Page 29 of Tharn’s Hunt (Barbarians of the Dust #2)

WHEN IN DOUBT, PRESS YOUR FOREHEAD TO THE HOT ALIEN

JACQUI

O ne minute, Tharn is on his feet, his voice resonating with that strange, alien beauty, and the next, he's on his knees, claws digging into sand, his massive body shuddering like he's being torn apart from the inside.

"Tharn!" I'm moving before I can think, heart pounding as I drop to my knees beside him. "What's happening? What's wrong with him?"

Justine hesitates. I see the pain, the worry, the uncertainty about what to do in her eyes.

"It's... complicated," she finally says, which is becoming her standard answer for everything on this godforsaken planet.

"Uncomplicate it," I snap, my patience evaporating as Tharn's breathing grows more labored, his claws digging deeper into the sand. "He's in pain!"

"It's the bond," Justine says, her voice dropping lower. "He's been fighting it, but it's... progressing. The pain gets worse until..."

She trails off, but I don't need her to finish. Until what? Until he breaks? Until he dies? The thought sends ice through my veins.

Without thinking, I slide closer to Tharn, my hands hovering uncertainly over his trembling form. He's so big, so intimidating even on his knees, that I'm not sure where or how to touch him. But I can't just sit here and watch him suffer.

"Hey," I say softly, reaching out to touch his shoulder. "Tharn, it's okay. Just breathe, all right?"

The moment my fingers brush his skin, his head snaps up, those amber eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that steals my breath. There's pain there, yes, but something else too. Something hot and desperate that makes my heart stutter in my chest.

Before I can pull away, his breathing changes, the shuddering easing slightly under my touch. It's working. Whatever's happening to him, my touch is helping.

I shift closer, moving my hand to his face, cradling his jaw in my palm. His skin is burning hot, almost feverish, the glow pulsing beneath my fingertips like a second heartbeat.

"That's it," I murmur, forgetting everything else—Justine, Rok, the alien world around us. It's just me and Tharn, connected by my hand on his face and his eyes fixed on mine. "Just breathe. In and out. See? Easy."

His breathing gradually steadies, the glow beneath his skin dimming slightly as his shuddering subsides.

"What the hell kind of bond is this?" I wonder, but even as I think it, I know. Deep down, I know. The dreams, the way he looks at me, the way my skin heats under his gaze—it's all connected. This isn't just some alien biology thing. It's about us.

He's in pain because of me. Because, somehow, he’s imprinted on me.

Guilt washes through me, followed quickly by determination. I'm not going to let him suffer like this. Not when there's something I can do about it.

"You're okay," I whisper, my thumb tracing the hard ridge of his cheekbone. "You're strong. You've got this."

His eyes close briefly, his head tilting into my touch like a cat seeking more contact. The gesture is so unexpectedly vulnerable, so human in its need for comfort, that my throat tightens with emotion.

This alien—this massive, intimidating hunter who's saved my life multiple times—is leaning into my touch like it's the only thing keeping him anchored. Like I'm the only thing keeping him together.

It's terrifying. And kind of amazing.

But the moment of calm is shattered when Rok suddenly stiffens near the cave entrance. His nostrils flare, and a low growl rumbles from his chest, the sound primal and threatening. Beside him, Justine immediately tenses.

Tharn reacts instantly, despite his condition. His head snaps up, his body going rigid beneath my touch. A growl builds in his chest, vibrating against my palm, and then he's surging to his feet with surprising strength, shoving me behind him.

"Hey!" I yelp as I stumble backward. "What the?—"

But Tharn isn't listening. He's focused entirely on the cave entrance, his massive body positioning itself between me and whatever threat Rok has sensed. His claws flex at his sides, the glow beneath his skin brightening again as adrenaline overrides his pain.

Great. Just what we need. Another crisis.

Rok and Tharn exchange growls, clearly communicating silently while Justine moves closer to them, her expression tense but determined. I'm left standing there, completely clueless, watching as they prepare for... something.

I hate this. I hate not knowing what's being said—or thought, or projected, or whatever. It's like being stuck in the middle of a conversation where everyone's speaking a language you don't understand, and you're just standing there hoping you don’t get punched in the face.

