here and survived. So too could they. Allow your guilt to ebb.”

Her body jolted with shock.

Could . . . could they have lived?

“Could they be here on Faeda?”

Govek’s body went tense at her question.

“Do you think they could have, Govek? Do you think they could be here on Faeda somewhere? Do you think we could find them?”

How would they go about doing that? How big was Faeda?

It didn’t matter. She’d search to the ends of this world to find her babies if they were here.

Were they here?

Desperation made her rational thoughts hazy and her gut twisted, gnawing at the corners of her mind, eating away all logic at how impossible the odds of them being here on Faeda were.

She’d made it here. Why couldn’t they?

Her stomach twisted with anticipation. “If they’re here, they need me, Govek. I have to find them.”

“I...” Govek’s voice broke, betraying the truth that he would have no idea how to find her babies if they were here. He’d already told her that these lands were war torn. Ravaged. It would be difficult enough to travel to his cousin’s home. Finding toddlers from another planet was out of the question.

And yet, “You told me of an orc seer. Do you think the seer would know? Would he know if they were here and where they are now?”

Govek’s chest was so tight it felt like iron under her palms. She heard him swallow hard. “He... could. His power is immeasurable. If the Fades will him to know, then he will.”

Miranda’s head burst at the idea. What if she could find out what happened to them? What if they could be reunited? What if she hadn’t been the only one to survive?

What if... what if they were dropped into the icy forests of Faeda too?

What if they were lost, and hungry, and cold, and crying.

Crying for her.

They needed her.

She hadn’t gone back for them on Earth. She hadn’t gone back.

She wouldn’t make that same mistake again.

Hot tears coursed down her cheeks. “I have to find them.”

“Then we must get to Baelrok Forge and speak with the seer. But first we must escape this goblin mine,” Govek said. “Rest easy, Miranda. I will carry you through.”

New hope rose warm in her chest and spread through her limbs.

She would find them. With Govek’s help, she would .

She wanted to thank him, but words didn’t seem like enough. She wasn’t sure anything she ever did would be enough.

“I can see five things,” Govek said.

Miranda tensed as Govek got to his feet, rising to begin walking in the complete darkness. Black but for one thing. Her eyes snapped to his face, the sight finally registering. “Your eyes are glowing. They glow green?”

He blinked. Cutting off all the light for the split of a second. She tensed, wanting to order him not to blink again, but she knew that was unfair.

“You hadn’t noticed?”

She shook her head. Touched his cheek. “I didn’t. It’s kinda neat.” The glow widened and her lips twitched. “I had toys on Earth that glowed in the dark like that.”

His eyes went even wider. “I hate to disappoint but my cock does not share this feature.”

Her breath hitched, and she managed a half laugh. “Oh god. Not that kind of toy. I meant as a kid...” His gaze softened and her tension softened too. At least until her throat closed up and her eyes started to prickle and hot tears coursed down her cheeks again.

Earth was gone.

She clenched her fists and ground her teeth together, shoving the thoughts to the back of her mind. Back so far they couldn’t hurt anymore.

“My eyes can count toward one of the things.”

“What do you mean?” She sniffled, rubbing at her face. She wanted to stop crying, but her body fervently disobeyed.

Govek’s steps were steady as he continued. “I can see intricate columns lining our path, arches above our heads, smooth stone floors, and dust that proves this place has been abandoned for a long while.”

“Where are we?”

“Inside the goblin mine. And we must be quick, so none find us here before we make our escape.”

“How long?” she gulped. “How long until we’re out?”

“Not long,” he assured her softly. His breath rustled her hair again. “Four things I can hear.”

“How do you know about this exercise?”

There was a brief silence. Another blink. “I was not unconscious when you were bringing me water to wash out the poison on that first day we met. Only paralyzed.”

“What? Are you serious?” For one breathless moment, she was struck dumb and then all the memories of sitting next to him babbling while he died slammed into her. “Oh god! I’m so so sorry.”

His chest quivered and rumbled, and she realized that he was trying to withhold laughter. She wanted to hear it. Let it drown out what remained of her horrors. “I can’t believe it. You must have thought I was a complete idiot.”

“I did think you might have been insane.”

“I guess this event confirmed that for you,” she mumbled, clinging to him a little tighter.

