On a Barbarian World (23 page)

“Aurina, this planet is primitive,” Rynan said.

“Ry, you’ve been here three minutes. It’s a nice planet. Not high tech, but—” Her face lit up “God, I have so much to tell you about nanami and a ship that crash-landed here thousands of years ago.”

“Then we can leave?” Rynan said.

Kavon stiffened. He watched Aurina turn to face him and he saw the excitement leak from her. Her lips trembled. “Kavon…I can’t stay here.”

Kavon felt his face turn into a blank mask—a warrior’s mask that didn’t give anything away.

But inside, he felt like she’d run him through with a sword. A mortal wound. Emotion filled him with a heaving painful mass…worse than any wound.

***

Aurina watched Kavon, her heart tearing in two. She wanted, no, she
needed
something more from him.

She needed his love.

She felt the scrutiny of her brothers and the villagers. Some of Kavon’s warriors were also nearby. God, she should have had this conversation with him in private. She just hadn’t been able to form the words.

Aurina straightened her shoulders. “I can’t just stay and warm your bed. I need more. I deserve more, and so do you. I want to be a partner, a wife. And I know you need someone to help you rebuild your family name, someone you love enough to give everything to.” Her voice broke. It tore her apart that the person he needed wasn’t her. “If I stay, we’re both denying ourselves.”

She stopped and tried to read his face. But he looked frozen, like she’d hit him over the head with a sword hilt.

There was movement from behind Kavon. She recognized Coran’s worn robes as he pushed forward.

“Warlord Mal Dor, you are crazy not to claim this woman as your mate. She is smart, unique, beautiful, and she loves you. A true match for any warrior.”

Coran’s words warmed her, but she wasn’t sure how Kavon would respond to being chastised by one of his villagers. “Coran, thank you, but I can’t force Kavon to do something he doesn’t want to do.”

Coran flicked his hood off.

Everyone gasped and Kavon’s eyes widened. He, his warriors and the villagers all dropped to one knee.

Kavon didn’t stay down for long and rose. “King Corant.”

King? Aurina looked between the two.

King Corant smiled. “I am sorry for the deception.” He looked directly at Aurina. “I very much enjoyed your class, Aurina. I wanted to see Kavon’s estate and see his skyflyer without all the pomp and ceremony that follows me around.” He scowled. “Even a king can’t always get what he wants.” King Corant’s gaze moved to Kavon. “If I were younger, Mal Dor, I would have her bonded and round with my child by now.”

Kavon took a menacing step forward, moving closer to Aurina and pulling her close to him with one arm. She gasped, her gaze caught on the possessive glint in his gold eyes.

“I have already taken her as my bondmate. And I am working on the child.”

Shock slammed into Aurina. “
What
?”

Amber-gold met her gaze. “The bonding at the cabin…that was the ceremony where a warrior claims his bondmate, if she’ll have him.” He shoved her sleeves up, baring her armbands, touching the jewels.

Around them, people gasped.

“When you accepted the wine I offered, and accepted me as your mate, it linked us.” He stroked her armband, his fingers brushing her skin. “Inside the bands, my name is carved in our sacred script. A symbol that you are mine and I am yours. These signify that you have my love, Aurina.” He went down on one knee. “You’ve shown me to live in the moment and not dwell in the past. To want more in my future than revenge and power. I want
you
in my future.”

She tugged at him, her heart overflowing. “Get up.”

He stood before her, one of his big hands pressing to her belly. “You are my future, and the children we’ll make together.”

She swallowed. She needed to be clear and honest here. “Okay, I may have misunderstood the importance of the bonding ceremony. But you talked before about finding a wife, some warlord’s daughter. The bonding ceremony isn’t marriage, though.”

Corant started laughing. “Warrior, clearly you have forgotten your woman is not of our world and not knowledgeable of
all
our customs.”

Kavon scowled. “Thank you, my king.” There was an edge to his words, but as he pulled Aurina close, there was nothing but gentleness in his touch. “No, Aurina, they are not the same. Marriage is not about love. It is about alliances and business agreements.”

“Oh?”

“Most warriors only dream of finding someone who makes their hearts beat and their nanami sing. A true bonding is far above marriage in our customs.”

Her throat was so tight she could barely speak. “Oh.”

“Whatever you need me to do to prove how I feel, I will do it.”

“God, Kavon.” She gripped onto him, needing to hold him tight. “I should have told you how I was feeling. I was just so afraid.”

She sensed one of her brothers move, then Dare cleared his throat. “Aurina, trust you to go and essentially get married and not know about it.”

“Why did you even set the e-beacon off if you didn’t want to leave?” Rynan grumbled.

She froze. “E-beacon?”

“That’s how we found you,” Rynan said. “We tracked the signal.”

“I never set it off. Kavon has it…” her voice trailed away as she looked up at him.

“I set it off a day ago. I could see you weren’t happy. I love you, Aurina Phoenix. I want you with me, but if I don’t make you happy…”

She felt a tremble go through him, saw the love shining in his eyes. It left her breathless.

“Please don’t leave me.” His voice was a ragged whisper.

“You love me?” Aurina felt dizzy.

“Yes.” A hard, unyielding word.

She cupped his cheeks. “I love you, too. So much, you stubborn warrior. You should have told me.”

