Barbarian Lover (Ice Planet Barbarians #3)(49)

“Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask, squeezing his hand.

“I will be fine. I don’t wish to distract Maylak from the healing she is doing on Haeden. He needs all her attention.” His brows furrow with worry and he casts a look at the healer’s cave. “If he doesn’t live…”

“He will,” I reassure him. And when he hesitates, I gently steer him back toward his own cave. “Tend to yourself first, then you can see how he is doing.”

He nods and tugs me along. I pass by Tiffany and Josie, who have worried looks on their faces. The loss of Harlow is one I’m not ready to talk about yet. I’m not even sure if I can grieve. It just doesn’t feel real yet. How can we have possibly lost a human? There are too few of us as it is.

“My son,” an elderly woman cries, and I see Sevvah emerge from her cave, holding out her arms for a hug. “What is this I hear about a wound?”

“It is nothing, Mother,” Aehako says, and his usual grin resurfaces. “You worry too much.”

“And you do not worry enough,” she fusses, embracing him.

My hand slips from his as he steps into his mother’s arms, and I remain behind, feeling a bit timid. I’ve talked with Sevvah plenty of times before. It’s a small cave, and I like her. She’s lovely, with gray braids looping around her horns and the same pale blue her son is. She looks regal and there are lines at the edges of her eyes from laughter, which is good. I shouldn’t feel weird about walking right in and sitting down as she leads her son into their cave. I mean, she’s invited me in for tea before.

It’s just that the last time I was just one of many humans, not a daughter-in-law. A daughter-in-law that will never resonate.

I swallow hard.

“Where are you wounded?” Sevvah fusses. “Oshen, bring me my herb bags. Sessah, move away. Go play with Farli.”

As I linger at the mouth of their cave, Sessah – a boy that can’t be more than ten years old or so – bolts out of the cave, giggling. I always forget that Aehako has a much younger brother. I know he has an older one named Rokan, but the sight of Sessah’s skinny body and twig-like horns makes me feel a curious kind of longing. Is that what Aehako’s children would look like?

A tail flicks at the edge of my vision and as I watch, Asha saunters into Sevvah’s cave as if she owns it. I watch as the flirty female moves toward Aehako, and puts an arm around his back.

To his credit, Aehako flinches away and looks for me. “Kira?”

I bite my lip and head in, though I feel like an intruder. Sevvah’s giving me a curious look and Asha’s shooting daggers at me with her blue gaze. Oh dear. I am really not good with confrontation, and this feels like confrontation.

Ironic that I took out the aliens without an ounce of anxiety, but approaching the man that loves me while his ex-girlfriend tries to slide in on my territory? While his mother watches? This is hard.

Meekly, I step to Aehako’s side and lace my fingers with his again.

“Hold this?” Sevvah asks, and hands me a small bone bowl full of herbs and what looks like fluff. “Now, Aehako, tell me what sort of things you have been up to, you naughty scamp.” His mother’s voice is loving, the affectionate tone of a woman who knows just how much trouble her son can be.

“Did you miss me?” Asha demands, pushing her way to Aehako’s other side as if I’m not there.

He frowns at her and shakes his head. “I, no—“

As I watch, her hand slides to his tail and she grips it at the base. I gasp, because that seems incredibly sexual.

How dare that bitch touch my man?

My hand leaves Aehako’s and before I can even stop to think of what I’m doing, I slap her hand away from him. “Quit touching my mate!”

The words tumble out before I can stop them, and everyone in the cavern stares at us. Aehako’s father Oshen, his mother Sevvah, Asha — they all look at me as if I’ve grown another head.

Then, Sevvah gasps and a smile breaks across her face. “My son! You resonated? And to such a lovely human!” She beams at me with matronly warmth.

“No resonance, Mother,” Aehako says, and pulls me against his side, carefully steering me away from a gaping Asha. “I’ve chosen her as my mate, and she’s chosen to be mine.”

I wait for Sevvah to question this, but she only smiles. “Equally wonderful.” She pulls at the laces of Aehako’s leather tunic, but it’s clear it’s not going to come off like that.

I step back out of Aehako’s grip. “Take off your shirt so your mother can see the wound.”

He removes his clothing, and then hands his tunic to me with a wink. “Not back an hour and my mate’s having me strip down. You see why I took her as my woman? She’s demanding.”

I blush.

Asha’s still standing there, and I sneak a peek over at her. She is frozen in place, an unreadable expression on her face. It’s clear she doesn’t belong, and it’s also clear she’s making no attempt to leave. This is awkward. I feel bad for her. I know she’s throwing herself at Aehako, but it’s clear that she’s miserable, all thanks to a khui that picked someone else.

Her gaze flicks to me and I offer her a tentative smile.

She scowls at me and storms away.

So much for sympathy.