He hummed. “I’m still not sure. I need more time with you before coming to a proper judgment.”

“You really want me to stick around? Even though I’m probably crazy?”

“Yes, Miranda.” His voice was solid and sweet. “I want nothing more than that.”

Her chest swelled, and her pulse quickened. She found his lips in the dark and gave him a lingering kiss that flooded her with warmth.

When she broke away, his voice was tinged with pleasure, and it made her want to weep for a completely different reason. “Performing the taste portion early, are you?”

That got a laugh out of her. The sound felt raw and vibrant in the darkness. She hugged him close again, pressing her cheek to his.

Then he huffed a harsh breath and continued moving. “We cannot falter here.”

Miranda wasn’t going to argue with that. The darkness was oppressive and even with Govek’s strong hands around her, she couldn’t help but feel the terrifying weight of the cavern closing in.

“Fades willing, we will not be found.”

Miranda shivered, and in response, Govek dipped to the left. He uncurled one of her arms to stretch out and touch the rock wall. Her hand dragged gently along the dusty surface. The dips and grooves showed patterns were carved into the walls. A harsh contrast to the smooth metallic surface in her nightmares. Every minute or so Govek would shift outward, and her fingers would swell around one of the round columns he’d described.

Her mind worked back over Govek’s words from before the tornado had descended on them. It felt like a lifetime ago. “Do you think the Fades created humans on Earth too? That they left Faeda and went to my planet next?”

“I am no seer. I have no skills to divine with the Fades outside of humble communions to their force.”

“But . . .”

“I... believe that it was the Fades who saved you. Guided you to our lands. Kept you safe in your own,” he swallowed thickly. His voice became a whisper. “Gave you to me.”

She met his eyes again, and the steady hope she saw rocked her.

“I believe they imprinted you on me.”

Her brow furrowed. “Imprint? What does that mean?”

His eyes skittered away. She thought she heard him gulp. “It... can mean many things. And I swear to you that through all, I will be at your side, Miranda. Until you no longer wish to be near me.”

Miranda exhaled sharply, gut knotting, “I think you’ll regret that. I feel like I’ve brought you almost nothing but problems and with how my luck has been, it’s probable that we’ll both end up at the bottom of a cliff somewhere.”

“Far better to fall from a cliff with you than to face peril alone,” Govek said, his voice suddenly echoing.

Miranda tensed. “Where are we?”

“Crossroads,” Govek said softly. “I will try to scent the way. Stay quiet. We cannot afford to be found here.”

“What would happen...?” She shivered. “What would happen if the goblins found us?”

“Entering each other’s realms without consent is against Fade law and they would be in their right to seek retribution.”

“Retribution?” she questioned. He didn’t answer, and the look on his face assured her she didn’t want to know. “I thought orcs were friends with goblins?”

“They are usually,” he said glumly. “But we have had no contact for decades.”

Miranda sputtered, trying to stay quiet even as panic rose in her voice. “If it was that big a deal, why did they make their lock so easy to break?”

Govek paused in his stride, his bright eyes blinking. She held her breath as he took in her words.

And then he laughed . A raw chuckle that started from deep in his stomach and bubbled into his chest. It rolled over Miranda like a hot blanket fresh from the dryer.

“You are quite right, woman.” He shook his head. “Fuck, I was so tense I didn’t...” he paused and adjusted Miranda into a more comfortable position. “They left it under the type of lock an orc or sylph could easily release.”

She could hear the confusion in his tone. “Maybe they want you in here?” Miranda asked, relaxing further now that Govek was.

“Perhaps.” He did not seem completely convinced.

Miranda settled into him again, touching her fingers back to the wall. Letting it soothe her almost as much as Govek’s thundering heart did.

“Though I suppose that does mean...” He adjusted her to sit in the crook of one arm, and before she could question him, brightness flooded her eyes. Blinding her.

She gasped, rapidly adjusting to sudden light. Govek had somehow lit a torch. He’d taken it from a metal holder on the wall nearest them. A half dozen or so sat, unlit, along the same surface.

Miranda’s mouth gaped as she took in the area for the first time and registered that it was far more intricate than her fingers had let on. The walls were carved stone, chiseled with detailed geometric patterns. The ceilings were high and broken up by massive, rounded archways. The floor was so smooth it glimmered even under the thin layer of dust. Everything was in varied hues of gray or brown, accentuating the gorgeous architecture.

