Chapter 16

Chapter

Sixteen

GOVEK

“ I ’m not going to change my mind about going to find them, Govek.”

Miranda’s clipped tone made Govek’s gut clench as he rose with his breakfast bowl and carried it to the sink. Three days of Miranda’s cooking and he still couldn’t believe how good it was.

Nor could he believe anyone would go to such effort to please him.

“I’ll pack the rest of that,” Govek said, nodding to the skillet of peppers, potatoes, and onions Miranda had diced up and fried in butter. His stomach was full, but his mouth watered. “We can take it to the falls and have it with the fish I’m going to catch. Unless you want to pick a new spot.”

Miranda sighed heavily, crossing her arms, and glared at him. He could feel that glower all the way to the pit of his stomach. “You’re changing the subject again.”

Of course, he was. He had no desire to fight with her. They’d been going in circles for days , and no amount of logic and reason could turn Miranda to his side. He’d truly hoped in time she would come around.

But she hadn’t. Instead, she seemed even more convinced that the children she’d cared for on Earth had somehow made it to Faeda.

And she was determined to find them despite all odds.

“Govek.” Miranda leaned heavily against the tabletop. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

“I’m thinking...” He paused to examine her. The heavy bags under her eyes, the slope of her shoulders, the slow way she carried herself. “I’m thinking that you need more sleep.”

Her body sagged, and she looked away. “We both do, don’t we? I’m sorry I keep waking you up.”

That wasn’t the issue for him. It was the wailing. The crying and shuddering. The babbling about being trapped and crushed and burned.

Horrible images flashed in his mind of what had happened to Tavggol. The idea of Miranda going through something even remotely similar made him want to vomit. It made the imprint roar and quake with a desperate need to protect her at all costs.

He would not be able to protect her outside of the Rove Woods. Not without aid from his fellow orcs.

And Karthoc would ensure that he never got that aid.

“Hey.”

Miranda’s voice was hard, and he followed her gaze down to where his hands were balled into tight fists. Red blood oozed between his green fingertips.

Fuck, she hated when he cut himself. “Sorry.”

Instead of censuring him, she pushed away from the table, got a cloth from the hook on the wall, and sidled up close to him. He could feel her warmth soaking deep into his frame as she lifted his hand to her view, and turned it over gently. She dabbed at his palm with such tenderness that he barely felt the sting. “We’ll table this for now .”

His brow furrowed. “You... want to put our discussion on the table?” How would one do that?

Miranda let out a laugh that evaporated nearly every drop of tension he carried. “Oh gosh. No. It’s an expression. I just mean we’ll talk about it later.”

He let out a sigh of relief and nodded.

“Thank you,” he said quietly as she finished cleaning the blood and stepped away. He turned to the kitchen, trying to decide where to start cleaning.

“Sorry, I made a pretty big mess this time, didn’t I?”

“The aftermath of a Fade storm would have been more manageable,” he teased.

She laughed again, the sound bright and clear and flooding the room with her light. His heart thundered.

A knock sounded at the door.

“Fades spit,” Govek seethed. “It’s dawn .”

“They’re really getting desperate since we’ve been hiding out in the woods,” Miranda murmured with a chuckle. “Who is it?”

“Not sure.” The scents from Miranda’s cooking were too potent to get a good whiff, but he knew it must be someone from the clan. The scent of his brethren had been strong each night when they returned. They lingered outside the door, hammering away, wanting to talk to him, to drag him to the hall, to convince him to solve this merger problem that never should have been his to begin with.

Fuck Karthoc for forcing this into his lap.

“How long do you think they’ll knock before going away? I’ll bet you a kiss it’s five minutes.”

Govek’s blood warmed, and he smirked.

She tapped her chin. “Or I could just drag you off to our bedroom and we could, very loudly, pretend that we can’t hear them knocking.”

A barking laugh left his throat and his tension eased significantly. She certainly had a knack for knowing just what to say to extinguish his tension.

The knocking stopped.

“Do you think they heard me?” Miranda laughed. “Just the prospect of overhearing us getting down and dirty is enough for them to turn tail.”

Govek chuckled and went to the door. He inhaled sharply near the crack. Rogeth’s pungent scent came through, but it was fading. “He left.”

“Guess we should take this window of opportunity to escape,” Miranda said. “Unless you think we have time for a quickie.”

“I would much rather take my time with you at the falls.” Govek kept his voice low and was rewarded when Miranda shivered.

“Ooh, let’s hurry up then. Do you still want the breakfast leftovers?”

“Yes,” he said, cleaning up what he could before they left. “And the bread?—”

“Not the bread,” Miranda groaned, forcing another chuckle out of him. There hadn’t been any in the storeroom when they’d snuck over the day prior, so he’d made his usual recipe over the campfire at the falls, which used many nutritious roots and herbs.

And Miranda despised it.

