Bronto's Revenge (Barbarian Lust, #2)(37)

Bronto stiffened and sat her up between his legs. Just then the sound of people running and hollering breached her ears. As Bronto started to rise, a green arm shot through the doorframe and long, gnarly fingers clutched around her ankle.

She screamed and tried to kick them off but they pulled on her leg and she partially slid to the door. “Bronto!” she wailed, digging her nails into his arm while trying to hang on. The strength the alien had was beyond human and its claws dug into her skin. Bronto held on to her wrists, struggling to hold her in place.

The fingers tightened and claws sank deeper. The pain was unbearable but she couldn’t wedge the hand loose no matter how hard she gouged it with her opposite foot.

“Give me your blade,” she hollered, reaching for his sheath.

Bronto wrapped his legs around her waist and let go of her wrists briefly to unsheathe his knife. She grabbed it by the handle and sat up.

When he jumped to his feet she was dragged another foot backward. She scraped her nails along the ground and her feet frantically scuffed the dirt.

Bronto cuffed his hand around the alien’s arm, preventing it from dragging her farther while she sat up and chopped it in half near its wrist. Blood squirted into the air as the arm sprang backward and snapped against his hand. He let go and watched it retract through the frame.

The fingers continued squeezing her ankle. Blood surfaced around the claws and her foot was turning purple. “Oh gosh. Oh gosh,” she shrieked. “It’s pinching me.”

She tried prying the fingers loose but they wouldn’t budge. Bronto bent one completely backward, grabbed the blade and cut the finger off then threw it into the fire but it didn’t weaken the alien’s grip.

Bronto severed two more and tossed them into the pit. They wiggled away from the heat and tried to escape but melted against the rocks. One at a time he cut off and burned the remaining four then he flung in what was left of the species’ hand.

Ivy scrambled across the hut and tucked herself into the corner as far away from the door as possible. She tightened her hand on the blade as she stared at the entrance, sucking air into her chest.

Bronto dropped beside her and lifted her chin. “Breathe, Ivy,” he said, stroking her bottom lip with his thumb. “Breathe.”

She exhaled and wrapped her hands around his wrist. “Go kill it, Bronto,” she said, digging her nails into his flesh. “You have to kill it or it’ll come back.”

“I will. Shhh,” he soothed. “I will.”

“Now. Before it gets away.”

“You’re coming with me.”

Her eyes rounded. “I’m not going out there.”

“You’re not staying in here alone. You don’t know what will happen when I walk away from the hut.”

She hadn’t thought about that. “Then let’s go,” she said, jumping to her feet.

When he stood she squeezed his hand and scooted as closely as possible to his side. She was having a really bad day and she feared it was about to get worse.

“Bronto!” Zypher shouted from outside. “Get out here. We’re under attack!”





Chapter Ten


“Fuck,” Bronto grimaced.

Ivy dug her fingernails into the back side of his hand. “If we’re under attack—”

“Don’t let the knife out of your sight.” He released her then grabbed the rifle from the crate and dashed outside, shoving her behind his back. For being under attack, it was awfully calm.

Zypher stood with his M16 aimed at a thick section of forest near the horses, directly across from the huts. Tyran was squatted by the pen, and Vulcan, Rocko and Trice covered the southern section. Grunt wasn’t in sight but that wasn’t a bad thing. No way in hell would anyone hand him a firearm. He’d likely shoot his own people, starting with Rocko. That left at least thirty additional men spread throughout the inner trees and surrounding the secondary camp. Considering the perimeter’s broad range, a lot of sections remained uncovered. “Zypher, where are they?”

“They fled into the forest. The bastards seemed to fall from the sky.”

“Where are the women?” Bronto asked. Hopefully he wouldn’t say underground. Unless someone stood guard directly over the door, the aliens could easily get inside the shelters.

Zypher nudged his head over his shoulder. “Vulcan’s hut.”

Bronto walked backward, sheltering Ivy until they reached Vulcan’s dwelling. He kissed her desperately but briefly then opened the door. Pearl, Ruby, Wisteria and Jade sat huddled around the fire, holding hands. Birmon lay tucked under his wings on Wisteria’s lap.

“Ivy!” Wisteria yelped as she set the creature aside, jumped up and pulled Ivy into her arms.

Bronto assessed the inside of the hut, making sure the walls were properly secured to the ground. “Ladies, don’t sit in front of the doorway. Move into a corner.”

Ivy broke away from her sister. “He’s right. An alien reached inside his hut and grabbed my leg. It tried pulling me out the door.”

Jade scurried to her feet. “Bronto, is that true?”

Why would she question it? Had she hoped Ivy was overexaggerating? “Yes.” He glanced at the blood on Ivy’s leg and nodded, instructing Jade to look at the claw marks. “Will you help her clean up?”