Chapter 4

Chapter

Four

MIRANDA

" I am sorry, Miranda."

Govek's eyes were red rimmed, and his cheeks were damp as he kneeled before her.

He was past the storm, but still needed support. Her chest felt tight and hot and so full. He'd given her so much when she had fallen apart in the past, and now she could do the same for him.

"You have absolutely nothing to apologize for." She rustled his hair as he got to his feet. "What just happened to us was..."

The bitter, sweet scent of the horrible tincture caught her again and made her a little dizzy. The reminder of what had happened with Maythra lodged in her stomach. She looked down at her bodice to the wet spot at her neckline where the red discoloration revealed the extent that the woman and her cronies had gone to destroy this male she adored so much.

Rage spiked in her gut, and she clenched her jaw .

"We will get you to a bath now," he said quietly, his eyes on the stain.

But she shook her head, determined. "No. I don't want to wash away the evidence."

"Evidence?"

"Maythra and those orcs aren't going to get away with trying to frame you."

His face went flat. "Miranda. We shouldn't bother."

She blinked. "We what?"

"It isn't worth it. No one will listen, and it will only lead to more frustration and anger. Believe me, I have been through this before."

She couldn't tell if her stomach was churning more from fury or sorrow. "Govek, I know no one has been on your side in the past, and I'm so so sorry you had to go through that alone, but you have me now. Next to you. Supporting you."

He shook his head. "You cannot get your hopes up?—"

"Look, you might be able to put it behind you, and I commend your ability to let things go, but I'm not like that. They attacked me, Govek. I want justice. They aren't going to get away with this shit."

"In the morning then?—"

"No. Right now. Morning will be too late. It will give Maythra the whole night to spin whatever story she wants."

"That doesn't matter."

"It does ," she insisted. "Time does matter, Govek. We need to get to them before they draw their own conclusions. Please ."

He growled low, threatening, but she crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes until he finally said, "Fine."

Her irritation soothed and the tremor in his voice caught her. She tugged him into a tight hug, gave him a gentle kiss, and scratched her hands along his scalp to the nape of his neck.

She would have her justice. And Govek's too. And with it would come...

The seer's words flooded her mind.

"You want to spark your healing. That's what you need to do."

She would heal, and then she would find her babies. "Are you ready, Govek?"

He sighed heavily and opened his eyes to meet hers. "Yes. I'm ready."

She smiled and turned quickly to search the woods and find the lantern light that would guide their way back to the path.

Too quickly.

Her vision swam, spinning, lurching. Her stomach rolled, her skin went clammy, and bile rose up in the back of her throat.

She staggered, leaned forward, and vomited onto the icy forest floor.

"Ah, fuck! Miranda!" Govek rushed to her side. His hot hands soothed her back and gently stroked the nape of her neck as he pulled back her hair.

She spat and rose up slowly, taking deep breaths of the crisp night air. Even in the dark she could see the orange leaves glittering from frost. Their edges tinged with ice crystals.

At least until her vision blurred and her head spun, and her stomach threatened to bring up everything else it had in it .

"We will return home, Miranda." His tone left no room for argument.

But she argued anyway. "No. The hall."

"You are ill . We need to get you back to where you can rest. Then I will fetch Hovget for you."

"No." Her tongue tasted awful. "That's too long. We have to beat Maythra."

If they even could. Maythra was probably already at the hall telling everyone that Govek was an uncontrollable monster. Saying he had come out of nowhere and attacked Wolvc for fun.

The vile woman would not get away with this.

She would have her justice even if she threw up the entire way there.

She couldn't get justice for the ruin of Earth, but she could get it for this.

Is... is that what the seer had meant when he said this would spark her healing? If she got justice for what happened with Maythra, she could use the relief of that victory to help ease her grief long enough to dredge.

"Miranda."

His tight voice brought her out of her head and into the woods. The darkness and stillness of the incoming winter swirled around her. "Let's get to the hall. I'm fine."

She wasn't. He knew that, and so did she.

"But you're hurting , Miranda." His voice was a low rumble. His skin was fire against her fingertips. "You're ill. I ask only that you consider logic. Your gown will still be tainted in the morning. Maythra's tales will be told whether you confront the clan now or not."

"Govek, if you don't want to go to the hall, that's fine, I understand. But I'm going," she said firmly .

A muscle in his jaw ticked, his body went stiff as his fists balled. He wanted to fight her. She could read it all over his face.

But then he looked down and he sagged. "All right. I will go with you."

"Thank you." She exhaled with relief.

"Can I carry you there?"

"Absolutely you can." She'd barely gotten the words out when he swung her up into his arms and began to walk through the woods. The warmth of his skin was so starkly contrasted against the chill of the night.

"Govek has his arms so far open it's no wonder you fall into them at every opportunity."

The seer was right about that. Govek was like a rock for her—stable, comforting, and calm. He helped her see reason when all she wanted to do was barrel headfirst into the unknown. He dragged her back to sanity whenever the horrors from Earth caught up with her.

"I think you're too good for me," she said into his neck.

He snorted with disbelief. "You must truly be delusional."

They'd just made it to the path. The lamplight illuminated Govek's features and dappled his green skin. The firm set of his jaw. The slight crook in his nose. The wind rustled the trees above, sending a rainfall of orange leaves around them.

"Thank you, Govek," she said softly.

He stopped walking to search her face. "For calling you delusional?"

She chuckled. "For everything. You've done so much for me I'm gonna have to spend the rest of my life and probably a good portion of my afterlife paying you back. "

He sucked in a slight breath, his chest puffing out against her frame. She blinked as his face slacked and a smile played at his lips. "Do you mean that?"

Her heart began to hammer. Dang, he looked so good when he smiled. His happiness made the whole world light up. The torchlight backlit him, coloring up his dark green hair like a halo, illuminating his features, softening his eyes.

She leaned in to kiss him.

"There he is!"

Miranda whirled and found five orcs rushing toward them. All had masks of fury written on their green faces. Tall, tense, fists bunched as if ready to fight.

None of them had anywhere near the muscle Govek did, but the one in the lead had more than the others and Miranda recognized him by his strong jaw and steely eyes in a gut-clenching instant.

Agol. Wolvc's father.

"Govek," Agol snarled as soon as they were within hearing distance. Govek gripped Miranda tight and his claws slunk out against her dress. "You will come with us to the hall. Now."

"This is about Wolvc attacking me, isn't it?" She couldn't imagine the guy was in very good condition right now. His jaw had been mangled.

But he'd deserved it.

" You attacked him ," Agol said so low and deadly it shot up Miranda's back like lightning. "Maythra has told us everything. You will come with us now ."

Agol had a right to be furious, but Miranda still bristled. "She clearly left out some important details. Govek attacked because Wolvc was attacking me . "

One of the backup orcs scoffed loudly. "He was attacking you ?"

"Yes," Miranda said. "Both he and Rogeth drugged me with something while I was in the woods."

"That isn't what Maythra is saying," Agol said.

"I'm sure," Miranda said dryly. "What she's saying is lies."

One of the orcs she didn't recognize snapped harshly, "Who are you to call our eldest woman a liar?"

Govek growled low and threatening.

"Unhand her!" Another orc stepped forward like he would try to take her by force. Govek's growl turned to a snarl.

"Don't you dare touch me!" Miranda glowered at the male and, surprisingly, he stopped. "I've been manhandled by enough orcs tonight." She turned to Govek. "Let's go, Govek. You can carry me all the way there, just like we planned."

Govek's face contorted, his throat worked, and his eyes flickered.

And then he nodded.

Miranda breathed a sigh of relief and stroked the back of Govek's neck before looking at Agol. "All right, it's settled. So, let's go."