I don't answer immediately. I think about that. Is that what this is? It's been so long since I've felt any emotions other than the bijass need for treasure.
"I think so," I say at last. I can love as a man, I am not lost to the monster.
"Good," Calista says and steps back, removing her hand from my chest. "She needs love. She deserves it but I'll tell you right now, if you ever hurt her I'll have Ladon kick your ass, again."
I couldn't stop my smile if I wanted to. The fierceness of Calista warms my heart. I see clearly that she is Jolie's friend and worthy of the name.
"Understood," I say. "Can you make it back on your own?"
"Yeah, no problem. I'll handle Ladon. Give me a couple days okay? Then I'll come back and get you, once it's all worked out."
"Tell Jolie I'm close, please?" I ask of her.
She smiles and nods then disappears into the darkness outside the fire. I watch her shadowy figure as she darts back to the city then sit down to wait.
15 JOLIE
I don't know where Calista is. Rosalind had me taken to a room in City Hall and asked that I wait. She may have asked but the fact that there are two men standing outside the door makes it clear it was a hell of a lot more than a request. I can't believe how wrong everything has gone. They kicked Sverre out of the city and he left, leaving me behind. I know he didn't want to. I could see in his eyes it was tearing him apart.
And now I'm alone. Calista came by, told me she was trying to work things out, but it's obvious that things are changing. The people that run with Gershom are grumbling and causing issues. It hasn't taken long for petty human politics to rear its ugly head. I guess we should be thankful it waited until our survival wasn't so much in question.
How do I fix this?
Standing up I pace the room. It's twenty feet across. I've counted every step trying to clear my head. The door handle turns and when it opens I expect to see Calista but instead Gershom walks in. My stomach roils with acid at the sight of him. He takes a seat uninvited then motions that I should sit down as well. I stand just to spite him.
"What the hell is this?" I ask.
"I thought maybe we should have a talk," Gershom says.
"I'm not interested," I say.
"Fine. I'll talk, you listen. Many of us are concerned about this new… creature you brought uninvited into our home."
"One, he's not a creature, he's a man. Two, it was his home first so what the hell are you going on about?"
Anger flashes in Gershom's eyes as his right hand clenches into a fist. "He's not a man," he says through tight lips.
"More of a man than you," I say.
Gershom doesn't respond. He sits watching me and the tension between us builds.
"He's not your kind," he says at last.
"Not my kind how?" I ask.
"He's not human."
"No? Really? What was your first clue? The wings or the tail?"
"Are you really so blind? Our survival depends on us banding together!" Gershom growls.
"In what, some kind of stand for racial purity? What does it matter to you? It's none of your business."
"Our women need to be ours. Do you realize how few of us there are left? We've got one abomination happening already. Are we to stand by and let these animals take our women?"
I stare at him in disbelief. He said that. I can't believe it but he literally said those words. I slap his face with everything I've got. It happens before I even think about it. The imprint of my hand is red on his face.
"Animals! You're an animal. You're such a, ugh! Asshole!" I scream, unable to form my thoughts into words past my disbelief and anger.
"I hoped you'd see reason," he says, rubbing his cheek as he stands. "I see I was mistaken."
He walks to the door and opens it so I grab the chair he was sitting in and throw it at him. He must hear what I'm doing because he dodges and the chair slams against the wall with a bang.
"There's your 'reason' you xenophobic son of a bitch!"
He rushes out the door. How many of them are there? How many of my fellow humans agree with what he just said? Screw this, I'm not staying here any longer. I'll go to Sverre and we'll leave. I don't need this kind of attitude or thinking.
When I open the door the two men standing to either side turn and look at me. They're not armed but they look threatening. Screw it, they can't stop me. I storm between the two of them.
"You are supposed to stay here," one of them says.
"Says who?" I ask, whirling on the speaker.
"Lady General Rosalind," he says, taking a step back from my wrath.
"Are you with him?" I scream as I stalk towards him waving a finger in his face. "You believe his bullshit?"
