Barbarian's Touch: A SciFi Alien Romance (Ice Planet Barbarians Book 8)
Page 25
Does her hearing come back? It’s entirely possible; if the khui can keep Harlow’s brain tumor in check, it could also repair the cilia in Lila’s ears that affect the transmission of sound. Of course, this is problematic - ‘fixing’ her hearing assumes that she’s flawed. Like Rokan says, she’s perfect just as she is. So will she get her hearing back? I haven’t decided, and she doesn’t need it one way or another. She’s strong enough either way and I hope I’ve portrayed her so.
In addition, you’ll notice that toward the beginning of the book, there are different spellings of some ‘common’ story words, like khui. That’s because they’re interpreted as how Lila would see them, reading lips. I hope it’s not too jarring for readers. I spent a lot of time in this book with my fingers pressed against my mouth to see how my tongue and lips would move so I could recreate the experience as faithfully as possible.
A few tiny notes…
Since I am now writing a full-length story for Maddie (three guesses as to who her hero will be), BARBARIAN’S TAMING will be out late this summer, and that means BARBARIAN’S CHOICE (Farli’s story) and FIRE AND ICE (spinoff) will be pushed a bit further back. We’re not ready to leave the ice planet yet, so there will be more to come. There will also be more short stories about others in the cave, because there’s so much more to explore.
Also, a huge shout-out to Kati Wilde, who makes amazing covers. Isn’t this one gorgeous? I’m so in love with it. She makes magic happen with stock photos. You’ll note that Rokan has four fingers on the cover instead of three, mostly because it would have looked weird to try and manipulate the existing hands into three fingers. Just close your eyes and pretend!
One housekeeping note. In re-reading the last book to prep for this one, I noticed that Harrec speaks a few lines while out in the hunting party. This is an author ‘oops’ because Harrec wasn’t there! It’s Hassen speaking, but my mind tangled up their names. I’ve uploaded a corrected copy, so if you are a purist, make sure to delete your old copy and re-download the new one. It’s my own fault for deciding that since the sa-khui are a small family, they should have similar sounding names. The change is minor, and, I hope, not too confusing.
As always, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for reading. I really do have the best fans in the world and I adore your Facebook messages, your cheery posts, and your enthusiasm. I love writing in this world and I’m beyond thrilled so many other people love hanging out on the ice planet with me.
<3
Ruby
The People of Ice Planet Barbarians
As of the end of BARBARIAN’S TOUCH
(suggested pronunciations in parenthesis)
AT THE MAIN TRIBAL CAVE
CAVE 1
Vektal (Vehk-tall) - The chief of the sa-khui. Mated to Georgie.
Georgie – Human woman (and unofficial leader of the human females). Has taken on a dual-leadership role with her mate.
Talie (Tah-lee) – Their baby daughter.
CAVE 2
Maylak (May-lack) – Tribe Healer. Mated to Kashrem and currently pregnant with child.
Kashrem (Cash-rehm) - Her mate, also a leather-worker.
Esha (Esh-uh) – Their young daughter.
CAVE 3
Sevvah (Sev-uh) – Tribe elder, mother to Aehako, Rokan, and Sessah
Oshen (Aw-shen) – Tribe elder, her mate
Sessah (Ses-uh) - Their youngest son
CAVE 4
Warrek (War-ehk) – Tribal hunter.
Eklan (Ehk-lan) – His father. Elder.
CAVE 5
Ereven (Air-uh-ven) Hunter, mated to Claire
Claire – mated to Ereven, currently pregnant
CAVE 6
Liz – Raahosh’s mate and huntress. Currently pregnant for a second time.
Raahosh (Rah-hosh) – Her mate. A hunter and brother to Rukh.
Raashel (Rah-shel) – Their daughter.
CAVE 7
Stacy – Mated to Pashov. Mother to Pacy, a baby boy.
Pashov (Pah-showv) – son of Kemli and Borran, brother to Farli and Salukh. Mate of Stacy, father to Pacy.
Pacy – Their infant son.
CAVE 8
Nora – Mate to Dagesh, mother to twins Anna and Elsa.
