Page 20 of Claimed By the Alien Barbarian

Kerry barely breathed, but her hands didn’t waver as she lifted the bow and sighted down the shaft at the enormous culendar.

“Up a tree, mate,” I whispered, flicking my hand to my right. “That one. Quickly. I’ll handle this.” She’d be safer off the ground where she could see an attacker coming.

“Not happening, Nevarn.”

I loved how grim she sounded, how determined, but I was desperate to keep her safe.

“Whoever tried to kill me sent the culendar our way.”

“Well, fuck them.”

My grim smile rose. “Yes, fuck them.” I shifted to watch the trail we’d already walked along, because . . .

As expected, two more of the wily creatures slunk out of the woods, their claws digging into the soft soil and their spiked tails jutting up across their spines. They bared their fangs and their low growls rippled through the air.

“Damn,” Kerry snarled.

“They take down prey in packs of three or four.”

“Where’s the fourth?”

“If we’re lucky, this is a small pack.”

“Luck rarely plays a role in my life,” she said.

It had in mine. If I hadn’t been wounded, I wouldn’t have met Kerry, though I wished it could’ve been under different circumstances. Had the wood gods led me to her?

I released a low hum, but the trees around us didn’t respond. They either didn’t hold gods, or the gods had gone dormant. Well, I’d protect my mate and myself with my will alone.

“The first to appear will always rush toward their victim while the others will quietly come at them from behind,” I said softly. “Watch for it.”

“Clever.”

“Effective. Few realize they’re being attacked from multiple directions until it’s too late. Will you climb a tree now?”

“And leave you to face them alone? No way.” Her back tightened against mine. “We’re in this together, Nevarn.”

My heart froze before thumping heavily.

Warmth flooded my chest, and a spark lit beneath my skin. Standing with her while we faced this threat together was like breathing in life itself, raw and nearly overwhelming. It felt right, as it should be.

Like destiny.

This was a woman worth fighting for.

“Very well,” I said. “Distract the single culendar while I dissuade the other two.”

“How will you—”

With a guttural cry, I raced away from her with my spear flying toward the two and her small hunting blade in my other hand.

Chapter 9

Kerry

Nevarn had just gone Seal Team 6 on the two creatures, leaving me to face the single one—assuming a fourth wasn’t slinking toward us from a different direction.

My heart pounded like a battering ram at a fortress gate and cold sweat burst through my skin to trickle down my spine. Time slowed as the creature's orange eyes locked onto mine.

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