The man's eyes widen, his mouth falls open and he back steps. "I don't know what you're talking about," he says.
"What about you?" I ask the other, putting my finger in his face.
"Hey, just doing what the Lady asked," he says, holding his hands up palms facing me. "Innocent here."
"Good, good to both of you. If Rosalind wants me I'm going to my bunk."
"Are you sure?" the first speaker asks.
"Why wouldn't I be sure?" I ask.
"Because there is more going on than you know about," Rosalind says from behind me.
My anger is gone in an instant, sapped away by Rosalind's calm and in control voice. My shoulders slump as I turn to face her. She's taller than me, as is most of the world, so I have to look up to her but there's something about her that makes everyone feel like they have to look up to her.
"What is it?" I ask. "What is going on around here? Has everyone gone insane?"
"A lot and maybe," she says. "Let's go back in the room where we can talk more privately."
If it was anyone but Rosalind I would argue but I can't, not with her. It doesn't even occur to me until I'm walking through the door I just stormed out of that maybe I should. Rosalind picks up the chair I threw, rights it, then places it and sits down. I sit opposite her.
"What's going on Rosalind?" I ask. "I wasn't gone that long. What the hell changed?"
She eyes me up and down looking thoughtful before she answers. "Do you know how many survivors there are?"
"Uhm, a couple of hundred?" I guess.
"Just over three hundred."
"Okay, so that's more than I thought."
"Do you know how many of the survivors are women?"
"Uh, no," I say.
"Thirty-two percent," she replies grimly and then it clicks home for me.
This is where Gershom is gathering his power. He's playing into their fears of being alone, forever. A fear I know because I was feeling it too. I was scared I was doomed to be alone on this planet forever and not know love.
"So three guys for every girl. Do they all think like him?" I ask.
"No, but Gershom is gathering… like minded individuals."
"Shit," I say and Rosalind nods as I think through the implications. "So Calista, who Gershom had the hots for anyway, chooses a local then I come home with one too, shit."
"Exactly," Rosalind says.
"It's not right though. You can't choose who you love! I mean a heart wants what a heart wants right?"
"Do you love him?" she asks.
"I-" I cut myself off. Do I? Is that what I'm saying?
That takes things to a whole new level. Love? It's… feelings, emotions, I can't even talk to him really but then I think about what we've been through and the way he treats me. I always said I wanted a man who looked at me like Ladon looks at Calista. Sverre does that and so much more. He's gruff and grumpy outside but with me he's gentle and kind and oh so thoughtful. What is love? Really? He makes me feel safe, wanted, valued. Is that love? No, but it's part of it.
He's strong and silent and sexy as hell. I dig is quiet thoughtfulness and he's willing to risk everything for me. He almost died to save me when I fell into that hole. He came to the city and I have no doubt he knew that Lado
n would try to hurt him but he did it for me.
Rosalind watches me in silence. Letting me work it out for myself. When I walked out of this room, before she came, I was going to gather my things and leave to find him. Is that love?
"I don't honestly know."
She sighs. "Then here we are," she says. "Calista has been to talk with Sverre. She is with Ladon now convincing him to let Sverre into the city."
"What about Gershom and his followers?" I ask.
"We'll cross that bridge when we have to."
Leaning back in my chair I think about what she's told me. A few hundred of us. I don't know how many people lived on the ship, hundreds of thousands? Maybe more?
"Do you think there are more?" I ask.
"More what?" she replies.
"Survivors," I say.
"It is possible," she says thoughtful. "I've considered it. The colony ship was massive and only one part was in sight of where we crashed. It's possible that other parts of it crashed in completely different areas of the planet, depending on how they hit the atmosphere."
"We should find them!"
Rosalind gives me a look that makes it very clear she's already thought of that.
"When we're ready," she says.
"Ready for what?"
"To survive," she says simply. "We're barely able to feed who's here. Water is in short supply, epis is extremely difficult to get. We can't take on more survivors."
I nod understanding. "I get it."
"Good," she says as the door opens and Calista walks in.