"What's happening?" I whisper, stepping forward despite Tharn's obvious attempt to keep me back. "Is it something dangerous? Another one of those shadow creature things?"

But they're not even looking at me. They're focused entirely on whatever's outside the cave, their bodies tense and ready for action.

That's when I remember what Justine told me earlier. About how pressing my forehead to Tharn's might help me hear him. Understand him.

It sounds insane. It probably is insane. But what choice do I have? I need to know what's happening, and the translator is still stubbornly stuck at 20% calibration, occasionally beeping but otherwise useless.

Before I can second-guess myself, I step forward, grab Tharn's arm to turn him toward me, rise on my tippy toes, and press my forehead directly to his.

The moment our skin connects, it's like touching raw electricity. Heat explodes through me, racing from the point of contact down my spine and settling low in my belly. The sensation is so intense, so unexpected, that I almost pull away.

But then I hear it. His voice. In my head.

" Jacqui ."

It's faint and distorted, like he's speaking underwater, but it's unmistakably him. His mental voice is so darn deep, rich and resonant in a way that makes everything between my legs respond without my input.

I squeeze my eyes shut, focusing as hard as I can on that faint connection. " Tharn? Can you hear me? "

There's a sensation of surprise, almost like a jolt through our connection, and then his voice again, clearer this time.

" Yes. You... hear me now ?"

" Yes !" I could cry with relief. " What's happening? What's out there? "

" Intruder ," comes the immediate response, sharp with tension. " Not clan. Rival. "

" Rival? Like... enemy clan ?" I press, trying to understand. " Are they dangerous ?"

I feel rather than hear his growl, a rumble of confirmation that makes the hairs on my arms stand up. " Yes. Will take you. Will take Justine. Will take...all females ."

Oh. Great. Space alien territorial disputes. Just what we needed to make this day complete.

" What do we do ?" I try to keep back my fear, try to hide it and be brave, but I’m sure he hears it anyway. " Hide? Fight? "

There's a pause, and then I feel his hands cup my face, his touch impossibly gentle despite the deadly claws at the tips of his fingers. The connection between us strengthens, his mental voice becoming clearer.

" I protect. Always protect you, Jacqui ."

The conviction in his voice, the absolute certainty, almost bowls me over. He means it. With every fiber of his being, he means it.

When I open my eyes, I find his face inches from mine, those amber eyes burning with determination despite the pain I know still grips him. My heart does a strange flip in my chest, and for a moment, I forget how to breathe.

" Safe ," he projects, the word rough but unmistakable. " I keep you safe ."

And then he's pulling away, straightening to his full height despite the tremor I can still see running through his massive frame. He turns toward the cave entrance, where Rok is already positioned defensively.

"Wait!" I grab his arm, panic surging through me. "You can't go out there. You're not well!"

But he doesn't even look at me. He just shrugs off my grip like I weigh nothing, his focus entirely on the threat outside.

"Tharn!" I try again, but Justine catches my arm, pulling me back.

"He has to go," she whispers urgently. "Rok can't—they'll smell me on him. They'll see his loincloth and know something's... different."

I stare at her, momentarily distracted from my panic. "Wait, you're saying Tharn's the only one who can go because he's still... normal?!"

Justine shrugs, her expression a mix of embarrassment and resignation. "More or less."

Right. Because amid all this chaos, I'd almost forgotten that my sister is having sex with an alien who apparently grew new parts just for her. Fantastic.

"But he's in pain," I argue, keeping my voice low as Tharn moves steadily toward the cave entrance. "He can barely stand!"

"You have no idea the strength of these men," Justine says, her grip on my arm tightening when I try to pull away. "Trust me, Jacqui. He knows what he's doing."

I want to argue more, to demand that someone else handle this, that Tharn stay here where it's safe. But a part of me knows it's useless. He's already made his decision. He's going to face whatever's out there, pain or no pain, because he thinks it's his job to protect me.

The realization makes my chest ache with a strange mix of frustration, fear, and something very close to admiration.

I watch as Tharn steps into the fading light at the cave entrance, his massive form casting a long shadow across the sand. Despite the weakness I saw just moments ago, he moves with predatory grace, his shoulders squared and his head held high.

Through the gathering dusk, another figure approaches.

