Ice Planet Barbarians: The Complete Series: A SciFi Alien Serial Romance (14 page)

“So you and the big guy, huh? Can’t leave you alone for two seconds without you getting hitched to the nearest alien.”

I shrug uncomfortably. “Seemed like it would help the survival odds.” Even as I say it, it feels wrong to make my relationship with Vektal sound like it’s just survival. There’s attraction, too, but I feel like I’m betraying my fellow captives if I admit to it.

Liz nods and stares at Vektal’s horns for a bit. Then she looks at me again. “He’s kinda possessive of you.”

“Yeah.” He is, and I don’t hate it. Kinda like it, actually.

“How’s he going to act when he finds out we don’t want to stay on Not-Hoth?”

I don’t respond. It’s not something I’ve thought about yet. I’m still adjusting to the fact that Vektal thinks I’m his mate. I don’t want to think about how he’s going to act if I get on the first bus ride home. Or the depressing idea that there might not be a ride home.

Liz is still looking at me, waiting for a response.

I shrug and say, “Being with him makes me happier than the other guys. I’ll take my chances with him.”

“Fair enough.” She gazes at the fire. “You haven’t asked about Dominique.”

I swallow the hard knot in my throat. I’ve been deliberately avoiding the topic, not sure how the others would ask if pressed. Like Vektal said earlier, they seem fragile. “I . . . saw her dead body. Out in the snow.”

Liz nods. She moves in a bit closer. “So the first night we were here, we heard some creatures. They hooted like owls and stuff, but they looked like skinny teddy bears or something.”

“I’ve seen those,” I tell her. “They’re pretty nasty. Vektal’s not a fan.”

“Yeah, I’m not either,” she says with a grimace. “They weren’t smart enough to figure out how to get in, but they still scared the shit out of us. Kept us up all night. Dom cried the entire time.”

“I’m sorry.”

She bats my arm. “I’m not telling you to make you sorry. Just telling you what happened. Anyhow, we decided we needed a defense of some kind, so me and Tiff and Dominique went up top and made snowballs the next day. Tiff and I turned our backs for one minute, and Dom just ran off into the snow like a crazy girl. We tried to follow her, but we’re all kinda broken, and it’s too cold to be out there long.” She shrugs. “Tiffany went looking for her and had to come back. I think her feet have frostbite.”

I nod.

“So we never saw her again. We kinda hoped she found you. Guess not, huh?”

I shake my head. “She was dead when I found her. Long dead.”

“I can’t even be sad,” Liz says with a sigh. She hugs her good leg closer to her body. “She didn’t want to be alive. Not after what they did to her.” She looks at me, eyes big in her too-thin face. “We have to get out of here, Georgie. We can’t be here when they come back to pick us up.”

“I know,” I tell her quietly. I haven’t figured it out yet, but I’m going to get us out of here. I just need a plan.

VEKTAL

The others watch Georgie and me closely all night. Every time I touch her hair or caress her cheek, their eyes regard us uneasily. Is it because I’m showing her affection in front of them? My people are not shy about such things. Georgie doesn’t seem to mind my touches, and her nearness keeps my khui humming pleasantly.

When the human women begin to yawn, they file off to bed with Georgie’s blankets, a fact that makes me angry. They are cold, but she is my mate, as small and fragile as the rest of them. When I suggest she take one for herself, she shakes her head.

I make sure my complaints are heard by the solemn-faced one with the shell in her ear who can understand my words. A moment later, she hands her furs to Georgie, and when my sweet mate protests, the girl insists and goes to curl up with another girl. They will be warm enough. The strange cave is closed off from the bitter winds, and despite the smell, it’s warm enough inside that they will not freeze. Between the fire and body heat, the temperature inside is pleasant.

There is no watch, though. Either the women are too trusting they will be safe or so sick and exhausted that they cannot stay awake. I suspect it is the latter. I will be their watch, then.

But first, I will spend time with my mate. My khui demands it.

Georgie yawns and wraps the blanket around her, moving to curl up next to the other women. I bank the fire with a large log so it will provide warmth for many hours, and then I move to her side and pick her up, carrying her to the far end of the cave with me, where we will have some privacy.