Calista doesn't pause, crossing the room and grabbing me up into a tight embrace. Her tears wet my shoulder as she grips me . I return her hug holding tightly. Her swelling belly forces me to bend at the waist and I swear I feel it kicking. Calista lets me go but holds on to my shoulders.
"Don't you EVER do that again!" she yells at me.
"Uh, sorry?" I make it a question.
Calista wipes the tears from her face shaking her head. "I was so scared. I thought you were dead when we couldn't find you after the second day. I can't do this," she motions to her belly, "alone. Don't you dare try to leave me."
"Okay, I won't," I smile.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Dehydrated but I'm good. How's Ladon?" I ask.
"He's having a difficult time but he's working on it," Calista says. "And your man, Sverre, is fine too."
"You've spoken to him?" I ask, unable to keep my voice from cracking with excitement.
"Yeah," she says.
"When did you speak to him?" Rosalind interrupts, rising to her feet.
"Uh, about three hours ago," Calista says, avoiding her glare.
"I said no one was to leave the city after dark," Rosalind says.
"I know but I had to work this out. Gah, there's so much I need to tell you but I should tell everyone at once," Calista says.
"Everyone?" I ask, wondering who is included in that.
"We've formed a Council in your absence," Rosalind says.
"Oh, okay. So is Ladon going to let Sverre back in?"
"Yes," Calista says and relief floods through me.
"Good, what the hell was that? Why did he attack Sverre?"
"That's part of what I need to brief everyone about. And there are new threats looming. Right now though Ladon's agreed to keep his temper in check, we'll just need to be careful, I'll explain more while we walk. We need to go get Sverre then get the Council together."
"We can go get him? Now?" I ask, bouncing on the balls of my feet.
"Yes," Calista says then pauses and looks at Rosalind. "With your permission Lady General."
"Why not? I need all the able bodies I can get my hands on."
16 SVERRE
My chest aches with a pulsing emptiness that is aggravated by every breath I take. Every beat of my hearts is a reminder of what I've left behind. What I've done. How wrong I've been. I left her. Primal instincts berate me for not fighting Ladon to the end. Destroying him rather than leaving Jolie behind. I can't push her face out of my memory. The moisture falling from her eyes as I walked away.
I walked away. I did. I left her.
But it was the right move. It has to have been. I'm on my feet and walking before I even realize it but I stop myself. I told Calista I would give her time to work this out and I'm a man of my word. A man, I'm not the beast the bijass would make me.
Hours pass while I struggle to clear my thoughts and wait. Patience has never been a trait I've possessed. The sun sets and still I think of her. Reason wars with desire for action but reason continues to win and I remain, staring at the city. At last I see motion at the edge. One shadow crosses from civilization to the encroaching sand then three more follow it. Four return setting off alarms. I expected Jolie, maybe one more, is this a group coming to end me? Have they harmed Jolie?
Instant rage grips my thoughts and a plan forms. I move outside the ring of light cast by my small fire then lay flat on the sand and camouflage myself. My hearts beat out of time pushing adrenaline into my system. Tension builds, muscles quiver in readiness, I'll destroy them all if they've hurt her. Reason urges caution, fighting against the rage as I wait. I see them climbing the dunes but its too dark to make out who approaches. One of them is large and I'm certain it's Ladon. The others are shorter and smaller. One is short enough to be Jolie. Is it her? My hearts increase their speed. My limbs vibrate with pent up energy, ready to leap to her rescue.
The figures slow their approach. I hear them talking, unsure why the circle of light is empty. The smallest one motions to the others and then steps forward. When the figure reaches the edge of the light I see it's her. Jolie! She appears unharmed but I hesitate. Is she trying to signal me? Warn me of danger?
"Sverre?" she asks, her musical voice soft she turns in a circle. "Are you here?"
I leap from hiding, crossing the distance between us in two strides with my wings spread. I maneuver her behind me in a single motion facing the others with my lochaber at the ready.
"Who comes?" I challenge.
The woman in white steps forward with her hands held up and to either side with palms facing me. She speaks in her own tongue and Calista translates .
