“They don’t want us to interfere with any tribal cultures. They see it this way—what happens between primitive people, happens. Unless it personally involves our tribe we have to let it go. Even if the bloodthirsty tribes are being cruel and causing death to the peaceful clans.” He paused and studied her face as if checking whether or not his words upset her. “Now that Vulcan and I are residing here permanently, those rules no longer apply to us. If we had decided sooner to stay behind, we would’ve killed Sledge the night he beat your sister.”
Ivy still couldn’t stomach the visual of Wisty tied between the stoning trees while Sledge whipped her until she bled. Nor could she believe her own father ordered the punishment. Yes, Wisteria deserved retribution for deceiving their clan by kissing Vulcan, a man not of their blood, but deception was punishable by stoning, not a whipping. And because Wisteria had been promised to Sledge as a mate, he’d acted harsher than necessary when he delivered the blows. Being rescued and taken captive by Vulcan that night was the best thing that could’ve happened to Wisty.
Gosh, Ivy wanted to cry just thinking about it. If her clan discovered she had feelings for Bronto, a man from a forbidden tribe, she’d endure the same punishment. Maybe not now that her father was gone, but nonetheless, she didn’t plan on returning home. Ever. Until they apologized to Wisty and welcomed her back, Ivy would not step foot into their territory.
Ivy’s eyelids grew heavy. She smiled meekly at Bronto while fighting to keep them open. “So, if me or Wisty are threatened by the Flesh Eaters or Mountain Slayers you’d kill them?”
“In the span of a heartbeat.”
“What about another Barbarian?”
“You bet. We’d fight them to the death.”
We’d fight them to the death. Those were the final words she heard before she fell asleep.
Chapter Three
“Get everyone out of here. Now!” a male shouted.
Ivy bolted upright. What’s going on? She gazed around Bronto’s hut, darting her eyes from one side to the other. She was alone but a lot of commotion took place outside. Men’s voices and women’s cries of panic overshadowed the sound of stampeding footsteps.
The flap flew open. “Ivy,” Bronto yelled, rushing inside fully dressed in his furs. Only his muscular arms and handsome face were visible. “Come with me.” He didn’t stall as he grabbed her arm and assisted her to her feet.
She shook off the fuzzy aftereffects of sleep and rubbed her eyes. “What’s happening? Where are we going?” she asked. A loud boom-boom, boom-boom echoed in the distance. Her tummy lurched and she fully awoke. “Is it another tyrannosaur?” she asked, alarm rising to her chest.
“We’re not sure.” He retrieved his bow, situated it over his shoulder then tucked numerous arrows inside a sheath at his side. “Whatever it is, it hasn’t arrived yet but it’s close.”
She gulped, latched on to his hand and flew out the door.
“Run to the underground weapons shelter,” he ordered, remaining close at her heels.
She raced past the huts, noticing she was the only woman left in the camp, then she fled into the forest. Bronto briefly yanked her to a stop then he took the lead. His furs protected his body while he cleared a path for her. Suddenly he halted. To the left side of the shelter near the marking stick lay a cave lion. It appeared to be guarding the closed door. The fur on its neck stood up. As it eyed Bronto it licked its mouth. Blood was caked around its snout and on its large, curved teeth.
Ivy gasped. Her heartbeat thumped her breast. She squeezed Bronto’s hand hard.
“Back up,” he said, sliding her behind him. “Slowly.”
She tempered the urge to run and very slowly backed between two large pine trees, glancing past his arm at the huge animal. The lion didn’t move, nor did it remove its gaze from their bodies. It was one of the most feared animals in the land, capable of killing bears. Though she’d only seen one once from a distance, it was scarier and larger than she’d remembered. Now she wished she hadn’t laid eyes on it at all.
She gulped, anticipating it to lunge and attack, but it yawned and laid its head on the ground between its large, matted paws.
She held her breath while continuing the backward trek. Once they were confined and hidden within the trees, Bronto loaded an arrow in the bow and squatted, gazing through an opening between branches.
Ivy shrieked and dropped to her knees beside him. “Don’t shoot it. What if it doesn’t die? It’ll be mad.”
“I have no choice. It’ll attack the first person who climbs out of the shelter.”
Oh gosh, she couldn’t imagine that happening. It would be a horrid, gruesome, painful death.
The cave lion lifted its head at the sound of their voices and peered in their direction. Dark, hungry eyes bored into them as it raised its back end, preparing to lunge. Bronto took aim and released the arrow, plugging it into the animal’s throat. The lion roared. Then sprang forward. And charged.
Ivy screamed and jumped to her feet.
“Run, Ivy,” Bronto shouted. “Go. Go!”
There wasn’t enough time to decide which direction to flee, so she spun and ran for her life straight ahead. No way could they outrun a cave lion. No way possible.