Atomic Mage by Garrett Carter (short books for teens txt) 📕

jungle, but to ensure we are not attacked at random and to give us some way of punishing those who would attack our family without killing them ourselves or drawing more well-connected foes, we need to, in the eyes of the high Chieftain, own the land we live on," Mina said with a small shrug.

"Going there also gives us a chance to sell the bandit and slaver goods, though that comes with its own problems," she added.

"Well, I guess we need to visit the reptile infested place then." He groused as she chuckled at his childish tone.

"Well, let's get a move on my pretty kitty," he said to his mate as he stood on the barge, returning to the soon to be submerged house.

Stepping down onto the rocky beach he lamented the loss of his new home, but as his mate caught up with him as he made his way to the door and laced her clawed hand in his own he lost his melancholy at the thought of the life they would build together.

"Let's get this place packed up and get upriver there are slavers to kill and land to claim."

Mina looked up into his gaze as a smile grew on his face after the declaration, glad to have found this man from another world, and answered simply "at once my love."

Collecting strays

As Cade and Mina cruised up the river on the second day of their trip to destroy the slave camp, he was just about done with the rough living they had been subjected to.

He had been pondering a solution to this problem, she on the other hand had no issues with the rustic accommodations.

Their first night, unable to continue in the pitch blackness of the jungle, they had pulled ashore and cut a few saplings to make a lean-to.

After a quickie, which he enjoyed as much as possible while using his powers scanning ability to keep a figurative eye on the jungle surrounding them had led to a mostly sleepless night.

That night had drug on as he awoke with every sound, be it fish splashing in the river or the various calls of jungle animals.

Coming back to the present with a yawn and a full-body stretch, Cade stood up to keep himself awake.

He had begun to sweat as the early morning sun was just starting to make its presence known as the day began to heat up.

As the fuzz around his mind cleared slowly he decided to voice his thoughts.

"What do you think about making this barge into a houseboat." Cade asked his mate.

"I'm not sure what that is my mate," Mina replied after a few moments of reviewing the memories she had from his previous life as she lounged on the warming deck of the barge.

"It's exactly what it seems a house built on a boat, you don't have those here." He asked curiosity evident on his face.

"From what you describe the closest thing outside of a sailing ship that I have seen are a few of the weaker tribes with their buildings on stilts to avoid their homes being washed away during the rainy season, besides those no." Mina replied with a shrug.

"Well, let us rectify that, I'm not sure how many more days I can rough it on this river. It will also give us a home to live in while we look for more permanent accommodations." He offered with a wry grin.

"That is an excellent idea my Cade except for the problem of the slave camp making their monthly shipment to Opect tomorrow, what shall we do about that my mate if you are busy with your "houseboat" hmmm." Mina finished her question with a raised eyebrow as she sunk his houseboat idea before her shortsighted mate could gain his footing with the idea.

"Well damn, you are right my mate it will have to wait until the camp is dealt with but as soon as those fuckers are dead and gone I will be building it." He finished his declaration with an intense gaze at his mate.

"That is fine my Cade, as soon as the slaver camp is destroyed and my kind are freed then we shall have better accommodations for our trip to Opect," Mina said with a small nod of her head to her stubborn mate.

The trip had not been anything out of the ordinary for her, she being used to finding a place to lay her head from the many nights she traversed the jungle whenever she could find them.

That being said sex with her mate was infinitely more pleasurable without him being distracted by scanning for danger while they made love, and she had enjoyed immensely making their kits on the bed and mattress back at the beach home.

Unfortunately, that bed was built into the floor, and being built of stone far too heavy for the barge.

"Well we are two and a half days out from the camp, if we make good enough time we shall be able to have our floating home in a few days time and ride like king and queen into Opect."

Smiling as he finished his statement with a smile he watched Mina's hips shifting in the universal signal that all parents know.

"Do you need to go to the bathroom, Mina?" He asked as his smile grew with merriment.

"Yes my mate I do, and while I am sure you don't mind seeing me relieve myself in full view of you, I would rather stop for a bit of privacy," Mina replied with a small shy nod.

"Well even though you are right about that, I could use a little pit stop