But for as beautiful as it was, it was also clearly abandoned. Cobwebs arched from every corner and dust covered the surfaces. The stale air and stillness was almost oppressive.

They were indeed at a crossroads. Govek continued from the hall into a hexagon-shaped room with arched doorways on each wall. They all pitched into blackness after only a few feet, and not a single one appeared welcoming.

Govek slowly set her down. She resisted the urge to cling and demand he pick her up again. “I’ll need to scent each passage to determine which has the closest escape.”

She nodded, letting him walk a few paces away from her before skittering to follow. She didn’t want to be outside the torchlight. She was about to ask Govek if he could light her one too when she stepped closer to one of the doorways.

A shivering warmth soothed her. Her skin tingled with goosebumps, her hair stood on end, and her knotted stomach eased.

Miranda gasped, drawing Govek’s instant attention, but she barely heard him when he demanded to know what was wrong.

She took another tentative step. It was like dipping into a hot tub, warm, relaxing, and comforting. She inhaled and even the air felt different, more fulfilling, like it was saturated with oxygen and laced with caffeine.

Govek gripped her arm hard and pulled her into him. “Miranda, what is it? Tell me.”

“Nothing’s... uh, nothing’s wrong. It just feels good over there.” She gestured to the opening. “I don’t know how to describe it. It’s like... tingly and warm.”

“Wait here,” Govek demanded before moving past the threshold. She barely managed not to run after the light as he strode down a few paces. She watched his back tense as he came to an instant halt.

“It’s . . . the Great Rove Tree.”

“What’s the Great Rove Tree?”

He recovered much faster from the sensations than she did. His gruff expression returned, and he gestured for her to come to him. “One of the Fades great relics. It stands at the center of my clan and its roots tangle out and into other trees for many leagues. Those roots must begin here. You can feel it?”

“Yeah,” she said, slowly moving into his arms. The sensation had dulled a little now. Or maybe she was getting used to it. She closed her eyes, wishing it would come back stronger. “It feels good.”

“The humans of Faeda cannot sense the magic within the Fades relics.”

She blinked up at Govek and put a hand to his chest. “They can’t?” He shook his head. “Then why can I?”

“I know not.” His voice was clipped. “May I carry you?”

She supposed she would just have to be comfortable not knowing. “Yeah. Can I hold the torch?” Govek nodded, handing it to her, then lifted her up and tucked her back into his warmth. The combination of the tingling and Govek’s strength had her feeling almost drowsy. She tightly gripped the torch’s wooden handle.

“We will go this way,” Govek said, continuing down the hall without preamble. “I can scent fresh air ahead.”

“How far?” Even with the light, Miranda was ready to be out of the tunnel.

“Not far.”

Miranda clung to him a little tighter. “And then we’ll just stop off at your former clan. Rove Wood Clan, right?”

“Yes.”

“And from there, we go to your cousin’s forge. Where the seer is.”

“Yes.”

“How far away is it?”

“Half a moon.”

Miranda snorted. “Half a moon? How long is half a moon?”

His wide green eyes blinked. “Around fifteen days.”

“Fifteen days.” Didn’t sound too far, but through war-torn lands... through icy winter chill... fricking tornadoes . “Do you think the tornado is still out there?”

“You called it that before.” Govek adjusted her, examined her face carefully. “You have seen them?”

“Not personally, but Earth had them.”

He hummed quietly. “I have heard tales of these from my cousin. They call them Fade Storms or Fade Wrath. According to him, the orc overlords’ lands are blighted by them, but they have not made it over the mountains to our half of the continent. Until now.”

“Oh, that’s just wonderful.”

“Do you know of any way to prevent them?”

She shook her head. “No. Even on Earth, they were difficult to track. There was some advanced tech that could manage it, but I could never replicate it here.” She considered, “Though I guess I do know the warning signs of them. Hail, strange clouds, green-colored sky...”

Govek nodded slowly, lost in thought.

She scratched at the base of his skull. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

“I am thinking that the Fades brought you here as a miracle.”

