Chapter 13

Chapter

Thirteen

GOVEK

T hey had safely returned to their home and Govek still could not find words.

He watched Miranda cook at the stove. He'd bandaged her shoulder and the white linen peeped through the neckline of her new dress. The other was ruined, but she'd folded it neatly and tucked it safely into the bottom of her trunk. She said she wanted to keep it.

He had tinctures that would heal the injury in moments, but she refused them. She hadn't been embellishing when she'd said she wanted it to scar. And scar it would. The raised white and pink marks would forever remind him of this day.

Fuck, what had he done? He'd lost himself. Given into his most ruthless needs.

And she'd liked it. She'd wanted it. She'd said that . . . that she . . .

His mind couldn't seem to process, so he focused on the food. Foreign combinations of garlic and ginger. His stomach rumbled and his mouth watered.

"Hey."

She turned to face him and quirked a smile as if she knew what he was thinking. "Come over here."

He got up from his chair at the table and loped shakily across the floor. She plucked a quick kiss to his jaw and pulled him by the hand until his chest was against her back. Her sweet scent mingled with the cooking and made him lean in.

Fuck , he shouldn't be allowed to feel this much bliss, contentment, joy.

He nuzzled the top of her head as she turned back to the pan. His body shivered against her as she stroked the arm he'd wrapped around her waist. He needed to find words. To speak. But he couldn't. They just wouldn't come out of his worthless throat.

"This is nice." She leaned into him. "We should cook like this all the time."

He nodded in agreement as his eyes fell to half-mast. He stroked her hair away from her neck. She smelled like paradise made real.

Miranda.

His mate.

He hadn't asked her to be his mate formally yet, but in his mind, she was. He'd thought of her as such for so long now. Maybe even from the first moment he'd seen her fall out of the sky. But humans took a long time to consider lifelong commitments. Miranda had said that her people dated for years before marrying .

He would wait to ask. Give her time to settle. Perhaps after the clansman were gone, and they had the Rove Woods all to themselves, she would be ready to carry the full label.

He felt no rush because it truly did not matter. He would never let this woman go, regardless.

His eyes drifted to the little bag at the corner of the kitchen where she had put her evidence, and his stomach twisted. He would rip anyone who tried to take her to shreds.

"Still a bit tongue tied, huh?"

"I apologize," he said, almost as a reflex. His voice was so raw it hardly sounded like his own.

She set down the wooden spoon and turned to face him. "Govek, you don't have to apologize for that. I don't want you to apologize for that."

He raised a brow at her, confused.

She stroked his cheek, and he leaned into the touch, soaking up her warmth. "I don't mind you being quiet. It's part of your nature, and I love your nature." Her eyes went soft and pink brightened her cheeks. "I love you ."

His stomach bloomed with warmth, and he was certain his emotions would get the best of him again. He crushed her in his arms, basking in the bright, warm sensation that worked its way through the darkest corners of his mind.

She loved him. This perfect, wonderful woman loved him.

"Goodness gracious," she said as her hip bumped the handle of the pan and some of the stew-like meal sloshed out.

"Goodness gracious?" he mirrored, incredulous. Her tone suggested she meant it as a curse .

"What?" She tossed him a sidelong glance as she mopped up the spill. "You cuss all the time, and you can't handle ‘goodness gracious'?"

A smile tipped the corners of his mouth. "‘Goodness gracious' is not cussing, Miranda."

"Of course it is!" she countered, but her tone betrayed her mirth.

He worked to bring it higher. "It's about as harsh as a dewdrop."

Her laughter radiated through the room, and contentment bloomed in his chest, built a wall of security and sweetness he'd never known.

"Who are you trying to impress with it? Baby bunnies?" His offhand comment caused another round of giggles. The sound was melodic and dreamlike.

"I was a flipping daycare worker," she said, her beam radiant. "I don't use foul language!"

He leaned against the counter, crossed his arms casually. "Ah yes, this job where you sat upon children."

"Oh, hush up," she snapped, though her laughter continued.

"And you do curse, Miranda," he said, leaning in closer. "I've heard it many times. I can prove it."

He bridged the gap between them, dipped his lips to hers. Held her captive with his kiss. Reminding him of the metallic sweetness she'd flooded his mouth with in the woods. Of the bite he'd given her shoulder and the happiness she'd expressed when she'd talked about it marking her as his.

For once in his miserable existence, he didn't feel a tinge of remorse.

He dueled with her tongue, nibbled at her lips. No longer worried he might cut her. He could control himself with her and if he wounded her by accident, he had no fear he could not make his mistake right.

The security of this was like nothing he'd ever felt before. A weight lifted from his gut. The brightness of his soul broke through the dim.

He broke off the kiss, leaving her lips swollen and her eyes misty.

"Fuck..." She touched those reddened lips before letting out another wry laugh. "Okay, fine. I do curse. But it's your fault for making me."

"I love you, Miranda."

Her breath caught and her eyes flooded with tears. He touched his forehead to hers and whispered again. "I love you."

"Ah shoot." She wiped at her eyes, voice thick. "I already told you that. And I know you do. It shouldn't be this big a thing."