He is Drakav, tall and golden-skinned like the others, but where Tharn is solid strength and Rok is lean muscle, this one is pure, brutal mass.

His shoulders are broader, his neck thicker, and his face is a mask of jagged scars and a permanent scowl.

He doesn't walk; he stalks, his movements radiating an arrogant, violent energy that makes the hair on my arms stand up.

Tharn's growl fills the cave as he shifts slightly to block the newcomer's view of the inside. Even wounded, even in pain, he's a wall of muscle and fury, his claws flexing at his sides as he faces down the intruder.

Not for the first time since I've met him, I'm actually glad he's terrifying.

Tharn faces the intruder, and I realize with growing frustration that they're communicating telepathically. Having an entire conversation—or confrontation—that I can't hear or understand. It's maddening.

Rok herds Justine and me deeper into the cave, positioning himself between us and the entrance where Tharn faces the stranger. Blocking my view of Tharn and everything else.

"What are they saying?" I whisper to Justine, who's watching Rok's face intently.

"Hold on," she murmurs, her voice barely audible. "It’s coming through Rok and then to me."

I wait, impatience gnawing at me.

"It's not good," Justine finally whispers, leaning close to my ear. "The other guy is furious. Says their water sources are drying up."

"Water sources? What does that have to do with us?"

"They think our clan is taking too much," she explains quickly, her eyes darting between me and Rok. "Draining the watering holes across the desert."

Our clan? When did it become our cl—. Nevermind.

"Is that true?" I whisper, though I already know the answer. If there's one thing I've learned about Tharn, it's that he respects the harsh balance of this world.

Justine shakes her head. "No. But they need someone to blame."

My heart thunders in my chest, and I focus on keeping silent.

"What now?" I whisper after a few moments.

"It's a threat," Justine translates, her expression growing more worried. "He's warning Tharn that his clan won't tolerate being cheated of water. Says if they don't get what they need..."

She trails off, glancing at Rok, whose growl rumbles low in his chest.

"If they don't get what they need, what?" I press.

"They'll take it," she finishes grimly. "By force if necessary."

Great. Just what we need—a water war. And not the fun kind.

For several long minutes, Rok is silent and still above us, and then his shoulders suddenly relax. When there’s finally movement at the cave mouth, my heart lurches. But it’s Tharn. His expression is grim, his glow pulsing erratically beneath his skin.

He's still in pain. Maybe even more so after that confrontation. But he's hiding it better now, his movements controlled and his face carefully blank. My palms itch to reach out and touch him.

"The water," Justine says out loud. "They think you're using too much of the water."

Tharn’s jaw ticks, his displeasure still clear.

“Could it be because of us?” My gaze shifts to Justine. “We drink more than they do. Maybe…”

She shakes her head. “Rok said we don’t drink enough to cause a problem.”

“So...” I continue, searching her face. "So why are their water sources drying up?"

Justine looks at Rok, even moving closer to him, though I don’t know if she’s even aware she’s doing it. The utter trust in her eyes. The peace…

I look at Tharn, who's still watching me with that intense, unreadable expression. Despite everything, despite the danger and the confusion and the fear, I find myself stepping closer to him, drawn by something I can't explain.

Maybe because these past few days I’ve been watching him, watching Rok, watching Justine…and Justine is happy. Like, actually happy. I can’t recall the last time I saw my sister without worry lines creasing her brow.

"Are you okay?" I ask softly, my eyes searching Tharn’s face for signs of the pain I know he's still feeling.

He nods once, a jerky motion that doesn't convince me at all.

I reach out and take his hand, my fingers wrapping around his much larger ones.

The contact sends a jolt through me, like static electricity but warmer, more pleasant. His skin is still hot, almost feverish, but soothing. Strangely soothing.

"Thank you," I say, my voice steadier than I feel. "For protecting us."

His expression softens slightly, something flickering in those amber eyes that makes my heart beat faster. He squeezes my hand gently, careful of his claws, and nods again.

And despite everything—the danger, the confusion, the fear of what comes next—I believe him. Completely and without reservation.

Because one thing is becoming increasingly clear: on this alien world, with its rival clans and dangers lurking in every shadow, Tharn might be the only thing keeping me alive.

And I'm starting to think that I might be the only thing keeping him together.