Dagesh (Dah-zzhesh) (the g sound is swallowed) – Her mate. A hunter.
Anna & Elsa – Their infant twin daughters.
CAVE 9
Harlow – Mate to Rukh. ‘Mechanic’ to the Elders’ Cave. Spends 75% of her time there with her family.
Rukh (Rookh) – Former exile and loner. Original name Maarukh. (Mah-rookh). Brother to Raahosh. Mate to Harlow.
Rukhar (Roo-car) – Their infant son.
CAVE 10
Megan – Mate to Cashol. Mother to newborn Holvek.
Cashol – (Cash-awl) – Mate to Megan. Hunter. Father to newborn Holvek.
Holvek – (Haul-vehk) – Wee blue baby boy!
CAVE 11
Marlene (Mar-lenn) – Human mate to Zennek. Has unnamed child. French.
Zennek – (Zehn-eck) – Mate to Marlene. Has unnamed child.
CAVE 12
Ariana – Human female. Mate to Zolaya. Mother to Analay.
Zolaya (Zoh-lay-uh) – Hunter and mate to Ariana. Father to Analay.
Analay – (Ah-nuh-lay) – Their infant son.
CAVE 13
Tiffany – Human female. Mated to Salukh and newly pregnant.
Salukh - Salukh (Sah-luke) – Hunter. Son of Kemli and Borran, brother to Farli and Pashov.
CAVE 14
Aehako – (Eye-ha-koh) – Acting leader of the South cave. Mate to Kira, father to Kae. Son of Sevvah and Oshen, brother to Rokan and Sessah.
Kira – Human woman, mate to Aehako, mother of Kae. Was the first to be abducted by aliens and wore an ear-translator for a long time.
Kae (Ki –rhymes with ‘fly’) – Their newborn daughter.
CAVE 15
Kemli – (Kemm-lee) Female elder, mother to Salukh, Pashov and Farli
Borran – (Bore-awn) Her mate, elder
Farli – (Far-lee) Their teenage daughter. Her brothers are Salukh and Pashov. She has a pet dvisti named Chahm-pee (Chompy).
CAVE 16
Drayan (Dry-ann) – Elder.
Drenol (Dree-nowl) – Elder.
CAVE 17
Vadren (Vaw-dren) – Elder.
Vaza (Vaw-zhuh) – Widower and elder. Loves to creep on the ladies.
CAVE 18
Asha (Ah-shuh) – Separated from Hemalo. No living child.
Maddie – Lila’s sister. Found in second crash.
CAVE 19
Bek – (BEHK) – Hunter.
Hassen (Hass-en) – Hunter.
Harrec (Hair-ek) – Hunter.
Taushen (Tow –rhymes with cow- shen) – Hunter.
Hemalo (Hee-mah-lo) – Separated from Asha.
CAVE 20
Josie – Human woman. Mated to Haeden and newly pregnant.
Haeden (Hi-den) – Hunter. Previously resonated to Zalah but she died (along with his khui) in the khui-sickness before resonance could be completed. Now mated to Josie.
CAVE 21 (formerly a storage cave)
Rokan (Row-can) – Oldest son to Sevvah and Oshen. Brother to Aehako and Sessah. Adult male hunter. Now mated to Lila. Has ‘sixth’ sense.
Lila – Maddie’s sister. Hearing impaired. Resonated to Rokan.
Ice Planet Barbarians Reading List
The Ice Planet Barbarians Series!
Are you all caught up on Ice Planet Barbarians? Need a refresher? Click through to borrow or buy and get caught up (or add to your keeper shelf)!
Ice Planet Barbarians – Georgie’s Story
Barbarian Alien – Liz’s Story
Barbarian Lover – Kira’s Story
Barbarian Mine – Harlow’s Story
Ice Planet Holiday – Claire’s Story (novella)
Barbarian’s Prize – Tiffany’s Story
Barbarian’s Mate – Josie’s Story
Ice Ice Babies – Nora’s Story (short story)
Barbarian’s Touch – You just read it!
Ruby Rec - Snatched by the Alien Savage
I love the Maddix and Dare team-up and their stories are so funny! If you need a light, fun alien read, might I suggest this?