She frowned. “What do you mean by miracle? You think they brought me here to do something? Like stop the storms?” She had no idea how she could do that. The idea made her gut clench.

He must have heard the tremor in her voice because he instantly cut in. “I do not believe they would make demands from you rashly, Miranda. The Fades are not so ruthless. And only they can see the future. Well, them and the seers they tell the future to, I suppose.”

She took a deep breath. “And to get to the seer, we have to travel to your cousin’s forge. Govek... are we really going to rob your former clan for supplies?”

He went tense under her.

“Govek,” she said threateningly, and he let out a long, heavy sigh.

“All will be well, Miranda. I will remain at your side to protect you while we travel. I will remain at your side for all that you do.”

Miranda shifted, guilt knotting in her gut. She owed Govek so much at this point and judging by what lay before them, she knew this was only the beginning. It would take her a lifetime to pay him back.

But Govek’s softened features and steady gait helped to soothe her turmoil into determination. Going to Baelrok meant she could find her babies and find out if they were here on Faeda.

Waiting for her to find them. Crying for help.

Her throat closed.

“We’re here,” Govek said, stopping at a section of the wall that didn’t appear any different from the others. Miranda adjusted the torch for a better look. “I will set you down. Stay behind me while I check.”

She nodded, breathless. Govek put both hands on the stone surface and though she couldn’t see the magic pooling off him, she knew what he did was working because a seam—the outline of a door—appeared in the rock face.

He pushed slightly, and it scraped open. The thick rock was a foot or more deep. It felt like he would never break through the darkness.

And then a slit of light glimmered, and the forest appeared.

Relief tumbled through her as a tiny sliver of sunlight fluttered across her face. She almost went to her knees.

There was no storm, no wind at all. The daylight was striking and vivid. Govek forced the door open a few more inches and opened his mouth, scenting the air.

Then he nodded, took her torch, and gestured her out into the light.

She scrambled, scraping her hands on the stone frame, and burst into the sunlit forest.

She breathed the clean, sweet air deep into her lungs so fast it made her dizzy. The trees were dazzling in colors—oranges, reds, and yellows. The ferns were bright green, the leaf barren bushes seemed lively with their sharp brown twigs jutting every which way. Even the harsh chill on her cheeks was welcome.

The door shut behind them with a loud crunch, and it disappeared into the rock hillside. There were patches of moss that grew over the top of the seam, hiding it completely.

Miranda tipped her head up to the sky, blue and flourishing in the sunlight. She wanted to laugh, to cry, to forget everything that had happened in that miserable mine.

And yet, not forget a single moment.

She turned to Govek, who was still standing stoically, watching her tensely. A smile tugged at her lips and only then did he relax.

“How am I going to repay you?” she asked, almost to herself, and Govek’s head tilted, his green eyes blinked, and he shifted.

“Just remain with me, Miranda.”

She raised her brows. “I owe you much more than that.” She sidled up to him. “And I want to stay with you. I’m so grateful?—”

She broke off when his expression softened. His mouth went wide in a smile. Her heart thundered in her chest. She would have to find a way to make him smile more often because—dang!—happiness looked good on him.

Miranda bridged the gap between them, took both his hands in hers, and pulled him down. “Thank you, Govek. Really.”

He hesitated and then bent, allowing her to kiss his forehead, his nose, his lips.

He tasted like the forest, rich and heady. Comfortable and strong. She trailed her hands up his arms to wrap around his neck, and he cupped both palms under her ass, lifting her off the ground. She beamed against his lips.

He shuddered and broke away and Miranda was overcome with the desire to teach him how to kiss properly.

“We can’t here,” he said. She huffed with disappointment, and he explained. “There are too many keen predators in the Rove Woods. Too many threats. I must stay alert to protect you.”

Oh. She couldn’t think of anything worse than being attacked while getting it on. She gulped. “Okay.”

Displeasure must have been clear in her tone because he chuckled. “I swear when we reach my dwelling at Rove Wood Clan, I will make it up to you.”

“How far?” she asked.

“It is a two-day journey to my clan,” Govek said, adjusting her carefully in his arms. She was beginning to feel like she belonged there. “Are you ready?”

She put her arm around his neck, letting his warmth soak into her, and smiled at his relaxed features.

“Yes,” she said. “I’m ready.”