Bronto's Revenge (Barbarian Lust, #2)(46)

Ivy’s brows scrunched. “Me?”

“You cannot hide inside the hut forever, baby doll. I know you’re afraid but you must face your fears to overcome them.”

“I’ve been trying.”

Jade cupped Ivy’s hand. “Bronto has work to do. He can’t shirk his duties because you’re too scared to be alone. That isn’t fair to him, is it?”

“I…” Gosh, she hadn’t thought of that. How selfish of her. She’d been so wrapped in self-pity it hadn’t crossed her mind. Not once. In six days. Six long days. She glanced at Bronto then looked Jade in the eye. “I didn’t… He must… I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. I understand,” Jade was quick to respond. “While he sleeps, why don’t you come outside with me? It’ll do you good to move around anyway.”

Leaving the security of the hut was unsettling and caused her belly to knot but was something she needed to do. “You’ll stay close by?”

“Yes, of course.” Jade smiled the motherly smile Ivy adored. “If it makes you feel better, Grunt hasn’t been around in days, nor has there been any alien activity. The men might have obliterated all of them. If not, destroying their lab might have convinced them to flee Helixis.”

Grunt didn’t scare her. Not anymore. What now scared her was the prospect of disappointing Bronto by staying confined inside the hut, feeding a weakness. She’d never been a woman to hide or back down from anything. Not her father. Or Sledge. Or Grunt. “Okay.”

She wanted to see Wisteria anyway. Other than the day Ivy woke up to see Wisty sitting by her side, she’d only visited Ivy briefly a couple times a day. Despite Bronto leaving to give them privacy, it wasn’t the same as sitting around the fire and talking about girl stuff. Ivy didn’t want to discuss aliens but they were Wisteria’s primary topic lately.

“Then shall we?” Jade said, taking a stance and offering her hand.

Ivy took hold of Jade’s fingers and carefully rose to her feet. Rising to full height stretched her belly but it didn’t hurt enough to address.

“You’ve got to be hungry, baby doll. You’ve hardly eaten.”

“I am.” She followed Jade to the door but when they stepped outside Ivy stopped to look around.

Ruby and Pearl were stirring two large pots that were hanging over the cooking fire, and Wisteria and Vulcan were standing near the pen, feeding leaves to the baby dinosaurs. Numerous men stood between the fire and the supply hut.

Ivy tilted her face toward the sky and inhaled the fresh air. The sun bathed her skin and wrapped around her like Bronto’s embrace. Gosh, she missed this.

“Ack.”

She glanced at the ground just as Birmon waddled to her feet and looked up, his rhino-shaped head tilting side to side.

“Ack,” he repeated.

“Hi, Birmon.” She bent down and lifted him into her arms. He licked her cheek then nuzzled his snout between her breasts. “I missed you too,” she said, petting his head.

“Ivy,” Wisteria squealed. She handed Vulcan her handful of leaves then dashed toward the huts. “Welcome back,” she said, giving Ivy a hug. She squeezed her gently then held her at an arm’s length and glanced at Ivy’s tummy. “Why didn’t you tell me you were injured?”

“I didn’t want to worry you.”

“I’ve done nothing but worry since Jade told me how bad it was. Are you okay now?”

Ivy nodded. “Yes. I’m fine and I’m hungry.” For the first time in days she had an appetite and wouldn’t need to force herself to eat.

She took another long glance around the yard. In one section Muck and three other tribesmen stood just inside the forest wall, guarding the camp. It was uplifting to know they continued to guard despite the lack of alien evidence.

Relaxing her shoulders, she set Birmon down, inhaled a deep breath then walked hand in hand with Wisteria to the fire. After Ivy sat down, folding her legs beneath her, Jade handed her a cup of dark liquid and a full bowl of grains mixed with blue and red berries.

“Hi, Ivy,” Pearl said as she approached and sat down, her expression filled with compassion. “It’s nice to see you outdoors.”

“Thank you.” Ivy sipped the cup. The contents were hot and nose-scrunchingly bitter.

Jade giggled. “It’s coffee. The caffeine in it will give you energy.”

Ivy nodded and took another sip. It didn’t taste bad. Unusual but not bad at all. Surely it wasn’t her choice of liquid but she could drink at least one cup a day. Her momma made something that tasted similar she called black oomph. Momma drank it periodically but the clansmen drank it from sunrise to sunfall.

“I’ll be right back, baby doll,” Jade said, stroking Ivy’s hair. “I’ve got something for you in my hut.”

“You shouldn’t go by yourself.”

“It’s just right there,” Jade stated, pointing at the row of huts. “I’ll be back before you take your next sip.”

Ivy set the cup aside and scooped a bite of grains into her mouth. From the corner of her eyes she spotted Vulcan turn away from the pen. Wisteria’s eyes brightened and she smiled as her man headed toward her. Because of Bronto, Ivy understood those feelings. It was something Momma couldn’t teach but needed to be experienced. If Wisteria hadn’t been banned from their clan, or if Sledge hadn’t forced Ivy into the Barbarians’ camp, Ivy’s and Wisty’s lives would be very different. Wisteria would actually be united to Sledge, and Ivy, well, she’d probably still be sheltered by Momma.