Page 23 of Drakhana's Secret
Smelling of sweat, sex, and the earth, I lie draped over Gallant while he lays flat on his back on the ground. He’s cradling his head with one arm while the other is wrapped around my waist in a possessive gesture. Once in a while, he will draw lazy circles along the outer side of my thigh that sends tingles up my spine.
Nothing better than a great round of sex to clear all the tension. I’m all loose limbed and liquid muscle. I never realized how good sex can be until this morning with Gallant.
He certainly knows what he’s doing. He’s a responsive lover who makes sure I get what I need as much as he gets his. I lost how many times I’ve come. Let’s just say, a lot.
The birds are chirping. There’s a soft breeze, but my skin is hot enough from all the exertion that I don’t even feel cold. Plus, Gallant’s body heat is enough to keep the both of us warm and toasty.
Even if I’m lying on taut muscle, I’m comfortable. I can actually hear his powerful, steady heartbeat beneath my ear. My hand is splayed over one pectoral. I suppress the urge to squeeze his nipple.
As much as I want to start things over again, I’m sore, but in a good way. It seems like I will be feeling him for what seems like days to come. As much as I want to stay in this state of bliss, I can ignore the situation that we are in.
“Gallant, we need to talk about how we will move forward with the clan,” I say regardless of the fact that my voice still sounds wanton to my ears.
“You’re right.” He gives one of my ass cheeks a squeeze. “We need to come up with a plan that will be beneficial to all of us.”
“Our focus should be protecting the elderly and the children. They hold the future and the past of our clan. They are the legacy. Without them, we are lost.”
“I agree. We need to keep them safe.”
I take comfort in his words. At first, I expected resistance from him. I’m glad that we’re finally on the same page about this.
“Which is why I can’t take them into the city. It’s too risky.” I close my fingers into a fist. “They will all surely get killed if they enter San Francisco. There’s not telling how the ice and fire clans will react if they find out we’re there.”
“That’s why I need the fighters of the clan,” he says, a coaxing tone in his words. “That’s the only way we can ensure the safety of the elderly and the young ones.”
I sit up and look down at him. I ignore the fact that he looks so handsome with his mussed hair and the afterglow expression on his face. This is not the time to give in to my baser instincts to matter how much I want to.
“Why are you on this again?” I ask, heat entering my tone. “I thought we were clear that we need to protect the clan?”
He sits up as well. “Fighting is the only way that we can protect the clan. If we run away now, we will forever be at the mercy of the fire and ice clan. We will always be the hunted and not the hunters.”
“This is not the right way of doing things, Gallant.” I shake my head. “This is not our way. If the elders were alive, they would back me up on this.”
A scowl mars his face. “But they’re not alive anymore, are they? We need to take matters into our own hands now. Meet me halfway here, Sapphire.”
I smack his chest. “Not if it means sacrificing our people.”
“There you go about sacrifice. What if they are willing? Haven’t you considered that fact? You can’t stop them if they want to fight.”
My eyes grow wide. “You’re being unreasonable.”
“I can argue the same about you.”
My anger boiling to the surface again, I push off the ground and search for my clothes. I find my skirt first and pull it on. A few meters away is my shirt. I really need to find some new clothes.
“What are you doing?” he asks, getting to his feet.
“I’m going back to the camp. I can see now that there is no point in reasoning with you about this.” I push my hair over my shoulder.
He starts getting dressed as well. “Why can’t you see it my way? There’s merit in what I’m telling you.”
“I need that force to protect the clan, Gallant. You can’t just take them away on this suicide mission of yours.”
“The only way you can truly protect the clan is to take out our enemies,” he says, voice losing that sex haze we were in earlier. “The city is the best place for everyone because of the resources available there. Once we take out the remaining fire and ice dragons there, we will have free reign of San Francisco.”
“But that’s not the only forces fire and ice have.” I smack my thigh. “They have armies, Gallant. We don’t. We have elderly and children. Will you be asking them to fight too when you’ve used up all our warriors?”
There’s hurt in his eyes for a second before he hardens his expression. “I’m calling for a vote.”
