Ice Planet Barbarians (Ice Planet Barbarians, #1)(50)

I feel the urge to touch my stomach, even though I’m currently piggy-back on Vektal through the snow, heading ever-up the icy mountain to where I left the others. I might not have had a choice about the baby thing, but . . . I’m not upset. Which is weird to me. It’s hard to be angry when you see so much joy on another person’s face, and bringing Vektal that joy gives me a sweet sort of satisfaction, too.

Maybe I’m more crazy about the guy than I like to admit.

“There,” Vektal says, voice nearly lost in the wind. There’s a blizzard blowing, and it’s making trekking uphill a nightmare. No matter how many furs I wear, I can’t stay warm; even Vektal is bundled against the cold. I’m covered from head to toe, gloves cover my hands, and my teeth are still chattering. It’s worrying Vektal, but when he suggested he leave me behind at the elders’ “cave,” I refused. I won’t leave the others behind. I can’t. I need to see them to make sure they’re safe.

While we paused at the elders’ cave overnight, a few of the sa-khui learned English through the brain-zapping. Their version isn’t entirely right, but it’s close enough that they’ll be able to talk to the other women at least.

I didn’t miss the fact that Raahosh was the first one to step forward for the zap. He was definitely planning on scoring himself some human booty. I told Vektal too and warned him to watch the hunter. He nodded, and we’ve been trekking close to Raahosh at the front ever since.

The black bit of ship in the distance is nearly invisible, covered entirely with snow. Worry strikes me anew, that I’ve left them all behind for so long. That was never part of the plan. I’m a shitty, shitty leader. “Oh,” I say softly. “Hurry, Vektal. Please. If anything’s happened to them . . .”

I let the words trail off into the bitter wind. I don’t even want to throw it out into the universe.

Vektal pats my arm with a gloved one. “All will be well, sweet resonance. Do not worry. We are here.”

Strangely enough, his words are comforting. This isn’t a rescue party of one anymore. It’s a rescue party of eleven. I don’t have to do this all on my own. These crazy aliens have my back.

Which is actually pretty darn nice.

“Ahead,” Vektal calls out, and he picks up the pace, surging to the front. I cling to his neck for dear life and don’t issue a peep of protest, even though his rough jog is killing my wrist. I have to know if everyone’s okay. Have to.

Time seems to slow as we make it to the discarded cargo bay. The snow is almost to the gap in the hull, and I slide off of Vektal’s back as the others surge to our sides.

“Let us go in first,” Vektal says.

“Me first,” I declare stubbornly, stepping forward.

Vektal steps ahead of me again with a shake of his head. “Let me. In case there is something dangerous.”

I want to protest, but his hand goes to my stomach and he caresses it. Oh, shit. A baby on board totally changes the game, doesn’t it? I nod mutely and touch my stomach as he unsheathes a bone knife and descends into the hold.

Stars flick in front of my eyes, and I realize I’m holding my breath. I exhale deeply then have to concentrate on breathing. It’s so quiet in there. What if everyone’s dead. What if—

Vektal’s head pops up through the break in the hull, and he extends a hand to me, glove removed. “Come below, Georgie.”

I give a loud sigh of relief and gratefully take his hand. It feels strong and warm against mine, and again, I’m reminded how much Vektal has been here for me. I feel a surge of gratitude even as he helps me climb down into the hold again.

The stink of the interior washes over me. It smells of urine and poop and unwashed bodies, but not, thankfully, of dead things. “Guys?” I call out. The blankets are huddled in the corners of the cargo bay, unmoving. It makes my heart clench, and I stumble toward the mound of blankets. “Liz? Kira? Megan?”

I peel the blankets back to reveal Kira’s sunken face.

She gives me a wan smile. “Hey, Georgie. You’re back.”

My eyes go wide at the sight of her. She’s paler than before, her hair matted. Her eyes are hollow and dull, and she looks so weak that I doubt she has the strength to move. At her side, Tiffany sleeps on, her darker skin ashy and dry.

“Are you guys okay? Can you sit up?” I pull her against me, ignoring the protest of my hurt wrist. Somewhere in the distance, Vektal is calling for his men to bring food, water, blankets.

“I think it’s the sickness,” Kira says, voice exhausted. She seems to take forever to blink, and when she does, her eyes don’t focus. “We’re just weaker every day. Tiffany won’t wake up.”

I lean over Kira and press my fingers to Tiffany’s forehead. She’s burning up with fever. She doesn’t stir at my touch, either. “Are the others still alive?” I ask Kira.

On the far side of the room, I see Raahosh stalk toward the blankets. He lifts one corner and then, ever so gently, lifts Liz and cradles her in his arms. He holds a water skin to her slack mouth so she can drink.

Vektal pushes a water skin into my hand as more warriors drop into the hull, looking around. They don’t comment on the smell, which is good, because that would make me angry. Instead, they look curiously at the human women who are rousing. I hold the skin so Kira can drink. There’s a strange tension in the air.