Page 58 of Claimed By the Alien Barbarian

“It’s equally warm there as well. The stone gods heat it.”

“I’m still adjusting to the idea that another species does all this for you.”

“Are they another species? I’m not sure, though some have suggested this.”

“You scorn our gods?” someone said, coming up behind us.

“Ah, Vair,” I said with a twist of my mouth. This was one person I wanted to speak with, yet I’d dreaded the conversation. “Kerry? Vair is Weela’s older brother.”

“My parents told me you were here,” he said with a glare. “That you had the nerve to return to the island.”

“My banishment is over.”

“And now you return as if you’re welcome.”

“We are. Firion welcomed us both,” Kerry said.

His mouth twisted. “Only for you to insult our gods.”

“We’re just making conversation,” I said. “There’s no harm in speculating about their origin. Others do the same thing.”

Vair sneered at Kerry. “You don’t come from here. You should leave if you can’t show the respect our gods are due.”

I placed my palm on the hilt of the blade strapped to my waist and released a low growl. “This is my mate.” I stormed over to him, pressing my chest against his. “You treat her with respect, or you will face me.”

Two older males walking past us paused, looking between us. Friends of my grandfather, Biroon and Eradon had said nothing when I was accused of Weela’s murder. They remained in place, their hands on their weapons, their gazes flicking between me and Vair. Would they pull them to attack me or in my defense?

Vair backed away from me. Seeing the other males watching, his sneer only grew. “What are you going to do, Nevarn, stab me in the back like you did my sister? See this, Biroon? Nevarn’s back, and he’s threatening others already.”

“You disrespected my mate,” I said, my voice colder than death. “No onedisrespects my mate.”

“Did you?” Eradon asked Vair. “With so few females, you’re a fool to be unkind to any of them.”

Vair’s glare met mine. “Nevarn shouldn’t be here.”

“Whyareyou here, Nevarn?” Biroon asked, his tone neutral. I couldn’t read his intention from his expression, but he didn’t appear angry that I was here.

“To discover who killed Weela.”

“You,” Vair snapped. “You did it.”

“You seem sure of that.” Challenge thrived in Kerry’s voice. “Did you see him do it?”

“I didn’t need to. It was his knife in her back.” His mouth was a thin line as he looked me up and down. “Murderer. I should kill you right now.”

“Vair,” Biroon huffed. “Enough. Let them be.”

“Why would he come back if he’d murdered her?” Eradon asked, watching me. “To me, this suggests he didn’t do it.”

“Don’t challenge me,” I told Vair.

“Idon’t murder people of the clan.” His voice lowered, and he backed over to stand with Biroon and Eradon.

This was Vair, all bluster. He wouldn’t attack me as long as there were witnesses.

I gave Biroon and Eradon curt nods, thanking them for this bit of support even though it was clear they still held reservations.

“You didn’t see the murder happen,” Kerry pointed out in a reasonable tone. “What you should be telling everyone is that you don’t know who killed her.” Her chin lifted and her gaze swept across all three males. “Every one of you should be ashamed. You banished a male without giving him a chance to defend himself.”

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