“You liked it well enough when I fed it to you the first day.”

“Yeah, only because I was starving .”

“It will keep you hale, Miranda.” He would have been insulted but watching her try to gnaw on the hardened loaf was far too entertaining.

“My jaw can’t handle another workout this morning. It’s sore enough.”

The devious image of his woman’s lips wrapped around his cock flashed into his mind’s eye and his blood boiled even before her words registered and iced him over. “Woman, you needn’t go to such lengths to pleasure me.”

“I absolutely should,” she insisted.

“If the act causes you pain, then I don’t want?—”

Miranda crossed the room and gripped his chin before he could finish. “You know very well it doesn’t cause me pain, Govek.” She stroked his cheek as he huffed with pleasure. “But I’m still not eating anymore of that bread.”

He grumbled half-heartedly as she leaned into him, fluttering her soft lips right over his thundering heart, flooding him with contentment so deep it pulsed through his veins.

“Let’s finish getting ready,” she said, moving to pack and pick up the living room, quietly taking on half of the tasks, working in tandem with him.

It felt incredible. Govek had never imagined having someone live with him could be so pleasant.

“Don’t pack the bread,” Miranda groaned, just as they were finishing up. “I beg you.”

“You should save your begging for later, woman,” he teased before shoving the bread into the pack and moving over to the back exit.

She hit his arm, and he chuckled, delighted by her boldness.

Miranda walked out into the icy morning, leaving him to bar the door. The forest was still quite dark and glittered in the heavy frost.

A parchment stuck to the door caught his attention. He hesitated, noting that it smelled strongly of sage. Like it had been doused in the plant’s oil.

“Oh, what’s that?” Miranda asked, coming over. Govek pulled the note free. “Was it on the door?”

“Yes.”

She looked over his arm. “I still don’t understand how I can speak your language, but not read it.”

“The Fades work in odd ways,” Govek said absently, earning a scoff from her. “It’s to you. From Viravia.”

“Viravia? What does she say?”

“She has invited you to spend time with her in her home tonight.”

“Really? Does it say for what?”

“No.”

“Will you read it?”

“ Miranda, I would enjoy your company at my home tonight after the evening meal. From Viravia. ”

“That’s it?”

“Yes.”

Miranda puffed out an irritated breath. “But that could mean just her, or it could mean all the women, right?”

“It did say ‘I,’” Govek said, instantly understanding Miranda’s concern. “It’s doubtful that Maythra will be there, and even if she is, you could leave.” Maythra had come by more times than any other, even more often than Rogeth.

“That’s true,” Miranda mumbled as they began up the trail. The autumn chill wasn’t bad this morn. The sun was warm and melted every spec of frost it touched. The dappled light was lovely as it played over Miranda’s rich, brown hair and soft features. He watched her cheeks grow pink from exertion as they climbed the steep path.

So far, none of their unwelcome visitors had bothered following their scent up the hill behind his home, and Govek hoped that trend would continue. The constant slew of orcs at their door had long grown insufferable.

It was especially infuriating when they came late at night or early in the morning. Miranda was weary enough from her constant nightmares. Hovget was the only male that hadn’t tried to bother them in the last few days, and the only one Govek would have welcomed since it meant he could finally retrieve the sleeping tincture for Miranda.

Miranda tipped her head to the bright sky, hazelnut eyes twinkling. Her breath made fog around her face.

She was so beautiful it made his whole body flood with warmth. This gorgeous woman was happily following him up a trail, ready to make camp in the cold with only him for company all day. Content to warm up by sitting in his lap and jabber until he was left with no illusion to what she really thought.

And what she thought was so wonderful. Delight at the scenery, pleasure over the food.

Compliments for him. Constant, endless touches and sweet words that made him ache.

How had he gotten so fucking lucky ?

He couldn’t lose her.

She shot him a sly grin that made his heart thunder. “Wanna race?”

Govek blinked slowly. “You want to what ?”

Miranda burst into laughter. “Govek, you make it sound like I just asked you to chop your hand off.”

“I cannot decide if you are delusional enough to honestly think the match would be fair,” he muttered, though his irritation lightened at her continued laughter. “You would stand no chance in this.”

“Well, then how about you give a girl a break and let me have a head start?”

His eyes narrowed. “A head start?”

“Yeah, I’ll start running and you count to like thirty or something before?—”

“Counting to a hundred would not be enough,” he snorted. “Perhaps not even to a thousand.”

She smacked his arm, and he grinned helplessly at her courage. “Hey, I’m not that slow.”

“You are, Miranda. I have seen tree slugs that?—”

“If you compare me to a tree slug, you are going to thoroughly regret it.”

“As I was saying, I have seen unbelievably gorgeous butterflies that could flutter faster than you.”

“Better, but seriously, it could be fun. I mean, worst-case scenario, you catch up to me in half a breath and maybe we could play a little game. I could be the butterfly and you could be the hawk chasing me down.”