He chuckled, mingling radiant joy as he dipped and kissed the tears off her cheeks. "You are perfect, Miranda. The Fades must have created you for me."

"Or the other way around." Her voice warbled a little. She put her arms around his neck and tugged him into her. "Sometimes I still wonder if you're real, if I'm dreaming."

"Sometimes, I wonder if I died," he said, musing on that day he lay paralyzed on the forest floor. Listening to her babble about being in a dream. Who would have imagined he would be lucky enough to listen to that babble for the rest of his days?

"Don't talk about your death, Govek." Her concern was so obvious it made his heart flutter.

He raked his fingers through her soft, lush hair, earning shivers of pleasure from her. Leaned down to her mouth. "I apologize. Allow me to make it up to you."

"The food will burn," she said, even as she tipped her head up to receive his kiss.

"And I'll gladly eat it anyway," he said against her lips.

A frantic knock sounded at the door.

Miranda jumped and knocked her forehead into his nose with a crack. "Oh gosh." She reached up to rub the sting with her gentle fingers. "I'm so sorry."

He could only grin.

The knock hammered again, and the scent registered. Sage. His brows furrowed as he eased Miranda's hand away and went to answer.

Viravia burst in without preamble and shut the door behind her. The hood of her cloak was tucked so tight around her head it was a wonder she'd been able to see, and she threw it off without care as she entered, disheveling her hair. Her cheeks were bright from the cold.

"Viravia, my gosh, hi," Miranda said, but the woman ignored her, forcing Govek's mood to sour.

"Govek, is it true?" Viravia's wild eyes darted to his. "I heard about... well, everything ."

"Are you all right, Viravia?" Miranda came over to the table. She didn't seem as upset by Viravia's dismissal.

And the woman made her amends quickly. "Miranda, I'm sorry for barging in. I'm just all out of sorts."

"Here, sit down." Miranda pulled out one of the chairs.

But Viravia looked to Govek instead. "Savili sent me a message. She told me... she told me about the judgment. Is it true?"

"Yeah," Miranda said. "I'm not going to let Maythra get away with attacking me, but they say Govek was out of line when he broke Wolvc's jaw."

Fuck, he hated the reminder that he'd been so far gone. His fists curled and the one that had cracked the male's teeth tingled.

"Not that," Viravia breathed, allowing herself to be helped into the chair. "The punishment. "

Govek's guts plummeted as Miranda met his gaze. "Punishment?"

"You were told , weren't you, Govek?" Viravia asked.

"Yes, Karthoc informed me of it."

Viravia sucked in her breath. "You have to call for a lower cost, Govek. This isn't right."

"Okay, hold on, what punishment are you talking about?" Miranda stepped between Viravia and Govek.

He let out a long sigh. "Chief Ergoth has insisted that those accused of wrongdoing in this face the highest punishment. If found guilty, I will be forced to go to the foothills." He swallowed thickly. "To the front lines of the war."

Miranda's face went pale, and he reached out to hold her arms lest she fall.

"Do not worry, Miranda." Govek willed her to recover. "I have a plan."

"Yeah." Miranda's face went flat. "The plan is that you won't lose."

He clenched his jaw, still stroking her arms. His eyes flashed to Viravia, and she was obviously stricken. Tense.

"But if..." Viravia wrung her hands. "If you do lose?"

Miranda shot Viravia a withering look, but Govek found it a valid question and no longer saw need to hide his plans from the woman .

"Should they find against me, Miranda and I will go to the mists. Into hiding."

A deadly silence descended.

"Govek, no! " Viravia gasped. She was so pale he wondered if she may faint.

"What are the mists?" Miranda looked between them. "Govek?"

"Govek, that's complete lunacy . Even crazier than going to Estwill ."

"There is no other place that I could escape a punishment. They would hunt me to every corner of this world. At least within the mists, Miranda and I would stand a chance."

" What are the mists?" Miranda insisted again.

"They are the edges of our world," Govek said. "Great banks of fog that are a mystery many have tried to solve."

"And that none have ever returned from."

"If we stay hidden at the edges and do not go too deep, we will be fine." Govek assured them when Miranda gave him a worried look.

"Govek, you can't do this. You must at least try to reason with Ergoth."

"He will not listen. He is the one who made this demand of Karthoc."

"But what is Ergoth thinking? He has to know this won't stop the merger."

Govek shook his head. "I do not know my father's plan. I only know that he must have one and that there is nothing I can do to change it."

"Reason with the warlord, then." Viravia was shaking and her voice quivered. "You're his cousin. He can't possibly be so heartless as to want to see you killed . "

"What is done is done, Viravia." Govek found it telling that Viravia did not even question Ergoth's sanity when he tried, once again, to put his only living son to death.

" Please, Govek," Viravia pleaded, coming to her feet. She reached for him. "There has to be another way. You must become chief of Rove Wood or we'll be forced to merge. I can't leave... I have to stay..."

Viravia collapsed, head in her hands as she began to sob. Govek's stomach twisted in confusion, and he glanced at Miranda, unsure what to do.

