Barbarian’s Mate(36)

But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t rescue them, of course.

I look around for Haeden. He’s standing a short distance away with three other hunters and they talk quietly. He turns the moment I look at him and gives me another possessive look, as if he’s already done with all this ‘reunion  ’ stuff and can’t wait to drag me back to our cave. Boy, Liz wasn’t wrong about that.

I step away from the others, heading toward the cave that Georgie and Vektal share. Haeden immediately comes to my side and I feel warm with pleasure when he joins me. I lean in close to him. “I told Georgie that we need to talk to her and Vektal privately about the ship and the girls. I worry it’s going to upset Kira.”

He nods thoughtfully. “And the unmated males will be eager to set out in the hopes of claiming one of the women. Some of them are without hope now that you are mine.” He rubs a knuckle on my cheek. “They will have to wait long seasons for Farli to come of age, or even longer for Esha, Talie, and the others.”

Considering that Talie’s a newborn and Farli’s probably thirteenish? Yeah, that’s a long time. “So what do we do?”

“We take it to our chief and let him handle it,” Haeden says. “It will be his responsibility, not ours.”

Maybe it’s selfish, but I’m glad of that. I’m tired of all the burdens and the drama. I just want to curl up with my mate by the fire and relax. I nod and lean against his arm as we head into the cave.

No one’s inside, which means Georgie’s still out hunting down her mate. Haeden’s big hand smooths my hair, as if he desperately needs to touch me. I get that. It’s weird being back surrounded by all these people after weeks of being alone. I know that there will probably be a celebration tonight for our mating. I know that people are going to be watching us and asking questions for the next while, because they’re nosy. I know Haeden and I are going to have to go back out to the ship to rescue the girls, because we’re the ones that know where it is. All of this just makes me tired.

Haeden’s fingers lace through mine, and even though it’s a little strange since I have more fingers than him, it’s still really nice. And as long as he’s by my side?

I’m down for whatever.





20





HAEDEN


I let Jo-see do the telling of the strange ship and the pods she found inside. It is her discovery, and so it is hers to share. Even if it was not, I am content to remain at my mate’s side and simply watch her talk with her friend Shorshie. She is enthusiastic, tucking a strand of her soft mane behind her ear as she gestures with her hands. Her voice grows loud as she speaks, as if, if she is louder, the words will come out faster. It does not bother me as it did in the past. I find it…amusing. I touch her leg to let her know she is loud, and she casts a smile in my direction and lowers her voice, and I am filled with pride at my mate.

She is perfect.

“Two more females like you and Georgie? I am pleased. The males without mates will be pleased.” He gives Jo-see a curious look. “Why is this a problem?”

“Because everyone on that ship was killed,” Jo-see says, glancing over at me again. “And I don’t know how Kira will take it.”

He shrugs and rubs his chin, glancing at me. “She will be pleased we can save two females, will she not?”

My thoughts are the same as his, but Shorshie looks to her mate. “I think it’s more complicated than that. I can talk to her. Maybe she will want to go with the hunters on the journey. Make penance for her crimes, though I can’t say that I’m sorry they died, considering what they did to us. But Kira might feel differently.”

Jo-see nods. “That’s a good idea. I’ll go, too.”

I speak up. “No.”

Everyone turns to me.

“No? What do you mean, no?” Now, Jo-see is frowning.

I ignore her show of temper. “I mean no. You will stay here in the safety of the cave. I will go.”

She sticks her tongue out at me and makes a thbbt noise. “You’re not the boss of me.”

“I am your mate,” I tell her evenly, doing my best to be stern and failing. A smile curves my mouth when she sticks her tongue out again. “Your mate that pulled you from the belly of a sky-claw—“

“Wait, what?” Shorshie says.

Vektal’s expression darkens. “Sky-claws?”

I nod. “The cold has driven them over the mountains.”

“Then no females go,” Vektal says staunchly. “We send hunters, and only the biggest and strongest.”

“What the heck is a sky-claw?” Shorshie interrupts. “And how did Josie get in the belly of one?”

