After continuing the search for several more minutes, Skars had to admit failure. Backtracking to the spot his wife had left him lying, he noticed the water and some type of food left behind. That she had spared needed necessities for a complete stranger brought warmth to his chest. Her bravery and compassion showed she was going to be an asset to their clan.
Feeling the slight vibration on his shoulder where the skins were attached, he stepped out of the destroyed building as a much larger ship than he had requested landed. Inwardly groaning at Thorsen for not following his instructions, he walked up the metal ramp.
“You came too quickly,” Skars grumbled once the door slid closed.
His brother arched an arrogant brow at him. “Is that any way to treat a brother concerned about your well-being?”
“Sorry, brother, I beg forgiveness.”
“Forgiven. I’m too relieved to see you. When you didn’t respond when I tried to contact you on your ship, I grew concerned.”
“My ship crashed when I lost consciousness,” Skars informed his brother.
“The computer stats were wrong.” Thorsen’s expression became grim.
Skars’ expression matched his brother’s. “As I cautioned you, the meteor shower damage was more intensive than we believed.”
“If I hadn’t heeded your warning and granted you permission to go first, our clan losses would have been heavy. When you regained consciousness, why didn’t you contact me on your transmitter?”
“My ship going down was seen by those on the ground. I had to contend with an Olggan, a Volzon, and a Sorn.”
Thorsen scowled.
“They banded together?”
“Já. I was surprised as well. They were younglings.”
“Ahh … That explains much.”
“Já, they believed me helpless.”
Thorsen broke into laughter. “It would take more than four younglings to accomplish that feat.”
Skars didn’t minimize how close he had come to being taken.
“A babe would have been able to accomplish the task. My lungs hadn’t adjusted to Earth’s atmosphere during the time limit the computer estimated they would. I wasn’t able to fight them off. They started arguing among themselves who would take me captive and went to get their ships. I was gone before they came back.”
“How did you escape?”
As he recounted the situation he had found himself in to Thorsen, the clan members accompanying his brother listened raptly.
“A human woman dragged me to safety. It was several hours before I regained my full strength.”
Thorsen’s face showed his shock. “A human woman helped? Where is this woman? I would thank her.”
Embarrassed at being unable to produce the woman, Skars admitted the embarrassing truth. “I lost her when I had to prevent two Olggans from attacking her.”
Thorsen grew concerned. “She escaped unharmed?”
“Já.”
Thorsen slapped him on the back. “All is well, then. We’ll return to the ship and return with the rest of the warriors.”
Skars steeled himself for opposing his brother’s plan. “I wish to stay. I need to find my wife.”
Thorsen’s jaw dropped. “Did I hear you correctly? Wife?”
Skars nodded. “I have claimed her as my wife. She saved my life. We are wed.”
Thorsen looked at him in confusion. “You’re invoking an ancient law we no longer follow?”
“Já.”
Skars stood straight and tall, feeling the eyes of warriors waiting for Thorsen’s reaction.
Thorsen looked thoughtful. “Did she at least appear to be of Viking descent? Is that why you’re making the claim, so no other Viking could claim her?”
Skars jaw tautened. “Neinn. If she had appeared Viking, I would have waited until Reva made her determination.”
“Why would you want to claim the woman as wife when we may find your tru-mate here on Earth?”
“There is no law against me taking two wives.”
“There is no law,” Thorsen conceded. “However, human women would oppose it, especially your tru-mate. They are known to becoming unhappy when their mate turns to another. An unhappy tru-mate will make strife in the home.”
Skars wasn’t going to be swayed. He knew what he had felt when he’d touched the woman. She might not be his tru-mate, but his body didn’t care.
“The chances of me finding my tru-mate are small. We both are aware of that fact, but if I do happen to find one, I will see to the happiness of both.”
Laughter filled the ship.
Thorsen gave him a brotherly slap on the back. “I have no doubt you can.” He laughed. “I will not deny you the woman … if you find her.”
“I’ll find her,” Skars vowed.
“How did she react you not being from Earth?”
The question came from behind him.
Skars turned his head to see Ulf. “I pretended to be unconscious. I didn’t want her running away from me before I regained my strength. She believed me to be human, like her.”
Laughter broke out again.
“The great Viking Skars lost his woman!” Ulf roared out.
The others looked at him in sympathy but joined in the laughter.
Skars hung his head in shame. “Two Olggans were about to attack her. She disappeared while I was dealing with them.”