Miranda did not hesitate to step forward. She placed her hands on Viravia's shoulders and gave them a little squeeze. "This seems like more than simply not wanting to merge, Viravia. Can you tell us what's going on?"

Viravia's head snapped up, her eyes round with fear, her lips trembled and her cheeks were soaked. "I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry I can't?—"

"You don't have to." Miranda rubbed Viravia's shoulders. "Lord knows I have my own secrets. Look, if you really don't want to leave the Rove Woods, couldn't you ask Oakwall if they would take you in?"

Govek thought it a fine suggestion until Viravia pointed out the obvious.

"He . . . he would never let me."

Chief Ergoth would never leave her behind. The babe in her belly was Tavggol's only son. The last trace of his brother. His kin, who he loved with his every fiber.

"We will aid you in hiding."

The words left Govek's lips before he realized what he was saying. Miranda's brows rose, clearly perturbed that he'd made this decision without consulting her.

And logic caught up with him then, too. Viravia was less than a moon from giving birth. The forest was relentless with incoming winter, and he had his own mate to care for.

And yet, this was Tavggol's mate—a woman who had been endlessly kind to him. He knew not what horrors lay in her past, but he could not leave her to suffer and pretend she and the babe meant nothing to him.

Blessedly, Miranda gave him a nod, and he repeated. "You may flee with us for a time, and then once the clan is gone, we can decide where to go. If you want to travel with us to the mists or stay at Oakwall."

"Are..." She looked to Miranda, gripping her hand. "Are you certain?"

"Yeah," Miranda said. "We won't abandon you here."

"Oh Govek, Miranda." Viravia's eyes flooded with unshed tears all over again. "Thank you. Thank you. "

Govek nodded and Miranda's hands fell away as Viravia stood and hugged her tight. Miranda rubbed her back somewhat awkwardly and promised once again that things would turn out all right.

"I-I'd better go." Viravia finally pulled away from Miranda. "Thank you. Both of you. I promise, once things are more settled... I'll... I'll tell you everything."

Viravia wouldn't meet Govek's eye as her hand stroked her stomach and Govek's own gut twisted again. He balled his fists.

Had he made a mistake inviting Viravia along?

But the promise was done and, in the end, Govek knew the guilt of abandoning his brother's widow would be far worse than whatever horrors she was running from.

" And ," Viravia said, meeting his eyes solidly. "I swear, I will do all I can to ensure the judgment tomorrow results in your favor. "

Govek blinked at the intensity in Viravia's eyes, but she left without another word. Miranda all but collapsed into a chair.

"Oh my god. I'm freaking . . ."

Angry that he'd made this offer to Viravia without consulting her? Nervous for what was to come? Upset that their easy plans had been dashed?

"Curious!"

Curious? He shouldn't have been surprised and yet his mate's admission still brought lightness to his chest. Humor to his heart.

He kneeled before her and wrapped his arms around her stomach, pressed his face into her chest. She was so warm, and she scratched lightly at his hairline, sending shivers down his back.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. Sometimes we gotta make decisions on the fly. And I was perfectly capable of negating your offer if I hadn't wanted to go through with it. But..."

"But..." He looked up to meet her gaze.

"He's your nephew, Govek," Miranda said with a softness in her eyes that reminded him of her face when she was holding little Haysik. "And she's your sister. Kinda."

He buried his face in her chest again, right between her soft breasts. Beneath the clothes, he could smell the faint blood of the mark he'd given her.

She was his, and he was uncertain what he had done to deserve her.

"You think she'll still tell us what's going on with her after we help her? "

Govek snorted. "I could try to force it out of her if you want."

"No... I like her too much to do that. And it sounds like we're gonna have her as a companion whether we flee to the mists or not. I'd rather not make her upset."

Fuck. In this one promise, he'd ruined the happy plan of keeping Miranda all to himself in the abandoned Rove Woods.

"I'm sure we can get her to join Oakwall," Govek said. "And I'll keep you here. All to myself."

Miranda laughed—a sweet sound that flooded him, drenched him, pulled him down into contentment. "You'll have to share a little with my babies once we find them and bring them here too," Miranda insisted. His throat tightened at the solid conviction in her face. The unwavering determination that these children of hers really were alive here on Faeda somewhere.

They could be. He had no reason to believe they weren't .

And yet . . .

"She... didn't mention someone who could find them for us. Do you think she forgot?"

"After all that has occurred? It's likely."

Miranda hummed in thought. "Let's remind her after the judgment tomorrow. It's not like we can do much right this second anyway, since the seer still won't talk to me. But after we win tomorrow, he will. I know he will."

His whole body went rigid, and Miranda stroked his hair, clearly noticing.

"It's going to be all right. We're going to win. We will find my babies. And then, we'll live happily ever after. I know it . "

He looked up into Miranda's solid determination. Her strength drew him in and amazed him. This woman who was so certain in her conviction.

Even as his own instincts clamored with fear.

"You're not going to lose." Miranda gave him another squeeze. "We're ready."

He took a deep breath and nodded, wishing he believed her.