Page 47 of Lost in Barbarian Space

He reached over the center console and pulled her toward him.

Even over the howl of the wind, he heard her breathing. The insane tension inside him eased. He worked off her harness.

“Honor.” He patted her cheek. “Wake up.” She stirred, then groaned.

Relief punched through him. He leaned over and pressed his lips against hers. “We survived.”

Her eyes fluttered open. “We’re alive?”

“Yes.” Her eyes were a little unfocused, but were slowly clearing. “But we can’t stay here.”

“We made it.” She looked around the shattered cockpit. “We made it. God, Colm, you’re bleeding.”

“Minor. It will be healed within an hour.”

She moved, then clutched her right leg and groaned again.

He leaned over and saw blood on her thigh.

“Minor,” she assured him.

“Good. Because we need to move.”

She rubbed her temple, and he realized she was still confused.

“When you injure your prey and it runs into the woods,” he said, “you track it down to finish it off.”

Her eyes widened. “The pirates will come for us.”

He nodded. “And there is a fierce snowstorm coming. The wind and snow are getting stronger.”

She straightened, pulling herself together. “Okay, we need the emergency packs. They’re behind the seats. And let’s see what else we can scavenge from the ship.” She looked through the cracked screen ahead. “How the hell are we going to survive out there?”

“With good, old-fashioned warrior ingenuity.”

She smiled. “Ranks up there with warrior humility.”

He gave her a smile. “No need for humility when you’re so very good.”

She snorted. “Okay, my humble warrior, are you ready to go?”

“Yes.” Colm reached behind his seat, rummaged around and pulled out the emergency pack. Honor did the same, and added a few more items she scavenged. “We just have to decide where to go.”

She pulled her Sync from her pocket and expanded the adaptable screen. “Okay. Because the location of the wreckage was programmed into the marlin’s computer, that’s where we were aiming for. It looks like we’ve crashed nearby. God, I hope we didn’t lead the pirates right to what they’re looking for.” A muscle ticked in her jaw. “Because they sure as hell aren’t getting their hands on the Valhalla, the murdering bastards.” She looked outside again. “I don’t see any wreckage out there.”

“Let’s not worry about a wreck right now.” Colm was more worried about keeping them alive.

She hit a red button near the canopy and the entire shattered canopy popped outward.

Together, they climbed out.

Colm felt his boots sink into the snow. The wind hit, and it was like an icy blade. He pulled his coat tighter around his body.

“Goddammit.” Honor was touching her thigh. “My right leg is burning.”

“I can carry you⁠—”

“No. I can walk.”