The Barbarian Before Christmas (Ice Planet Barbarians #17.5)(21)

My mate turns back to me, a bewildered look on her face. "Islanders?"

"It is a very long story, my sweet resonance," I tell her. I am proud of how quickly she approaches the others, ready to make them comfortable and at home with us. She is the perfect mate for a chief. I watch her as she greets them both, and my gaze slides to the soft curve of her bottom. It is plumper than before, and I approve of this. I approve of this very much. Just the sight of her tailless bottom makes my cock remember how long it has been since I have claimed my mate.

Ah, but it is good to be home.

"Papa," a familiar little voice cries out, and my heart thumps with pure joy.

I turn, and racing out from the longhouse is my oldest daughter, Talie. She holds little Vekka's hand, letting her younger sister toddle alongside her as fast as she can. In fact, she races so fast that I am sure Vekka is going to fall forward, so I rush to meet them, and manage to scoop up both daughters just in time. "My girls," I call out, and I cannot stop grinning. "Look at you!"

"Yes, look at you both, disobeying your mother," Georgie calls out, exasperated, but I hear the laughter in her voice.

I kiss both of them over and over, alternating kisses between the two of them, much like how Georgie kissed me so many times. I have missed these little ones as much as I missed my sweet resonance. "Have you been good?" I ask as Talie gives me a smacking kiss and Vekka gives me a wet press of her mouth to my cheek. "Listened to your mama?"

"Most of the time," my Talie says, sounding so adult. "You aren't going to go away again, are you, Papa?"

Such a difficult question to answer. "Not this night," I assure them both, and turn to my mate, my arms full of my kits. My heart is so full of joy in this moment that I cannot stop smiling. Being chief is good. Helping the others in their journey to survive, that is good. But being Papa and mate?

That is best of all.

Georgie ushers Vuh-ron-ca and Ash-tar forward. "I have a million questions for everyone. Just promise me that everyone that's not here is well and I'll be able to relax."

I glance out at the rest of the tribe that has gathered around. There are anxious mothers, anxious sons, worried parents. I feel guilty that there was not enough room on Ash-tar's back to bring all home. "Everyone is quite healthy," I reassure them. "We could not fit all on Ash-tar's back, but there will be more trips to the Icehome camp and more returning home as quickly as possible."

"But everyone's safe?" Stay-see steps forward, asking. At her side, she cradles an arm around Air-ee-aw-nuh, who is deathly pale and trembling.

"They are all well," I reassure them. "And they have sent gifts since they could not be here tonight. Especially Zolaya."

Air-ee-aw-nuh gives me a timid smile and squeezes Stay-see's hand, some of the color returning to her face. "Thank God."

"Well, if there are stories to be told, I want to hear them," Georgie declares, moving forward and gesturing at the longhouse. "We were all just about to enjoy our No-Poison feast before you got here. Now we have all new stories to hear over dinner. Come on, then!"

"No-Poison?" I hear Vuh-ron-ca ask.

"Long story," Georgie tells her, pulling her forward. "Vektal, will you bring the girls?" My mate looks over at me.

I nod, hefting them onto my shoulders. "Hold on to Papa's horns," I say to my daughters. "And tell me if you were good while I was gone."

"Very good," Talie says, all confidence. "Mama says I am getting a special No-Poison gift tonight." She pats my forehead. "I think it was you, wasn't it, Papa?"

And I feel as if my heart has melted in my chest. "Maybe it was." I glance over at my beautiful mate, and she is looking over at me, her eyes soft with love. She heard that, too, it seems.

Ah, but it is good to be home.

“But what of the others?” The female known as Shail steps forward. She is Vaza’s pleasure-mate, and she has little Rukhar at her side. He holds her hand tightly. “What of Rukh and Harlow? Liz and Raahosh? Don’t they want to come home and see their babies?”

Ah. I nod at her. “They do, but there was no room this time. With Ash-tar’s permission, once he and his mate have spent a few days with the healer, they will return to the Icehome village. The kits may go with them. There is no danger there.”

Rukhar’s young face lights up in a smile.

“If it’s not dangerous,” Gail says, but she does not sound certain.

“It is not,” I reassure her. “There is already one kit there.”

“A kit?” my mate asks, surprised. “Whose?”

“The islanders brought with them an orphaned kit. No more than a few turns of the moons old. They feed him eggs and take turns watching him.”

“Islanders?” my mate exclaims.

“Eggs?” Shail retorts, aghast. “Oh hell, no. Someone needs to step up and parent that baby.” She points at herself. “And I know just the woman.” She gives Rukhar’s hand a little shake. “Looks like you’re gonna have company heading back to that beach, little man.”

This is a good thing. Shail is very good with kits, and Vaza will go with her. He is experienced with hunting and fishing, and another set of hands will be useful. “Leezh and Raahosh will want their girls with them, as well.”