Barbarian Lover

Even if tomorrow goes to hell, we have today.

I do know that living in fear of what might happen prevents us from enjoying what we have today.”

“Do you have an optimistic answer for everything?”
“Yes.” I grin at her. “That is what I bring to the tribe. Well, that and my carving skills.”

o you want children?”
Aehako blinks in surprise. I can tell the question wasn’t one he expected. But it’s worth asking. If he doesn’t want children, I’ll feel better as his ‘mate’. Maybe because at that point, I’ll know that I’ll still have a place in his heart even if his khui kicks in and decides he should be a daddy. But his words shatter that hope. “Of course I want children.” A slow smile curves his mouth. “What man doesn’t dream of a family of his own?”
I feel about as big as an ant.

her mate, the chief. Then, Georgie looks back to me. “I don’t want to tell the others if we don’t have to. I don’t want to worry them over nothing. Ariana’s no longer crying at the drop of a hat and Claire isn’t cringing when I talk to her. And Megan…”
I nod. Megan just mated with Cashol. She’s radiating happiness. I can’t take that from her. “I’ll tell the others that plans have changed and we no longer need them to go.”
“I’m still going,” Aehako says, stubborn. “I will not let Kira leave my side. I shall keep her safe.” He looks down at me, and I have to fight hard to keep the blush off my face, remembering what happened last night. “I suspect Haeden will accompany me, if I ask. He has no family to endanger.”
“I can go by myself,” I protest. I don’t like the thought of putting others in jeopardy. “Just point me at the ship—“
Aehako frowns fiercely at me, stunning me into silence. “I will not allow it,” he says. “I will keep you safe.”
“So protective,” Vektal comments. “Are you sure there is no resonance between the two of you?”
“If hope was enough to waken my khui, my chest would be thundering, my friend,” Aehako says easily.

She’s mine. Resonance or not, Kira is my female, my mate, and I’ll challenge any male that thinks otherwise.

“You will undo all my good intentions, Kira.”
“I didn’t know you had good ones,”

“I’ll just need one person as a guide,” she continues on quickly. “Just send me out with one of the hunters and I’m sure I can find my way back once someone shows me the way–”
I’m standing before she can even finish her sentence, my protective instincts getting the better of me.

My own mother refers to me as a charmer. Yet this one small human with the sad eyes cannot wait to get away from me.

Perhaps it is me after all. Perhaps my attempts to court her unsettle her.