knew where he would find Isabel. As he suspected, she was in what had used to be his office, working on the plans for the luxury winter resort the tribe had decided to build. Njkall was overseeing the actual construction, while she came up with the plans and decided on the most appealing options for their future guests. The two of them worked well together. Baralt knew that the older warrior had developed a fatherly affection for Isabel and that relationship had helped her move past her father’s abandonment.
His own job was going equally well. Although some of the less legitimate establishments had not been pleased, most of the merchants fully supported their efforts. He also found he enjoyed the time he spent with the young warriors on his team, despite their sometimes…impulsive tendencies. But neither the law nor the resort mattered right now.
“My aria, I have something to tell you.”
“Yes?” she said absently, still focused on the document on her tablet. “Do you think we should put a roof over the hot springs or leave them open?”
With a sigh, he took the device out of her hand, picked her up, and then sat down with her on his lap. As always, her closeness awakened his kotra, and her eyes widened as she felt him grow beneath her.
“That feels more like you have something to show me.” She wiggled against him, and he almost gave in to temptation, but he had important news.
“The Derian ship is no more.”
“The Derian ship—you mean the one that took me from Earth?” Her eyes darkened as they always did at the memory of her time with the slavers. It was one of the reasons that he had asked Varga to track them down.
“Yes. The crew is dead.”
“I’m glad,” she said fiercely. “Thank you, Baralt.”
She reached up to kiss him, but he held her gently in place. “There’s more.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Varga found records indicating that a third human female was also taken.” They knew that Hanna, the female Njkall had recently encountered, had been on board the same ship. They hadn’t known there was yet another female.
Her eyes widened. “Another one? Oh no. What happened to her?”
“We don’t know yet. Varga has gone after her. He will find her and bring her here to us.”
“But it’s been so long. I can’t even imagine how I would have survived if I hadn’t met you.”
The horrible thought made his arms tighten around her, but his voice was confident. “You would have kept fighting, and you would have survived.”
“And you’re sure Varga can find her?”
“I’m sure. He is a very determined male.”
“Maybe she found someone kind,” she said hopefully.
“Perhaps.” The universe was a harsh place, but sometimes things worked out.
“I’ve been thinking,” she said slowly, her fingers playing with the fur on his chest.
“Those words strike dread into the heart of every male.”
“Nothing bad, I promise. In fact, I think you might like the idea.”
“What idea?”
“If things stay on schedule, your birth control implant will expire about the same time that construction is completed on the resort.”
His heart pounded. “Yes?”
“And I thought maybe we could see if cross-species mating between Hothians and humans is successful.”
Yes! He wanted to shout his agreement, but she still wasn’t looking at him. He placed a finger under her chin to lift her face to his. “Is this what you want?”
Her eyes filled with tears, and his heart sank, but then she nodded. “Yes, I really do. I never thought I would want to have a child, but my life has changed so much. And you will be a wonderful father, Baralt.”
“Our child will never doubt that she is loved,” he promised her.
His kotra throbbed eagerly, and he lifted her dress so that he could press it against her sweet, wet cunt. “Perhaps we should begin practicing.”
“We get plenty of practice,” she said dryly, but she moved slowly along his slick shaft. “And not until the resort is finished. I don’t want to be carrying a baby around a construction site.”
“Which reminds me of my other news.” Unable to wait any longer, he lifted her enough to find her entrance, then worked his way into the silken fist of her channel. They both groaned.
“Wh-what news?” Her eyes fluttered closed as she rocked her hips, adjusting to his size.
“Njkall wants to send us to see the Emperor.”
“What?” Her eyes flew open, and she stopped the sensuous dance.
He took over, moving her up and down his kotra in the same easy motion.
“I can’t go. I’m an escaped—oh God, that feels good.”
“There are no records of that, and even if there were, the Emperor has forbidden all trafficking on pre-spaceflight worlds.”
Her tight little passage was beginning to pulsate around him, and he knew she was on the verge of coming, but she tried to continue the argument.
“But…”
“He has a human mate, and I’m sure she’d love to meet you.”
“But…”
Her body quivered as he held her suspended at the tip of his kotra. “Say yes,” he coaxed.
“Yes,” she cried, and he slammed up into her. She shuddered and came, her impossibly tight cunt milking him in long, hard pulses that triggered his own climax. She collapsed against his chest as his ring expanded, locking them together, and he held her close.
Several minutes later, she frowned up at him. “That was a dirty trick.”
“What was?” he asked innocently.
“Not letting me come until I agreed to go see this Emperor of yours.”
“It’s a great honor,” he assured her.
“Letting me come or seeing the Emperor?”
“Both,” he said, his face solemn, and she laughed.
“I must admit, not many diner waitresses get to meet an emperor. What about you? Are you excited?”
“Not as excited as I am about your suggestion, but I hope that it will help Hothrest.”
“And he really has a human mate?”
“He does. Which means he is a very lucky male, although not, of course, as lucky as I am.”
He gently stroked her cheek, the same way he had done the first time they’d met, but this time, she smiled at him, her eyes full of love, and as he bent his head to kiss her, he silently thanked the gods for bringing them together.
Author’s Note
Thank you so much for reading Izzie and the Icebeast! I’ve been looking forward to a Hothian hero since the Hothians first appeared in Faith and the Fighter! And it took a special hero like Baralt to give Izzie the happy ending she deserved.
Whether you enjoyed the story or not, it would mean the world to me if you left an honest review on Amazon – reviews are one of the best ways to help other readers find my books!
As always, I have to thank my readers for exploring this universe with me! Your support and encouragement make it possible for me to keep writing these books. As always, a special thanks to my beta team – Janet S, Nancy V, and Kitty S. Your thoughts and comments are incredibly helpful!
Up next – Varga is about to be challenged by his own human female in Joan and the Juggernaut! An unstoppable alien warrior. A stubborn human. A desperate escape…
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Other Titles
The Alien Abduction Series
Anna and the Alien
Beth and the Barbarian
Cam and the Conqueror
Deb and the Demon
Ella and the Emperor
Faith and the Fighter
Greta and the Gargoyle
Hanna and the Hitman
Izzie and the Icebeast
Joan and the Juggernaut
The Alien Invasion Series
Alien Selection
Alien Conquest
Alien Prisoner
Alien Breeder
Alien Alliance
Alien Hope
Cosmic Fairy Tales
Jackie and the Giant
Cyborgs on Mars
High Plains Cyborg
The Good, the Bad, and the Cyborg
A Fistful of Cyborg
A Few Cyborgs More
The Magnificent Cyborg
Treasured by the Alien
Mama and the Alien Warrior
A Son for the Alien Warrior
Daughter of the Alien Warrior
About the Author
Honey Phillips writes steamy science fiction stories about hot alien warriors and the human women they can’t resist. From abductions to invasions, the ride might be rough, but the end always satisfies.
Honey wrote and illustrated her first book at the tender age of 5. Her writing has improved since then. Her drawing skills, unfortunately, have not. She loves writing, reading, traveling, cooking, and drinking champagne - not necessarily in that order.
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