Barbarian Mine (Ice Planet Barbarians #4)(33)

But Har-loh’s people live with them. And Har-loh is good and kind. And this human seems to want to help.

“One only,” I say, my voice flat with distrust. “No weapon.”

She nods and gets to her feet, then slips out of the cave.

I don’t trust her, but what choice do I have?

A few moments after the female leaves, Har-loh’s eyes flutter open and she focuses on my face, dazed. “Rukh?”

“I am here,” I murmur, my voice husky with worry. I gently caress her face. “Are you sick, my Har-loh?”

“No, I’m fine,” she says, but her voice sounds shaky. She pushes against my arms, but I refuse to let go of her. “I just got dizzy for a moment.”

“The other female says the kit is making you sick.”

Her reddish brows furrow together. “Liz?”

I nod. “Do you hurt right now?”

Her hands smooth over her belly, and she licks her dry lips, hesitating. That strikes worry into my heart. Leezh is not wrong. “My back hurts, of course, and my side aches all the time. But these are normal things, aren’t they?”

“I not know. She go get mate. Want to talk to me.”

“Raahosh?” Again, Har-loh’s brow furrows. “About me? I promise I’m fine.”

“You are not.” I help her sit up and give her a water skin to drink. I notice her hand trembles as she does, and it’s like a spear through my guts. Leezh’s accusing words run through my mind, over and over again. You think it’s safe to be out here?

I moved Har-loh here because I knew no one came here. I knew, and I took her away from the healer that could make her well. Guilt threatens to swallow me.

Her small hands flutter over my arm. “Rukh…you won’t hurt them, will you? I know you don’t like…strangers.”

“You not wish me harm the bad ones?”

For a moment, Har-loh looks unhappy. Troubled. “I love our life here. You know that. But the others…some of them are my friends. I don’t want them hurt.”

I say nothing.

“Liz is just looking out for me,” Har-loh continues in a soft voice between sips of water. “I thought…well, it’s not important.”

“Say it.”

She looks troubled. “One reason why I never went back to them is because I thought they blamed me for the deaths of three others. Liz tells me they are alive. No one hates me.”

The sick feeling in my gut returns. So she came with me because she felt she had no other choice? It never occurred to me until now to question why Har-loh did not attempt to run away again. I foolishly thought it was because we were mates, that she felt the same way about me as I do her. Maybe I have imagined this all along.

Maybe Har-loh wants to return to the bad ones. If she does, what will I do?

“Could you get me something to eat?” Har-loh asks, putting a hand to her forehead. “Maybe that will help with the dizziness.”

My unhappiness is immediately pushed aside. My mate needs me. It doesn’t matter what I want. “Stay here,” I tell her, and move to one of the baskets of dried, salted meat. I choose a few strips of the blandest flavor, the one she has on mornings when her stomach is troubled, and bring them back to her. I watch as she eats and make sure she drinks plenty of water. When she is done, I pick her up and carry her – protesting – to our nest of furs so she can lie down and relax comfortably.

I realize for the first time that we can’t stay here. Not if Har-loh is sick. I cannot imagine how things will be with a kit if Har-loh is not well. I can take care of her, but I do not know how to take care of a kit. The knot in my stomach increases.

We must go back.





HARLOW


I’m worried about Rukh. He’s unnaturally quiet, and I know he has to have questions. He says nothing, though, simply hovers nearby and feeds me small bits of dried meat and makes sure I have plenty of water in my skin. I’m tired and just want to take a nap, but Liz and her mate are coming, and I worry how Rukh is going to react. I can tell he’s on edge.

I pat the side of the bed and invite him to come lie down with me. I hate how this day is turning out. Finding out that Kira and the others are alive is wonderful, but weirdly enough, I’m a little resentful that Liz and the hunting party have shown up and upended my life. I like it here with Rukh. I like our little nest beside the ocean.

The baby kicks in my stomach, as if agreeing.

“Hellooo,” Liz calls at the entrance of the cave, and Rukh immediately jumps to his feet. All thought of lying down with me is forgotten in the presence of invaders. His long bone knife comes out, the blade wicked-looking as he clenches the handle tight.

My heart thumps loudly. Rukh moves in front of me, shielding me, and even as he does, I’m filled with love for the big guy. My khui starts purring, and I hear his respond. For some reason, it comforts me. Whatever else happens, we have each other.

Liz tiptoes in and I notice her bow is gone. Behind her is a larger shadow, and the way the man stalks in…for a moment, it reminds me of Rukh. Then I see the one twisted horn remaining, the stub of the other, and the scars on Raahosh’s face as he comes into view. He’s taller than Rukh, and leaner, but for a moment, there’s a striking resemblance between the two.

I’m not the only one that sees it. The cave falls silent as the two men stare at each other.