One of the girls laughs and calls something out. “
Gitsum grlfrend
,” says one.

Another calls, “
Kppdown ovrthr. Weer tryntew sleep
!”

Georgie just buries her face against my chest.

I take her as far from the others as we can get. Here, they will not be able to see much beyond the firelight. I put Georgie on the side closest to the wall, and my body blocks her in. I cover us both with the fur and pull my mate against me.

My khui sings and hums. It wants more of our bodies joining, and I am eager to do so.

She tucks her smaller body against me, her cold hands moving under my clothing to press against my bare skin. “
Sohwarm
,” she murmurs. “
Sohnice
.”

My khui rumbles in my chest as she rubs against me. Her eyes are closed, and I’m not sure if she realizes just how much she’s tempting me. My cock rises in response to her sleepy touches, but she’s not giving me more. I need to make her aware of what I require, then.

So I caress her neck and tilt her head back, and then I press my mouth to hers and claim her tongue with mine.

Georgie gives a soft, moaned sigh and licks me back. I enjoy the human custom of mouth-joining and caressing my mate with my tongue. It’s not something I’ve considered before, but now that I’ve done it with Georgie, it seems so obvious. I love tasting all of her. Why not her mouth? My hand pushes between her legs, but she is wearing her strange leathers. I find the waistband of her leggings and push my hand into them, seeking her sweet warmth.

She moans against me, and her hand presses to my arm. “Vektal.”

I love it when she says my name. I growl my pleasure, and my khui hums a response. I push my fingers into her soft folds, seeking that strange third nipple. I find it, and she immediately gasps and presses her face against my arm.

“
Eyethnkthyr dewinnit
,” whispers a voice on the other side of the room.

“
Dunlook
,” says another. “
Gohbcktewsleep
.”

“
Eyebeteez gotta monstrdick
!”

This time, Georgie buries her face against my chest, and I feel her push my hand away. “No,” she murmurs against my chest.

No? When my khui is throbbing almost painfully in my breast with its need to have us mate? I’m shocked. Is it because the others are awake and possibly listening? Why does that matter? I have seen and heard other sa-khui mate many times. We are not shy people. It seems the humans are not the same, though. Georgie doesn’t want me to touch her while the others are paying attention.

I growl again, but I remove my hand.

She makes a downcast little sound and presses her body closer to mine.

And that little disappointed sigh is the only reason I don’t get up and toss the other humans out of the cave.

• • • 

The next morning, I stoke the fire for the humans and we begin to make plans. The humans don’t want to stay here. It’s clear they’re nervous and want to leave. I can’t have them stay here, either, but I’m not equipped to take them to safety. The walk to my home caves is at least a day of hard travel, and these fragile humans won’t be able to handle that.

After they eat, they look at me with hopeful eyes, as if I will somehow produce clothing and boots for all of the women. I know what they are asking with their sad faces. It grieves me to disappoint my Georgie, but a hunter alone must be practical. “I cannot take you with me,” I tell the one with the magic shell in her ear.

“
Sezzee kantakus
.”

One begins to sniffle loudly. The loud one—Lihz—glares at me as if I am the problem.

I point at my shoes. “You have no foot coverings. No clothing. With six of you, I cannot possibly hunt enough game and keep you moving. My home caverns are many hours walk away. With Georgie, it will take me two days to go there. I will get my people, and we will come and bring you warm clothes and travel rations. Then we will take you home with us. You will be safe there.”

Her brows draw down, and then she translates.

“
Eez got ppl
?” Georgie asks then smacks her forehead. “
Uf kors eeduz
.” She looks at me. “
Yew haf ppl
?” She points at the others, then at herself. “
Human ppl. Vektal ppl
?”

Ah. “Do I have a tribe? Yes. There are four eights of us, plus two kits. I am the chief.”

The one translates, and Georgie nods again. “
Shlda known. Eez bosseh
.”

Lihz snickers.

“
Weeve gotwelv
,” Georgie says and counts on her fingers before pointing at the wall behind her. “
Siks indeyr
.” She does counting words at each woman, then points at the wall and does more counting words.