The comparison made his blood simmer even as he worked for calm. “Miranda, hawks eat butterflies.”

“Even better.” She smoothed her hand up his chest, forcing him to stumble to a stop. “I think I’d like being eaten by you.”

Tension shot through Govek so quickly, Miranda tensed with him.

She blinked. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” He wrenched the worthless memories of his last encounter with Yerina out of his mind. He had lost control with her, but he would not make the same mistake with Miranda. He could not.

He would never forgive himself if he drove Miranda away.

“Govek, I was only teasing,” Miranda said, brows pinched. “If you aren’t into giving oral, that’s okay. I’m not going to pressure you into doing anything you don’t want to.”

He growled low, raked his hand through his hair. Fuck! Her words were torture . He wanted to taste her so badly it was almost painful. His mouth watered and his tongue tingled. Fangs clenched with the desire to bite.

He couldn’t. He would lose control and ruin this.

“Govek?” Miranda pressed, and he opened his eyes, met the confusion in her face full on.

“Let’s go.” She didn’t argue, just linked her arm with his and followed him in unusual silence.

The trip to the overlook where Govek had built them a camp was quick, and Miranda let him go so she could take in the view of the falls. Her reverence at the crisp blue water plummeting down the cliffside into a massive pool below them even after three days here still took his breath. Her red lips parted, her hazelnut eyes widened, and her hair glistened from the damp.

“Not too close,” he censured, earning a dark look from her. She liked to sit on the large log right near the cliff and it drove him crazy.

“If you’re so nervous, then why don’t you come join me? Hold me steady.”

Fades he wanted to, but there were chores to be done. “I need to make you a fire,” Govek said, and blessedly, Miranda followed him over and helped carry kindling from the edges of the clearing. The little camp they’d made was covered with damp leaves, but the sky was clear. Once the sun dappled light through the trees, they would dry out.

He pulled a saber cat fur out of his pack and arranged it on top of the leaves Miranda had gathered into a pile right near the fire. Her little makeshift chair.

She only sat there when she wasn’t sitting in his lap.

He lit the fire easily using two striking stones. In reaction, Miranda came over to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. Pleasure tingled through him. The tiny bit of extra effort it took to light the fire without magic was worth the praise Miranda gave him for it.

“If it makes you upset to use magic, Govek, then maybe you should try not to. Not that I’m afraid of your temper, because I certainly am not. I just don’t like the idea of you hurting to make my life easier.”

Fuck , she made him feel good.

Miranda was settling down next to the crackling blaze, and he leaned in to nuzzle the side of her neck with his nose and tusks. Her sweet honey scent poured into him, flooding him with contentment.

She laughed, chiding him. “Govek that tickles,” but she placed a lingering kiss on his cheek. “I could live up here.”

Govek exhaled softly, glad his woman shared his love of the forest.

“There’s something about this place, right? Or these woods, in general? That happy tingling from the goblin mines is gone now, but it still feels good here. Or maybe I’m just crazy.”

“You are not crazy. Most orcs feel at peace within the Rove Woods because of its connection to the Fades.”

“But it’s weird for a human to feel that, isn’t it?” she asked, gazing out toward the falls again. The sorrow in her expression cut him deep. “I don’t belong here.”

“That isn’t true.” His chest tightened as she turned to search his face. “You are just as natural as all the other creations, Miranda.”

She quirked a smile that did not meet her eyes. “That’s a nice thought.”

“It is a true thought. The Fades created humans just as they did the rest of Faeda.”

She hummed. “I think... there’s more to it than that.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know... do you think the seer might?” she asked hesitantly and every muscle in his body tensed at the cursed memory of her touching the seer’s hand and falling in a boneless heap. He’d barely managed to catch her before she hit the ground.

She had been gone . The feel of her limp body in his arms, the sight of her closed eyes, and the clammy cool of her skin, it thundered in his veins and pooled dread into the pit of his stomach.

The seer had done that. And Miranda wanted to do it again.

“Govek?”

Fuck, it was getting too hard to hide his feelings on this topic. And he knew where she stood with it. She’d made her position clear. There was no use arguing with her. She would do this on her own if he didn’t aid her.

She would leave him.

He could not risk that. No matter how his instincts screamed, he could not bring himself to start an argument that may result in her rejecting him the way he had been so many times before.

“I should get the fishing done, Miranda.” Govek moved to stand.

“Hey.”

She gripped his wrist and pulled him down and lingered a gentle kiss to his lips. Bliss radiated through his entire frame.

She broke off the kiss far too soon and he asked, “Do you want to wait here or come down to the pool with me?”

“I’ll wait here.”

His disappointment was stifled as she kissed him again. It took far too much effort to leave her, but he had to, or they would have no lunch.

He gathered his spear, tied it to his back, and began the slow climb down the cliffside.