Barbarian Lover (Ice Planet Barbarians #3)(24)

It also makes me angry and fiercely protective, thinking of the fragile humans sleeping in the cave. To think something came this close makes me feel helpless.

“Do you think it’s the aliens that Kira mentioned?” Haeden glances up at me. “The tracks circle around our cave and disappear a short distance away, crossing a stream.”

I lick my thumb and test the wind. It’s against us. If there’s a scent trail to follow, it’s long gone. Curse it. “If it was the aliens, why did they not attack while we slept? Under the cover of the storm? Kira thinks they want their shell back from her. If that is what they truly want, why not take it?” I rub my forehead at the base of my horns. I’m angry at myself – angry that someone came so close to our cave and threatened my woman. Angry that I didn’t set a watch and instead crawled into bed with her to share a few fleeting minutes of pleasure.

Haeden shrugs and gets to his feet. He’s not bothered. To him, this is just another hunt, another day. Sometimes I wish there was something that would take that deadness from his eyes. To wake him up and make him realize what is at stake here for me. He puts his hands on his hips and glances at the fresh snow, then at the sky. “Whatever the reason we are followed, we should hurry and take the women to the elders’ cave before our new friend returns.”

He’s not wrong. I nod and go to wake the women up. I debate telling them of the situation, not sure how they will react. Kira’s frightened enough as it is.

When I enter the cave, though, Kira is sitting up, a troubled look on her face. “We’re being followed?” Her voice is soft.

I look over at the other human’s still-sleeping form. She hasn’t heard a thing. How did Kira catch my conversation with Haeden?

As if guessing my thoughts, Kira touches the shell in her ear. “This lets me hear…pretty far. I heard you speaking with Haeden. Are we in danger?”

I consider downplaying the danger, but Kira deserves to know. I spread my hands. “I don’t know. Something came close to the cave and left, and we don’t know what it was. But we had best hurry on to the elders’ cave.”

She nods and jumps to her feet.





KIRA


Yesterday’s snowstorms have disappeared and left behind the weak, thready sunlight from the two tiny suns and an extra foot of fresh, powdery snow on the ground to trudge through. My heart sinks at the sight of it, but there’s no time to sit around and hope it’ll melt. We need to get to the elders’ cave, and soon.

We break camp and set off at a fast pace. It seems even faster than yesterday’s brisk hike, but maybe it’s because I’m tired. Whatever it is, I struggle to keep up even more than usual, to the point that Aehako has to come and retrieve me a few times. It’s embarrassing, but no one calls me out because it’s obvious I’m doing the best I can.

The next time Aehako jogs back to where I’m lagging, he unslings the packs he’s carrying. “Come,” he says. “I’ll carry you on my back the rest of the way.”

His words make me sputter. Carried? Really? My pride is insulted, but this mission isn’t really about pride, is it? I’d gladly strip down naked and lick the feet of every single alien on this planet if it meant that the Little Green Men wouldn’t be a threat. So, with a small sigh, I nod. “All right. Let’s do it.”

“Be careful for my tail,” he teases.

No sooner does he say that then it bats me across the legs, like a big, playful cat. I arch an eyebrow at him and just shake my head. Even in all this stress, it’s hard to keep the grin off of Aehako’s face. I wish I could be as easygoing as him. Even without the worries from all the alien abductions, I’ve always been a serious sort.

I still have no idea what he sees in me.

He crouches low in the snow and pats his thigh. “Take your snowshoe off and put that puny human foot here.”

“I’ll put it in your balls,” I mutter as I pull off my snowshoe. “Puny human, indeed.”

Aehako’s laugh of delight makes me feel better, and I climb onto his back and lace my arms around his neck. He hikes my thighs around his ribs and then grabs our bags, one in each hand, and tosses one to Haeden as he sprints to catch up.

Oh sure, make it seem effortless.

Haeden turns and gives Harlow a sour look. “Do you need carrying too, human?”

“I’m fine,” she says, shouldering her pack to adjust it. “I can keep going.”

I’m envious of the redhead’s seemingly-endless reserves of strength. I hate that I’m the one that has to be babied.

As if sensing my thoughts, Aehako squeezes my thigh and says, so low that only I can hear it, “Most likely she just doesn’t want to be around Haeden’s pleasant personality for any longer.”

I stifle my giggle.

A weird chirp sounds nearby, and I glance around, looking for birds.

Weather update? My translator intones.

I stiffen. That wasn’t a chirp. That was one of the Little Green Men.

More chirping echoes in my translator. The storms have stabilized. We should be able to find a sufficient landing area very soon.

Look for the cargo hold. If the ones in stasis are still there, we can recover them.

We’ll set down near it.

“What is it?” Aehako looks at me from over his shoulder.