Page 64 of On a Barbarian World

Her cheeks heated. Damn her pale skin. “Kavon⁠—”

He held up a hand. “But I want Durendal and I will not let the mountain beat me. And we have a deal. Besides, it is a well-thought-out plan.”

The praise left her warm inside, but as she watched him, another thought snuck in. “You let me ramble on with my sales pitch just to humor me, didn’t you?”

“Of course not.” His lips were twitching again.

She slapped his chest.

He yanked her close so fast she barely had time to react. Then, she was plastered against a warm male chest, and a second later, his mouth was on hers.

She moaned, opening for him, kissing him back. Her fingers dug into hard muscles, and she felt every part of her flame to life.

“An interesting way to end training.”

The deep voice made Kavon raise his head.

Licking her lips, she saw Colm beside them, smiling.

“Find your own woman, Colm,” Kavon muttered.

“I like the variety of different women each night, my warlord.” Colm winked at Aurina. “Although, if I had a skyflyer as pretty as yours…”

Kavon kept his arm tight around her. “We have a mission to plan for.”

Colm’s face turned serious in an instant. “It’s too soon. You were recently injured⁠—”

“You can see I’m perfectly healed. I feel better than ever.”

“So, we’re headed back to that damned mountain?” Colm did not look happy.

“To the Riom mines beneath it.”

Colm groaned. “That’s worse. Remember, that damned naga pulled itself out of the bowels of the mountain…and now that is exactly where you want to go. Wonderful.”

“I thought you big, tough warriors were afraid of nothing,” she said.

“I am not afraid, Aurina,” Colm said. “But neither am I stupid.” His gaze swung back to Kavon. “It won’t be an easy trip.”

“Aurina has laid out the plan, the route, and the supplies we’ll need. We’ll also need a little distraction to keep Drog busy.”

Now Colm’s face sharpened, a faint smile appearing. “Now that sounds like an excellent idea.”

“Good. You can be in charge of that aspect of the mission.” Kavon looked down at Aurina. “Let’s get the preparation done, then we can leave at first light.”

She nodded. “Let’s do it.”

The rest of the afternoon was a whirlwind of tasks. Kavon bellowed for different people, and soon, hargon beasts were being readied, supplies—ropes, food, healing kits—were being stacked near the stables, and warriors were checking their weapons.

Colm was absent, off planning a diversion for Drog. Aurina had noted the warrior’s glee at being assigned the task.

Eventually, Kavon scanned the preparations and nodded. “Tarik, have the beasts loaded and ready for first light.”

The stable master bowed his head. “Of course, Warlord.”

Kavon grabbed Aurina’s hand, and soon she found herself tugged into the house and up two flights of stairs. He stopped at a doorway and pulled out a large metal key. He stared at it for a second before he shoved it into the lock. It scraped on the metal as he turned it, then he shoved the door open.

She followed him in…and saw all her stuff from the crash on the table.