Page 85 of On a Barbarian World

Aroar sounded overhead, and frowning, Kavon strode to the window. Durendal was still clutched in his hands. He’d been busy checking with the restorers who were caring for the sword.

He pushed the curtains aside and saw the sun glint off the metal of a small ship. His gut hardened.

He turned, and without thinking, slipped Durendal into the scabbard on his back. He ran from the room.

“Warlord!”

He ignored the restorers and took the stairs two at a time. He charged out of the house.

Ahead, he saw the tables and chairs Aurina had set up for her classes. Some of her students were milling around.

“Aurina?” he shouted.

One of them pointed. “She went to meet the skyflyers.”

Dammit. Kavon sprinted in that direction. He pumped his arms, using all his speed and calling on his nanami for more. She’d accepted him as a mate, wore his bands, but since they’d returned, she’d seemed unhappy. She appeared to enjoy working with the miners and digging in her boxes of flowers he’d gotten her for their balcony. He already was planning to give her an entire garden. At night, she was all heat in his arms, but she was holding something back.

She’d given him her heart, but he was afraid that life on Markaria was not as exciting or comfortable as her tech-filled life flying through the stars. Up there, she got to see amazing things. Here, life was very normal.

No. He wouldn’t lose her.

He charged through the gates and saw the ship had landed in the field ahead. As he watched, Aurina ran toward the three tall strangers.

Something hot and ugly flared in him. Aurina was his. He’d tried to be patient and go her way in their claiming…but maybe it was time to truly claim her as a barbarian would—no asking, or cajoling. Then, she would not be uncertain of her place or where she belonged.

He pushed himself to close the distance to his mate.

Behind him, he heard some of his warriors scrambling to follow him.

Aurina was hugging the men, laughing and crying. A small group of awestruck villagers had gathered nearby, watching the group and goggling at the ship. Aurina rested her head on the shoulder of the tallest man. He wasn’t as broad as a Markarian warrior, but he had the look of a man who knew how to fight. Possessive rage slammed through Kavon. A lifetime of honing his warrior control was gone in an instant.

He strode forward, grabbed Aurina, and yanked her from the man’s arms. He hauled her back against his chest. She yelped, then settled back against him, her hands clamping onto his forearm wrapped around her middle.

“Kavon—”

“You will not leave me.” He spun her and pulled her up so her face was an inch from his. “You will not leave me. I have claimed you, you are mine.”

He heard sounds, and saw the three men were now grim-faced and all had drawn small weapons.

“She’ll do as she pleases, barbarian,” the tallest man growled, command in his voice.

Yes, this man was used to giving orders, but he’d never encountered a warlord before. Kavon pushed Aurina behind him and reached up and drew his sword. Instantly, he felt the difference in weight and the grip.

But Durendal was a sword built for combat, and it felt right in his hand.

He might just destroy an ancient artifact to protect Aurina and keep her with him. One he’d spent his entire life searching for.

And he didn’t care.

Aurina leaped between them. “Stop it!” She held a hand up to him. “Kavon, these are my brothers. My family.”

Brothers? He stared at the three men, but didn’t see any resemblance to Aurina. Still, it soothed the beast inside him…a little.

It didn’t matter who they were. They wanted to take her away from him—the beast roared to life again—and he wouldn’t let that happen.

She turned to her brothers. “Put those laser pistols away. Kavon and his people rescued me. Protected me and took me in. They don’t need weapons pointed at them.”

“He said he owned you,” the man in the middle said. He was broader than the others, with a tougher-looking face. Kavon recognized the eyes of a fellow warrior.