His arms wrapped around her like bands of steel. “I didn’t know you didn’t understand. I thought the significance of the bonding ceremony would show my love.” A wry smile. “I should have known the words would be important to you. But warriors are not supposed to talk about love.”

“Of course not.” She pressed her lips to his and in a second, he took over, deepening it. She moaned and sank into him, absorbing the taste of him.

He pulled back and nuzzled her neck. “And I meant what I said before. I cannot wait to see you swollen with our child.”

She bit her lip. “That’s not possible, warrior. At least, not yet. I have an implant under my skin to stop pregnancy.”

She expected a scowl. Instead, she got a smile.

“The nanami are key to a warrior’s fertility, and since we are bonded, they will work to make us both fertile. A child is inevitable.”

Stubborn barbarian
. She shook her head. Kids were something she’d always wanted. One day. She pressed her lips to his jaw. “Definitely one day, warrior. I’d like to see a bunch of golden-eyed mini-warriors running around.”

There was the sound of a clearing throat.

They both looked over and saw her scowling brothers and a grinning warrior king.

“I hear you have a sword for me,” King Corant said.

Kavon, slowly and reluctantly set her down, but kept her tucked against his side. He reached up and drew the sword off his back.

Her chest tightened. She hadn’t seen it since he’d had it cleaned and restored. It gleamed.

“Magnificent,” Corant breathed, holding out his hands.

Kavon handed it over and bowed his head. “I present you with Durendal.”

The king accepted the blade and then lifted it, studying each side of it. Then he lowered it until the tip touched the ground. “Kavon Mal Dor, the Mal Dor name has the favor of your king. Not only for this, an important piece of our heritage, but because of your skill in battle, your determination to protect, your dedication to your people and your mate, and your honor.” The king lifted the sword again. “And because your father was a good warrior, cut down by the treachery of a coward. I will ensure all this is noted in the Royal Records.”

“Thank you.” Kavon bowed his head again, his face solemn.

Aurina knew he was thinking of his family, of his father. She grabbed his hand.

King Corant smiled. “So, all that is left is a feast to celebrate the return of Durendal and of course, your bonding.” He winked at Aurina. “We want to welcome your lovely bondmate to the Markarian family.” Then his gaze turned speculative and slid to her brothers. “Perhaps we can also talk about trade beyond our planet.”

Justyn stepped forward with a charming smile. “Trade just happens to be my business.” He grinned at Aurina. “And if our sister is here, we’ll be stopping by frequently.”

Corant slapped Justyn on the shoulder. “Let’s talk over an ale, skyflyer.”

The men headed off toward the estate. Two pretty women appeared at Dare’s side, both smiling. With a shrug, Dare followed them, while a still-scowling Rynan stayed where he was, his arms crossed over his chest. With the promise of a feast, Kavon’s people followed.

Aurina stared up at Kavon, drinking in his strong face. All hers. Every inch of him. She wrapped her arms around him.

Then she heard a beep and saw that Rynan was running a scanner over her.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Ensuring you’re okay.”

She shook her head. Rynan could give Kavon a run for his money in the protective stakes.

Then Rynan went still.

Her hands clenched on Kavon. God, she didn’t want anything to go wrong. Not when she’d just gotten everything she’d ever dreamed of. “What is it?”

Her brother ran his tongue over his teeth. “The warrior is right.”

Kavon nodded and Aurina rolled her eyes. “About what, Ry? He thinks he’s right about everything and doesn’t need any encouragement, please.”

Ry snapped his scanner shut. “It appears your Namah implant is inactive.”

“What?” she squeaked.

“Something’s shut it down. I don’t know the details of these nanami you mentioned, but I’d love to know more.”

That was Ry, interested in tech and what he could do with it. Meanwhile, she was having a minor anxiety attack.

As Ry strolled away toward the estate, an arm snaked around her, a big hand covering her belly.

“I would like a daughter with sunset hair,” Kavon said. “Or a son with grass-green eyes.”

God
. Her knees went weak. She could so easily picture both. But they’d have Kavon’s golden-amber eyes. A tiny person who was the best of both of them.

“I love you,” she murmured.

“Come, my mate, we have a celebration to attend.” His voice lowered. “And a private one later for just you and me. One where I can show you how much I love my mate.”

“I love you, my stubborn warrior.”

His chin rubbed the top of her head. “And I love you, my sweet skyflyer.”

Official Document

G! News – For all your Galactic Gossip!

Daily News Update - #9967340221

Subject: Galactic Swoon Alert! This one is for the ladies!

It looks like the galactic powers have answered our prayers: there are new barbarian warriors in the galaxy.

G! News has got its hands on a top secret report about a new planet that has been discovered beyond the galaxy’s edge…and it’s populated by a species of big, hunky barbarian warriors. That’s right ladies, a fantasy come true!

Justyn Phoenix, from the Phoenix Deep-Space Convoy, is the official trade representative to the planet and he says the king of this alien world will not allow unrestricted access to his planet and its people. While they are interested in future trade, they will do it in a way that is respectful and best for their culture.

Sorry, ladies…that might mean you have to wait a
little
longer for a warrior of your own.

---

I hope you enjoyed Aurina and Kavon’s story!

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, the first book in the Phoenix Adventures series.

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