The Barbarian's Owned(15)

“Yes.” Garr confidently strode directly at the glinting swarm. Vaya prodded Rae forward, but when geysers burst into the air close by, she interposed herself. Soon, the giantess and Garr both walked together in front, where most of the eruptions occurred.

They arrived at one insect swarm and saw another floating off in the fog. They stepping-stoned through the geyser jungle that way, using the swarms as guide posts.

Partway through one of their hops, Rae first noticed Vaya and Garr had started walking side by side. There was no more rearguard, and their focus was on the geysers, the swarms, or one another. From their silent glances, they were communicating with each other and entirely distracted from what Rae was up to.

Desperate, she scanned her surroundings, utterly turned around in the swamp. Once she hit Kaython’s ground, though, she was sunk. If Lyr would send her home, she needed to do it now.

“Show me a way,” she mouthed silently behind Garr’s back. “Please let me go home.”

Off in the distance, Rae spotted a new swarm of insects, this one green. The lights twinkled from their constant, shifting movement.

Well, Rae thought, summoning her courage. Green does mean “go.”

***

Traversing the geyser jungle, Garr brooded on his human’s words regarding “love.” An aberrant concept, to suggest males might belong to females—or, worse, a prime might belong to anything other than his domé.

Did she not understand her arrogance? In implying Garr belonged to anyone but Kaython alone?

Something troubles you, Vaya messaged through their microbial connection. They had not used it since Earth.

You seek to exclude my mate from this conversation? It could be considered improper to hide a conversation with a subordinate from one’s mate—doubly so a female subordinate.

Don’t mean it that way, boss.

Of course she didn’t. Vaya was his trusted lieutenant. Perhaps the human’s words on “love” had him overly focused on propriety. Speak.

I’ve got your back no matter what. But have you thought about how this will go over with the tribe?

They will follow their prime.

Sure. But you turned down Kaython’s last choice for your taliyar—Yahlalla was a 98 percent genetic amplifier. No prime’s been so strongly suited for a mate in twenty cycles. Turning down such a prestigious member of our tribe for an alien? One who we’re not even sure you can reproduce with? This will upset people; people like Yahlalla’s enormous brothers, for instance.

True, but Yahlalla had not suited him. She’d been beautiful in that typical Ythirian way—slender, elegant. But her attitude had been too fawning. She was a pliant creature, and eager to please, which made most males happy. Not so Garr.

There was more to a taliyar than genetic compatibility. He needed one who would teach his son or daughter by word and action, and not just through the gifts of blood.

The fire in Rae mattered more to him than any genetic amplifier. The only problem would be taming her and banking those flames to serve his own ends. Her strength made it difficult for her to see the superiority of Ythirian culture.

What are you thinking, Boss?

Do you trust me, Vaya?

As much as Kaython, sir.

He grinned at her blasphemy. If Kaython minded, she had not signaled any displeasure. Another reason his domé pleased him: she liked her people as fiery as Garr did. Probably why she’d nudged him toward Dr. Rae Ashburn.

I am not without my concerns, he confessed. She is confused about the role of a mating-class female—behaves more like a castoff—

Vaya winced. He regretted the slip. That word was a powerful slur, and he forgot at times that it technically fit Vaya’s situation. After all, had she not foresworn mating to take up arms and hunting?

Garr frowned, not wishing to soften the word with his subordinate. Softness would have come off as disrespectful—as him treating her differently from a male warrior.

He needed to, instead, demonstrate he respected her regardless of the slur. Tell me your thoughts. Human “love.” Can it be reconciled to our ways?

Steam jetted from the ground in front of them, causing them both to pause. The task of avoiding geysers had become routine, their trust in Lyr increasing.

You cannot belong to her, Vaya said. This would be a great sin for any male, but the greatest of sins for the prime.

Of course I can’t belong to her, Garr shot back.

Then there is no reconciliation. I’ve witnessed her human culture during my scouting trip to Earth. I don’t think a human female from her tribe would want to be a Ythirian’s mate. Vaya glanced at Garr. In truth, sir, it’s similar to why I chose to become a castoff.

That floored him. He knew she’d chosen it—had, in fact, fought for it. The word “castoff” implied a shame Vaya had never felt for her decisions. But she’d never actually told him the reason for those decisions.