"We're friends Sverre," Calista says. "Ladon came so you know you're welcome, he understands."
Ladon steps forward and lowers his hood. He holds out his arms, palms up, fingers pointing at me in a gesture of peace. Staring into his eyes, neither of us speaks. No one moves, all eyes are on Ladon and I. Sheathing my lochaber I cross the distance between us and lay my hands down on his.
"Headman," Ladon says.
"Soldier," I say, also acknowledging who he was and is.
Ladon nods then steps back.
"Come, be welcome in my territory. No harm shall come to you while you are under my care," Ladon says.
"I accept your welcome. I bring only friendship and good will into your home," I respond to his formality.
The tension is gone. Jolie places a hand on the small of my back above my tail stepping up beside me. I turn to her with a smile that I can't hide. She rises up on her toes and I lean in to meet her. We kiss, soft and longingly. Calista clears her throat.
"We should really get back, there's a lot to do," she says, interrupting our kiss.
Reluctant though I am, I agree with her assessment. They take us into the city with Ladon in the lead. We don't see any others as we travel. When we reach the town center the group moves in to the Hall of Leadership.
"We've arranged sleeping quarters for Jolie and you," Calista says while Ladon stands by silently. "In the morning we'll meet and discuss what's next. Now we should all sleep."
Calista looks between Jolie and I with a smile that makes it clear she doesn't expect us to do much sleeping. I smile too, feeling my arousal stir. Calista says something in her own language to Jolie who nods then takes my hand and leads us away from the others. Deep into the building we go, moving quickly. No words are necessary, the
desire between us is all the communication either of us needs.
Reaching a door she goes through it and before it's closed behind us she's in my arms, our lips smashing together with bruising force. She leaps up and wraps her legs around my waist. My prime penis is instantly hard and ready for her. Holding her against me I move us across through the room, unsure of where I'm heading. Bumping into furniture we make our way to a couch. Moving to the front side of it I lower to my knees placing her on it.
Passion burns hot, my hands wander across the cloth she wears desperate to touch her skin. I need to feel her close to me, taste all of her, I want to know every part of her intimately. She's so delicate, such a beautiful treasure. All my fears of losing her, of someone harming her, stoke the fire of my desire.
Her hands lock behind my neck holding me tight. Kissing along her cheek I cross down her neck and along her shoulder. My hands roam around her hips, up her sides, then find her breasts. So soft and unprotected. So enticing.
Gripping her shirt at the top, I rip it aside with no patience for the fastenings. The protective, stretchy cloth covers them but I pull it down revealing the dark centers of her soft mounds. I take one in my mouth, circling its point with my tongue.
"Sverre," she moans my name pushing forward.
One arm holds me up and with my other I stroke her beautiful body feeling her skin. Reaching her pants I fumble with the fastener trying to open them while continuing my attention on her soft mound.
Her hand touches mine then moves it aside and she undoes her pants for me. She lifts her hips and I slide them down taking the cloth underneath at the same time. The scent of her fills my senses and my cock rages with need, demanding to be buried in her.
Kissing my way down from her breasts I trail along her flat stomach and down.
Reaching her middle, I kiss my way to her left leg dragging my tongue across her skin. Bumps rise on her soft, tender flesh as I drag down her leg to her knee then up the inside of her thigh. I pause to nibble her delicate skin then resume. The scent of her fills my nostrils calling to me, pulling me in, increasing my desire. My cock throbs, begging for her but I won't give in yet.
She shivers as I close with the fur that covers her mound. I lick the fold between her leg and center before I move up and then across, just above her sweet opening then I pass down the other side on her right leg. I nibble my way down her leg to her knee. She shivers and shakes then locks her hands behind my head tugging me towards her. Reaching her knee I work my way up her inner thigh the same way I did the left. My tongue wants to taste her sweetness, my cock wants to be buried in her. I won't give in to desire before I'm ready.
Dragon's Mate: A Scifi Alien Romance (Red Planet Dragons of Tajss Book 2) Page 11