Jo-see gives me a frustrated look and gives a short explanation of the sky-claw and how she cut forth from its belly and fell into my arms. She shudders as she tells it, and I caress her back to comfort her. I understand her bad memories; I still wake up at night with nightmares of my mate snatched from my arms.

“I realize it’s dangerous,” Shorshie protests. “But—“

“No,” says Vektal, crossing his arms over his chest. He looks at me and I nod slowly. On this, we are agreed. It is too dangerous to send a female out, especially one of the small humans.

“You didn’t even hear what I had to say,” Shorshie snaps.

“I know what you will say, my resonance.” He looks at his mate. “You will tell me that a human female must go. I will say no. You will say I am wrong. But I am not wrong and it is too dangerous. If what they say is true, we nearly lost Jo-see. I will not lose another, not a mother with a kit.”

“All right then, if you’ve got this all figured out,” Shorshie says, anger in her voice. “Who are you sending?”

He looks over at me. “Haeden will go.”

I nod at my chief. Of course. It will be frustrating to leave my mate, but she wants the females rescued, so there is no choice.

“We will send the unmated males, since they will give us no rest unless we do. So Hassen, Bek, Rokan, Taushen, Harrec, Vaza if he wishes to go.”

Shorshie’s brows go up and she nods as if impressed. “And which one of those men is going to open the pods and get the women out?”

Vektal opens his mouth to respond, and then scowls at his mate.

“Exactly,” she says. “You need a human to go. Not just because it will be less scary for the women if another human is there and can talk to them—“

“We can speak human—“

“You can speak English,” she corrects. “What if they’re Spanish? French? Marlene is French, remember? We’re just lucky she knows English, too. Anyhow, that doesn’t matter. What matters is, if you get there, you need someone that can open the pod. You need a human. Is it dangerous? Yes. Does it need to be done? Absolutely.” She crosses her arms over her chest, mimicking his glower. “Oh, and you can’t send all the single guys, because they are going to scare the ever-loving crap out of those poor girls.”

His expression hardens as he watches his mate. After a moment, he looks over at us. “We will need to speak privately.”

I nod and get to my feet. “Tell me when I shall go, my chief. I am ready.”

“You are not going without me,” Jo-see protests. She stands and lets me lead her out of the cave.

I head for our cave at the back of the new tunnel, letting her speak her thoughts. She is unhappy at the thought of being parted from my side, and I am pleased by that, even if it does not override my need to keep her safe. She will stay here, and that is the answer.

People watch us curiously as we head to our cave, Jo-see bickering at me as I hold her hand. I am smiling, and I think several in the tribe are as surprised by that as they are that I am listening to Jo-see’s endless stream of angry words. In the past, we did our best to ignore each other.

But in the past, she was not my mate. I did not try to know her like I do now.

“You’re not listening to me,” Jo-see says as we enter our cave. I have made it a cozy home for us even though she would not stay there with me. The bed is thick with furs, enough for a sa-khui and a small human mate to curl up at his side. The fire pit is lined with perfectly spaced rocks, and my supplies are neatly stored in woven baskets. Someone — likely Salukh - has set my traveling pack down in the corner.

“I am listening,” I tell her even as I move the privacy screen in front of the mouth of our cave. With it up, no one will disturb us.

“I have to go—“

“No, you do not. The chief will send another female, but it will not be you.” I move to my mate’s side and peel her worn furs from her shoulders. She is wearing several layers, and I remove the first one and toss it aside.

Jo-see puts her hands on her hips. “I’m an adult. You can’t control me, Haeden. This is bullshit.”

“I am the mate that almost lost you.” I finish unwinding the thick furs from around her body and peel away her second cloak of shaggy dvisti fur. “I am the one will cry over your body if I lose you. And I will not let that happen.”

She gives me an unhappy look. “I should have some say in this, you know.”

“Whatever say you have does not matter, because you have my kit in your belly.” I put a hand to her flat stomach and meet her gaze. “It would destroy me to lose you, Jo-see. I cannot imagine losing you both.”