I shake my head. “I do not understand.”

Georgie throws her hands up. “
Nvvrmnd. Fun surprz forlaytr
.”

“Ha,” says Lihz.

They all start to chatter, and one gestures at the wall. I frown at them. I don’t understand their fascination with the back wall with its flashing lights, and our one-sided conversation is not getting us anywhere. “I will return to my people with Georgie, and we will get her a khui. Then I will bring back my hunters, and we will return for all of you. This I promise.”

“
Dohn fergetdeez
,” Lihz says and taps a bump on her arm.

“
Eyewohnt
,” Georgie tells her. A determined look comes across my mate’s face, and I wonder what they refer to that brings such a grim look to her delicate features.

• • • 

At Georgie’s insistence, we leave all the winter furs and two of my blades with the women. We also leave all the food. This makes me unhappy because my mate will be the one that suffers, but she promises with soft pats and smiling eyes that she is fine. I think it pleases her to be able to provide for her humans, so I don’t complain. There are other hunter caves along the paths, and I will raid all of them to clothe my Georgie if I must. They can be replenished in the spring, when the thickest snows melt and the hunters have easier days.

We wave goodbye to the women, and Georgie wipes her eyes frequently. I know she worries about them. Despite the food, they all seem a little more tired this morning, a little more pale.

It is the lack of the khui, which is why it’s so important that I bring Georgie back to my own people, and soon. I cannot bring down a sa-kohtsk by myself. It is a task that requires many hunters with strong spears.

I carry Georgie’s smaller form on my back, and I take different route down the mountain. This time, I do not go to the winding game trails but head straight across the land, as the winged birds fly. This way, instead of many hunter caves along the path home, there is only one: the elders’ cave, with its strange smooth walls not unlike Georgie’s cave.

My mate seems to understand my sense of urgency. We stop only for brief rests to refill a water skin or so we can relieve ourselves. When the two suns are high in the sky, I find a quilled beast, and Georgie does not protest when I offer her raw tidbits. It will take too much time to collect wood for a fire. We eat, and then we are on our way once more.

The day is an endless cycle of running and hiking, and even Georgie’s slight weight grows heavier over the hours. I do not put her down, though. My strength is far more suited for travel than hers. She’s exhausted, too. Her grip on my clothing becomes less strong over the hours, and I worry we’re not making good time when a familiar snow-covered rectangular hill appears in the distance. I give a sigh of relief and point it out to Georgie.

“
Looksweerd
,” she says with a yawn. “
Wegoinder
?”

“That is our one stop today,” I tell her. “We will rest and sleep, and tomorrow we will return to my people.” Mentally, I make note of the hunters who can help me shepherd the sick humans back. Maylak will want to come, as tribal healer, but she has a small child. Her mate Kashrem, then. Raahosh, if he has returned from his own hunts. Rokan. Salukh. Zennek. Haeden. Dagesh.

All of them are unmated hunters, except for Kashrem. It might be smarter to take the mated ones, so there are no fights over the small females, but I do not want to build resentment amongst my tribe. I know the men will be eager to see the female humans, especially after I return with my lovely Georgie.

I rub her arm thoughtfully. I would not deny my men the chance to see if their khui resonate with the humans. Not when I felt the pleasure of my own spring to life.

We make it inside the cave, and Georgie exclaims at the oddness of the walls. I don’t blame her for being surprised. They’re covered with a thin sheet of ice, but there’s no denying there’s a uniformity to the walls that is unnerving. It looks as if a gigantic hand has scooped the side of the hill out and smoothed the sides down. But there are furs and wood and a stretched hide to block the door. I set Georgie down and prepare the cave.

To my surprise, she immediately begins to make a firewood pyramid with supplies while I hang the door covering. She gives me a shy smile. “
Wantto lern
.”

My heart swells with pride. I move to her side and ignore the fire, cupping her small face instead. She’s lovely, flat-nose and all, and I am obsessed with touching her.

She smiles up at me, and my khui begins a steady thrumming in my chest. The fire can wait. My khui and my body have been aching with need for her since this morning. Any longer and I feel as if I will be in physical pain. I tug at the collar of her leathers.