Barbarian’s Taming by Ruby Dixon

18

HASSEN

I watchmy mate from a short distance away as she hugs her sister, waving her hands with enthusiastic talking. I am glad her family is home and safe. She worries about her Li-lah, even though the human is in good hands with Rokan. I know Mah-dee worries that Li-lah will be against our mating, but such talk is foolishness. Resonance is resonance. Li-lah might as well be angry at the snow that floats down from overhead for all the good it will do.

Our khuis have chosen, and it is decided.

Mah-dee puts a hand to her sister’s belly and makes a gesture. Li-lah nods, and they hug again. Rokan stands near his mate, grinning like a happy fool, and I am pleased for him. Resonance has taken, then, and Li-lah is with kit. As I watch, Mah-dee puts a hand to her own stomach and makes the same gesture, and then looks over at me.

My chest resonates, and I know hers must be as well. I feel a surge of pride. My mate is carrying my kit. Whatever may happen, whatever path the tribe takes, Mah-dee and I are linked forever.

Li-lah’s mouth opens in surprise, and then snaps shut. She makes a few motions at her sister, and then approaches me, her hands out in a warm greeting.

And I am suddenly…ashamed.

I took this female from safety. From her family. All because I desperately wanted a mate and a family. I did wrong. Now, perhaps, I truly understand what I have done, and I feel sorrow. I drop to my knees and make the hand-speak. Forgive me? I am a fool.

All is forgiven,Li-lah signs back. Welcome to the family. She offers me a hand, and when I take it, gives me a hug. I hold her stiffly, looking over at Rokan in apology. The sisters do not care, though. Mah-dee gives a happy squeal in the next moment and then launches herself at me, all clinging arms and legs. I pluck her from the air and swing her around, smiling.

“We’re good, big guy,” Mah-dee tells me, wrapping her arms around my neck and placing a smacking kiss on my cheek. “My sister is the best.”

Li-lah just watches Mah-dee with gentle amusement, and I am relieved that she accepts me as her sister’s mate. We can move forward from here. I hold my mate close and am thankful for her, for her khui that chose mine.

Then the chief appears, his mate at his side. Shorshie has an anxious expression on her face, and she holds Vektal’s arm. “Maddie? Hassen? Can we talk to you two once you have a moment? Vektal wants to hear what you found out on your trip.”

“The ship—” I question, but Mah-dee claps a hand over my mouth.

“I got this,” she tells me, and then I feel her tongue flick against my earlobe before she surges to her feet and beams a winning smile at my chief. Dazed, I watch as she links her arm around Vektal’s free one and gestures at the campsite. “Let me tell you about a little slice of human history. It’s called the Lost Colony of Roanoke…”

* * *

I pullMah-dee protectively against my side as Vektal rubs his brow. The look on his face is tired, and my chief—who is the same age as me—looks many years aged with worry. Mah-dee’s hands are on my knee, and she squeezes it to reassure me.

“And this place, you believe, was once the home of another tribe?”

Mah-dee nods. “It’s an old city. We can head in, throw up some teepee-type roofs, and ride out the brutal season all nice and cozy. We’ve got a bathing pool, plumbing, storage, fresh water…the only thing that wasn’t there was game.”

“Game can be brought back,” Vektal says. He looks at Shorshie, his mate. “We would need to send a party of hunters out to determine if it is safe to bring the tribe. I would need to go.”

Shorshie squeezes his hand and nods. “I can hold down the fort here.”

“Hassen and I can show you,” Mah-dee says, and her grip on my knee grows tight. “But he’s not going to show you anything unless you remove exile status from him.”

This is not the first time my fierce little mate has brought up my exile to the chief. She repeats it often, letting him know how displeased she is. Did I not save Pashov’s life? Did I not save hers? Did I not find a new place for the tribe to live? Am I not accepted by Li-lah? Did I not resonate to Mah-dee? She sees no reason for my exile to continue. I am both pleased at her ferocity on my behalf and worried that she will end up getting herself exiled along with me.

“Now is not the time to talk of such things,” Vektal says. “My tribe is falling apart. We need to focus on a home, feeding everyone for the brutal season, and—”

“And another set of hands will help with that,” Mah-dee says firmly. “You need Hassen.”

“I do. But I cannot lift exile so quickly. I made a mistake in going easy on Raahosh’s exile, because it let Hassen believe that he would not be punished if he stole a female. I cannot make that mistake again. My hunters must follow the rules, or no one is safe.”

“But circumstances are different right now,” Shorshie says gently. “I don’t think anyone would begrudge you changing your mind. This isn’t a normal situation. We have to adapt.” She shares a glance with Mah-dee. “Perhaps you can give Hassen some of the more difficult, less desirable tasks throughout the brutal season as penance instead? So he is still punished and yet not banished from the tribe.”

I hold my breath. If they asked me to clean and scrape the intestine of every filthy scythe-beak from here to the mountains, I would gladly do so if it meant I was part of the tribe again and Mah-dee was with me.

“And I hate to be ‘that’ asshole, but Hassen’s not going to show anyone anything unless he’s back in the tribe. And if he’s not allowed back, I’m leaving with him.”

“Now is not the time to push for such things,” Vektal warns, nostrils flaring. “Pashov is still not well. Rukh is nearly feral after Har-loh got hurt when the Elders’ Cave turned on its side. It is taking everything I have to convince him to stay with the tribe, that she is safe here. My tribe is in danger of starving. You cannot hold such a thing over our heads—”

He is right. I open my mouth to speak, to tell my chief I will go regardless.

“I don’t care,” Mah-dee says fiercely. Her hand grips my knee so tight I feel her nails dig into the plated ridges there. “It might not be the best time for you as leader, but Hassen has no choice. You’ve backed him into a corner.”

“Hassen can speak for himself, can he not?” Vektal says sharply with an irritated look at me.

“He can,” Mah-dee continues. “But he has the most to lose here. I do not. I’m going with him regardless. And if he stays exiled, then we’re going to go live in the lost colony without you guys. So there.” She pauses, and then grimaces. “I just realized I sound like a demanding two-year-old.”

Vektal nods crisply. “My daughter is less pushy than you, and she is spoiled.”

Shorshie laughs.

“Very well,” Vektal says and looks at me. “Your fierce pleasure-mate has convinced me. You will be given extra tasks throughout the brutal season as penance, but you are no longer in exile.”

My heart is full of fierce joy. I want to grasp my mate and hold her tightly against me, but I force myself to nod stiffly. “I will do you proud, my chief.”

“I need all of my people here. Your home is with the rest of us.”

“Out in the snow,” Mah-dee points out. “With all the other homeless people. Who are gonna have a new home because of him.” When Shorshie shoots her an irritated look, Mah-dee raises her hands. “I’m not saying, I’m just saying…Hassen’s doing you guys a solid. I’ll let it go now. I just felt it had to be said.”

Vektal gives her an exasperated look and then turns to me. “Your first task will be to keep your pleasure-mate under control.”

And now it is my turn to laugh. “No one controls Mah-dee. She does what she pleases.”

“Damn skippy,” Mah-dee says, and then puts her possessive hand back on my knee. “As for this pleasure-mate nonsense, I suppose that’s something else we need to update you guys on…”