Free Warlord's Mercy: 4 (Barbarian Claims) by Cynthia Sax

stroked her back,
seeking to comfort her, to heal her.
    She trembled. “I’m scared, not hurt,” Lea mumbled against
his skin. “My need for rutting cooled instantly, as though I had walked off a
high rock spire and fallen to the ground below.” She clung to his shoulders.
“Don’t make me prove myself again, Tolui,” she pleaded, her desperation
heartbreaking. “I never wish to touch another male.”
    “I won’t allow you to touch another male.” Tolui lowered his
face and rubbed one of his cheeks against hers, savoring her softness. “You’re
mine and only mine, Lea.”

Chapter Six
     
    They’re claiming my planet. Lea glanced at Tolui. He
leaned over construction plans with three of his males. The sun’s rays kissed
his tanned shoulders and highlighted the blue in his black hair. As though
sensing her gaze on him, Tolui looked upward. His dark eyes gleamed with
possession and pride.
    And he’s claiming me. A tremor of desire rolled down
Lea’s spine, lighting her body with sensual flames.
    Eight-Two-One, one of the youngest warriors, dropped two of
the fasteners he’d replicated. The sharp pieces of metal landed in the sand
dangerously close to her boots. “My lord is a fortunate male,” he said, his
hands full of fasteners, his baby face round and smooth. Although he appeared
to have seen eighteen solar cycles, in reality, he’d only seen three. The
clones had devised a means of accelerating the maturity of their offspring,
using technology to compensate for their lack of caregivers. “I hope when I
locate my gerel , she’ll be as lusty as you are.” His voice broke
mid-sentence.
    Lea’s face heated. “I’ll find you a pack to carry the
fasteners in.” She darted away from Eight-Two-One, heading toward the
underground tunnels. Males watched her with open curiosity, their faces and
physiques resembling Tolui’s but lacking his command, his dominance and that
glimmer in his eyes that stirred her blood.
    A ship hovered overhead. Ships had been landing and leaving
at varying intervals, investigating non-clone landings on the planet, Chamele
warships having been spotted in the vicinity. That didn’t alarm Lea. Chameles
regularly hunted on Chamele 4.
    “Did my offspring’s offspring offend you, my lady?” Eight
matched her strides. “He often speaks before he thinks.”
    “We don’t know how that genetic defect happened,” Six added
dryly. “It is a scientific mystery.”
    Eight glared at his friend.
    “He didn’t offend me. I’m well.” Lea waved them away. She
followed the trail to the right, leaving the two big males squabbling by her
nonfunctional ship.
    Finally, she was alone, her surroundings still and serene,
the only sounds being the hum of ship engines, the whistle of the wind around
rock spires, and her breath. Lea slowly her pace as she approached the opening
in the mountain and she savored the quiet she had become accustomed to. If
Tolui had been by her side, her contentment would have been complete.
    Sun glinted off a reflective surface in the tunnel. Lea
stopped, drew two daggers from her thigh sheaths, and waited. It didn’t occur
again.
    “Who’s there?” She breathed in, smelling nothing. “Show
yourself or I’ll strike.”
    A male chuckled, his voice deep and low. “Don’t strike,
little female. Our fight isn’t with you.”
    A tall Chamele warrior stepped into the light. He clasped
guns in both of his hands, weapons decorated his black leg coverings and a
sword was strapped to his bare back. A tiny human female stood behind him, also
armed with guns, her long brown hair pulled back from her frowning face.
    “But to be cautious, we’ll restrain you.” The warrior nodded
at the female. She sheathed her guns and unwrapped bindings from her
leather-clad arms.
    “No, you won’t restrain me.” Lea stepped back, moving away
from them. “Tolui,” she yelled as loudly as she could. “Run! We’re being
attacked.” She pivoted on her heels and dashed down