Barbarian Lover (Ice Planet Barbarians #3)(19)

“I am not,” I say agreeably. I will not be fair when it comes to her. She’s mine. I touch her cheek. “But you will tell me what bothers you anyhow.”

She bites her lip again and her fingers touch the strange metal thing that projects from her ear. “If…If I tell you, you cannot tell anyone. Not Bek, not Vektal, not anyone.”

As if I would tell Bek anything. The male has nothing but snowdrifts between his ears. But I nod.

Her hands tense into fists and then she crosses her arms over her chest. Not in anger, I realize, but…hugging herself. Protecting herself. “The others are coming back,” she whispers. “The aliens. And I think they’re going to be able to find me.”





PART THREE


AEHAKO


“Tell me everything.”

She wrings her small human hands and then does just as I command. Her worries spill out – the things she hears from the strange shell in her ear and her concern that they are coming back to get her. As she speaks, I see the stark terror on her face, and I ache that she has been hiding this inside her, that Kira feels it is a burden she must shoulder alone.

She’s not alone, though. She’s mine.

When she’s done speaking, she wipes at the corners of her eyes, pushing away her tears before they can freeze to her cheeks. “Say something?” she asks me.

“Can we remove the shell from your ear?”

She shakes her head and touches it. “I’ve tried. It’s attached to my ear and sometimes I think I should just cut the whole darn ear off, but I worry there’s a part that goes deeper into my head.” She bites her lip. “I don’t want to lobotomize myself.”

I don’t know this word, but I understand what she is saying – she is wise not to fool with things she does not understand. “Then we must get it out of you.” I stroke a hand over her hair. “I will still go with you, Kira, but we must tell the others. It is not right to bring them with us if it will put their life in danger to be around you.”

Her face crumples a little. “Do you think I’m putting them in danger? That’s the last thing I want. I want to get away from the cave so no one’s in danger but me.”

“If you think they are coming after you,” I say, considering the alien device stuck to her head. “Then it is best we are not near the others. Do you not agree?”

“You’re right. I should have said something earlier.” Kira looks defeated.

“There is no shame in fear,” I tell her, and tip her chin up so she will look at me. “I have not abandoned you. Fear not.”

Worry creases her brow. “But it’s not safe.”

“What in this world is safe?” I tease. “I could die tomorrow from a fall or bad food.”

“Don’t say things like that.” Kira’s eyes shimmer with more tears. “You’d be safe if it wasn’t for me.”

“I’d be lonely and sad if it weren’t for you,” I tell her. “Do you think you are not worth a little risk?” At her silence, I continue. “I do.”

The brave smile she gives me wobbles a little. “I’m scared.”

“Shall I come to your furs tonight and distract you until you are no longer scared?”

She buries her face against my chest. Only her small chuckle tells me that her mood has lightened a little with sharing her burden.

It’s enough that she trusts me with this. Soon, she’ll trust me with all her secrets. Then she will no longer fight the thought of being my mate. But first I must help her rid our skies of those that would seek to take her from me.

I mentally add more weapons to my travel supplies.





KIRA


The Next Morning



It’s not easy to confess to Vektal and the others the truth about why I want to visit the elders’ spaceship. I feel ashamed, as if it’s my fault. I see the worry on Georgie’s face, and the others, and I feel responsible. I’ve burst their happy bubble and brought fear back.

Only Aehako’s strong hand on my back keeps me from running away like a coward. I don’t understand why he supports me through all this, but I’m grateful for it. So, so grateful.

“Have you heard them again?” Georgie asks. Her voice is calm but there’s a furrow of worry on her brow. As I watch, Vektal tangles his hand in her curly hair, as if to anchor her to him.

I shake my head. “It’s better to be safe than sorry, though. I want this thing out of my ear, and all traces of them gone. If the elders’ ship can do that, it’s worth a try.”

“And if it doesn’t work?” Georgie’s voice is gentle, even though her question pierces me to my soul.

I don’t know what I’ll do if I can’t remove it. I can’t come back and be a danger to others. “I’ll cross that bridge when I get there, I suppose.”

“Bridge?” Vektal asks.

“Figure of speech, love,” Georgie pats his shoulder. “It’s nothing to worry about.”

“Whatever happens, I won’t bring them back here, I promise,” I tell her. Even upon pain of death – or worse, my own re-captivity, I won’t sell out the others. I just hope the aliens will leave well enough alone.