Click Here to Borrow!
SNATCHED BY THE ALIEN SAVAGE
Love? That's for suckers.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled my friend Jasmine found a hot guy who’s crazy about her but I’m not interested in that for myself. I’ve got other things to think about, such as how to pay rent.
Besides, life has taught me that trusting people only ends in heartache.
When Jasmine claims her new man is an alien…well, she’s lucky I don’t call the dudes in white coats. But I discover she’s not as crazy as I thought when another, even hotter alien snatches me away and rocks my world. Worst of all, my heart betrays my brain and actually starts falling for the guy…alien…whatever.
Now we just need to find our way out of this swamp he’s stranded us in without getting eaten by gators, snakes or panthers.
Oh my.
Ruby Rec - Kozav
I love Celia Kyle (aka Erin Tate) and the worlds she creates. The aliens are hot and the ladies are hilarious. So thrilled to see more Preor books coming down the pipeline! These are the best kind of comfort reads for me.
Click Here to Borrow!
KOZAV
Kozav found his mate and then he lost her. Now it’s time to hunt…
Grace Hall is a nurse, not a doctor. But when five Preor warriors are brought to the emergency room and the doctors won't touch the aliens, she steps forward. One warrior draws her more than the others. His teal wings, muscular body, and pain-glazed eyes have her torn between two desires — needing his touch and desperation to heal him. She’s going to save the Preor males, even if it kills her. When she loses consciousness after healing them, she realizes it just might.
Kozav sen Aghin, Primary Warrior of the Preor Third Fleet, wakes on the Preor battleship fully healed yet plagued by a feeling that something is wrong. And something is… Kozav's mate was left behind on Earth—alone and unprotected. Unacceptable. Kozav's guilt for his actions in the past still plague him and he is determined not to fail again. The curvaceous, green-eyed, dark haired human female is his to protect, his to claim and his to keep.
When someone attempts to murder Grace, Kozav is prepared to do whatever it takes to keep her safe. Even if it means killing one of his own. Or will it be Kozav with a sword through his chest?
Ruby Rec - Finding Snow
Alexa Riley plus were bears plus fairy tales? YES PLEASE! :D
Click Here to Borrow!
FINDING SNOW
Koda’s found his sister, Winnie, and now he’s made a life for himself in Gray Ridge, Colorado. As a bear shifter, he’s naturally a loner, and with so few females around, he’s resigned to never finding his mate. But when he stumbles upon a woman in the woods, his whole world changes.
Snow’s been on the run and has made a makeshift family with a band of seven wanderers. While resting in the woods and waiting for them to come back, something big finds her.
When Koda and Snow collide, they realize their stories are woven together more tightly than they could have imagined. Will the truth break their mates bond? Or will it bind them closer together?
Warning: This fairy-tale shifter story is full of alpha sweetness with a side of growly bear. What’s not to love?! If you love a classic story with a dirty twist, then get your click on!
Have You Read SHIFT yet? Ruby Does Bears!
This anthology includes all five of my were-bear novellas to date. They’re short, hot, and fun. Lots of beards are involved, in the best sort of way.
Click Here to Borrow!
SHIFT: FIVE COMPLETE NOVELLAS
There are few things that are off limits to the were-bears of Pine Falls, but humans are one of them. Not that it's stopping these alphas from finding their mates! Included in this anthology are five steamy, ultra-hot novellas of big, burly shifters brought to their knees by the women they love.
Includes a never-before-seen bonus story, entitled YOU GOTTA BE SHIFTING ME, in which a naughty librarian shows a gruff were-bear that he can't steal her honey and get away with it.
Want More?
For more information about upcoming books in the Ice Planet Barbarians, Bear Bites, or any other books by Ruby Dixon, like me on Facebook or subscribe to my new release newsletter.
Thanks for reading!
<3 Ruby
Boring Copyright Stuff
Copyright © 2016 by Ruby Dixon
This book is a work of fiction. I know, I know. Imagine that a book about big blue aliens is fiction, but it is. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental and would be pretty darn nifty.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews.