Page 108 of The Orc Outcast's Mate
Viravia shot him a wide-eyed look before murmuring, “You’re as observant as Tavggol. Yes, it’s been a chore recently.”
“Oh gosh,” Miranda said. “I’m so sorry I didn’t notice. Do you need help? I’m happy to do any cleaning or cooking you have. Or we can move some of your stuff downstairs?”
“That’s so sweet, but the women have already got me covered. I almost always have someone here nagging me to keep off my feet. Especially now that I can’t make it to the hall for meals.” She shot Miranda a smile. “Nice to have a different kind of visit for a change.”
Miranda smiled back and Govek felt his tension ebb.
“Most of the clan is still buzzing about the announcement,” Viravia said, placing sage leaves in the kettle. “Have you spoken to the warlord since?”
“No,” Miranda said. “Only members of the clan come to bang on our door. As far as we know, anyway.”
Viravia nodded, looking pensively down at her herbs.
“Was there something you wanted to know about him?” Miranda asked, casting Govek a look that indicated she thought this might have been the reason Viravia had invited her over.
“Oh no. Just...” Tension rose in the woman’s back, but when she turned, she was forcing a smile. “No. You came here to visit. Let’s talk of more pleasant things.”
She was hoping for information about the merger, Govek was certain. About whether he was going to pick up his father’s mantle. The prospect of moving must have been daunting with the babe in her stomach so large.
Quite unbidden, Govek was struck by the flash of an entirely new image. A vision of Miranda with her own swollen stomach. Her ability to move stolen by the mass of an orc son growing and faced with the challenge of losing her home.
Conflicting emotions abraded against his raw senses, and he rose from his chair, moving to take the tray of cups and tea from Viravia.
Her eyes grew wide. “Oh, thank you, Govek.”
He nodded gruffly and went back to his place, setting the large cups down in front of the chairs.
Viravia walked over with no hesitation in her stride and sat, patting her stomach tenderly. Yet he knew she must feel some pain if she could not get up her steps. “You are a strong woman, Viravia.”
“O-oh.” Color came into the woman’s cheeks as her eyes darted away, and her lips quirked in a little smile. “That’s nice of you to say.”
Govek took a hard breath as he turned her mug, so the handle faced her. Viravia would be fine. They would let her ride in a cart. Hovget and Wellia would leave with them, with all their medical tinctures. Wellia had birthed many orc sons both here for the mates and for the conquests at Oakwall Village.
Miranda would have none of those luxuries. They would be here. Alone. With only the Oakwall midwife to attend her. A woman Govek had never even met properly.
He shook the disconcerting thought away, but it stuck in the back of his mind. Like an itch he couldn’t quite reach.
Was staying here alone truly the right way?
Chapter
Nineteen
MIRANDA
Miranda was a complete jealous idiot.
She fixated on every soft gaze Govek shot Viravia’s way. The way his eyes lingered on her as she walked. The kind gestures, even turning her mug so she could pick it up easily. That random, unprompted compliment...
Damn it all, he wasn’t flirting. He was just being nice. She was his sister-in-law.
“We did not have the time to grow familial bonds.”
God, why did that get under her skin so bad?
“Um...” Miranda mumbled, and Govek snapped his gaze away from Viravia. There was an awkward pause. “I’m really sorry the pregnancy has been so hard.”
“I-It’s all right,” Viravia said, skittering her gaze from Govek to her. “I signed up for it, after all. And I would go through anything for this little one to be healthy and whole.”