Page 16 of Claimed By the Alien Barbarian

Had he loved her?

My face overheated at the thought. I wasnotjealous. How could I be when the poor woman was dead?

The thought that he’d loved her made me sad, but the feelings were generated by sympathy for his loss. I couldn’t imagine loving someone deeply, then losing them, though the feeling might be similar to what I went through with my mom.

Despite only recently meeting him, I knew he hadn’t killed his mate. Maybe it was the honesty and sadness in his eyes when he told me, or maybe I was too trusting, but I would bet anything he hadn’t done it. Which meant an injustice had been done to him. I wanted to help him set this right. My mom had been the secret agent. I had worked as a secretary. But that didn’t mean I wasn’t smart enough to offer good input.

“I don’t have any investigative skills,” I said. “Let alone any other skills that would work in an alien environment.” Just my wide-open heart and determination, things no one should discount, including me.

“I’m not asking for your help,” he said stoically.

My chest pinched. What if I wanted to help?

Argh. I shouldn’t be considering his offer at all. I was doing well enough here with Molly.

But I was lonely. And despite telling myself I would not be handed by “gods” to a random alien as his mate, a tiny spark of interest kept flaming inside me when I looked Nevarn’s way.

I’d always hoped to meet the right guy, and heaven knows I’d tried all the dating apps out there. No one had sparked a fire inside me that made me eager to say I do.

Until Nevarn.

“You really won’t expect me to give you anything in return?” I asked, watching his face. This guy had jumped me last night much too easily. If he wanted to take me against my will, he’d do so.

Yet I suspected he wouldn’t even try. He’d done it to prove a point, and I’d learned a valuable lesson. He could outmaneuver me.

Yet I’d already seen he could be gentle.

“You have my word as traedor of the Celedar Clan that I won’t push you to give me anything you don’t want to offer on your own.” He pressed his clenched fist against his chest. “Comewith me, and I’ll ensure you have a safe home. Food. Whatever else you might need.”

What about love?

Growing up, all I’d wanted was what my infrequent friends had, a family who cared for me. My mom did all she could, and I knew she loved me, but she was gone a lot. I spent the time she was away wishing I had someone to go to at night when I was scared, someone to talk with about whatever crossed my mind. Someone who’d stand beside me with pride shining in their eyes.

Aunt Betty had been more of a supervisor than an aunt, and the fact that she didn’t reach out even once after Mom was killed told me she’d never been more than an acquaintance. My mom had hired her to watch me, and something like that rarely came with love.

“Once we reach my clan, you can remain alone or let one of my clansmales woo you,” he said to sweeten the deal.

What if I wantedhimto woo me?

A big hole remained inside me, and I’d hoped one day to meet a guy who could fill it. Could that person be Nevarn?

I could remain here and build a shelter. I’d already proven I could find food and the river provided endless water that so far hadn’t made me sick. But how long would it be before my clothing wore out, or I got sick, or a beast slipped past my defenses and seriously hurt me?

Despite being an amazing listener, Molly wasn’t going to patch my wounds or stay beside me while I thrashed with a fever, let alone heft my bow and defend me.

I’d be unwise to face this alone.

Ahh, I was much too impulsive. It was my one downfall, but . . .

“I accept your offer, Nevarn, on one condition,” I said.

“What’s that?” His face filled with hope, and it stabbed through me because I recognized the emotion.

This guy was as lonely as me.

I grunted. “Molly comes with me.”

Chapter 8

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