Page 87 of On a Barbarian World

He stood before her, one of his big hands pressing to her belly. “You are my future, and the children we’ll make together.”

She swallowed. She needed to be clear and honest here. “Okay, I may have misunderstood the importance of the bonding ceremony, but you talked before about finding a wife, some warlord’s daughter. The bonding ceremony isn’t marriage, though.”

Corant started laughing. “Warrior, clearly you have forgotten your woman is not of our world, and not knowledgeable of all our customs.”

Kavon scowled. “Thank you, my king.” There was an edge to his words, but as he pulled Aurina close, there was nothing but gentleness in his touch. “No, Aurina, they are not the same. Marriage is not about love. It is about alliances and business agreements.”

“Oh?”

“Most warriors only dream of finding someone who makes their hearts beat and their nanami sing. A true bonding is far above marriage in our customs.”

Her throat was so tight she could barely speak. “Oh.”

“Whatever you need me to do to prove how I feel, I will do it.”

“God, Kavon.” She gripped onto him, needing to hold him tight. “I should have told you how I was feeling. I was just so afraid.”

She sensed one of her brothers move, then Dare cleared his throat. “Aurina, trust you to go and essentially get married and not know about it.”

“Why did you even set the e-beacon off if you didn’t want to leave?” Rynan grumbled.

She froze. “E-beacon?”

“That’s how we found you,” Rynan said. “We tracked the signal.”

“I never set it off. Kavon has it…” Her voice trailed away as she looked up at him.

“I set it off a day ago. I could see you weren’t happy. I love you, Aurina Phoenix. I want you with me, but if I don’t make you happy…”

She felt a tremble go through him, saw the love shining in his eyes. It left her breathless.

“Please don’t leave me.” His voice was a ragged whisper.

“You love me?” She felt dizzy.

“Yes.” A hard, unyielding word.

She cupped his cheeks. “I love you, too. So much, you stubborn warrior. You should have told me.”

His arms wrapped around her like bands of steel. “I didn’t know you didn’t understand. I thought the significance of the bonding ceremony would show my love.” A wry smile. “I should have known the words would be important to you. But warriors are not supposed to talk about love.”

“Of course not.” She pressed her lips to him and in a second, he took over, deepening it. She moaned and sank into him, absorbing the taste of him.

He pulled back and nuzzled her neck. “I meant what I said before. I cannot wait to see you swollen with our child.”

She bit her lip. “That’s not possible, warrior. At least, not yet. I have an implant under my skin to stop pregnancy.”

She expected a scowl. Instead, she got a smile.

“The nanami are key to a warrior’s fertility, and since we are bonded, they will work to make us both fertile. A child is inevitable.”

Stubborn barbarian. She shook her head. Kids were something she’d always wanted. One day. She pressed her lips to his jaw. “Definitely one day, warrior. I’d like to see a bunch of golden-eyed mini-warriors running around.”

There was the sound of a clearing throat.

They both looked over and saw her scowling brothers and a grinning warrior king.

“I hear you have a sword for me,” King Corant said.