Page 14 of The Warrior
Magni complied and adjusted the water before he moved a bit to make room for me.
Stepping close to him with my back to the water, I leaned my head back with a smug smile. “So youdotake orders from a woman.”
He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. “No, but I listen to requests.”
“Magni, you’re impossibly old-fashioned.” My hands trailed over a scar on his shoulder. “At least your body compensates a bit.”
His lips tugged upward. “Is that right?”
“You have my permission to make love to me.”
He laughed and it made him look almost boyish. “Make love to you? Sure, if that’s what you want to call me fucking you hard against the wall.”
CHAPTER 5
My Chance
Laura
When Pearl came to fetch me saying that Magni wanted me in the strategy meeting, I didn’t believe her for one second. Still, I was excited to get close to the decision-making process for once. Both Athena and Pearl were there, and it was fascinating to see Pearl conduct herself like she belonged at the table. She didn’t keep quiet when the men spoke, but freely offered her opinion as an equal. I would have expected Khan to silence Pearl, but instead he listened and valued her opinion. At one point, Khan also spoke directly to Athena, involving her in his plans to get as much from the Motherlands as possible in the upcoming negotiations.
I found the priestess fascinating. Like me, Athena had red hair, but hers was much darker in color and with the intricate tattoos on her forehead, and the green dress she wore on her petite shape, she looked like a forest fairy to me. I wanted to apologize to her for causing Magni to kidnap her. I still couldn’t believe he had done something that awful. However, now wasn’t the time to bring it up. All I could do was smile at her when she looked over. Warmth spread inside me when Athena smiled back. Her eyes shone with wisdom and kindness, and there wasn’t a trace of resentment to be seen.
Khan pointed to Athena. “You will come with us to the negotiation meeting, and when I ask for the seventy-five percent men on the Council you will speak against me. It will make them feel like you’re on their side and that you’re not being controlled by me.” He leaned forward. “However, when I ask for the thousand Nmen living in the Motherlands over the next five years, you’ll support the idea. Do you understand?”
Athena was smart enough to get that what Khan needed was enough good news to calm our people. The men of the North were ready to storm the Motherlands and take back the power that had been denied men for centuries. If Khan failed to negotiate a lucrative deal for the Northlands, he was in danger of being lynched by our people.
I didn’t say a word as I sat, listening to them put together a long list of demands. When it grew too unrealistic, I couldn’t keep my mouth shut any longer. “There is no way the Council can give you everything on that list,” I pointed out.
Magni pinned me with his eyes, his brows drawn closely together, and his tone dripping with annoyance. “They’d better, if they don’t want us to invade.”
Empowered by the equality I had just witnessed between Pearl and Khan, I squared my shoulders. “I’m sorry to break this to you, but the women in the Motherlands aren’t submissive by nature, and they’ll have no problem standing up to you.” I raised my chin to underline that statement.
Magni’s scowl deepened and he leaned across the table. “Don’t worry, honey, I love a good challenge.”
God, the man was insufferable, and magnificent at the same time. A tingling sensation spread in my lower regions. Magni would never be soft or weak like the men I had gotten to know in the Motherlands. With him I could push and fight. He would stand his ground. Women from the Motherlands would no doubt find his rude domineering manner a turn-off.
On me, however, it had the opposite effect. Annoyed with myself, I crossed my legs and narrowed my eyes, reassuring myself that aroused or not, I’d never go back to being the weak woman I’d been before I left. Whatever it took, I would find a way to show Magni that I meant business. If Khan had learned to respect and appreciate Pearl, then I wouldn’t settle for anything less.
“Okay, let me summarize the top priorities on my list then.” Khan read from the list that hung projected above the table for everyone to see.
“1: Complete equality on the Council of the Motherlands within the next ten years. If we land on twenty-five percent that’s a good start.
“2: Permanent residency in the Motherlands for one thousand Nmen over the next five years.
“3: Free entry to the Northlands for every female who wishes to live here.”
“Yes,” Pearl nodded her head. “This is where you should be willing to compromise. The Council is going to want the women to have rights. Tell them that you’re willing to let the women work, and that they will be allowed to choose their own partners.”
“I still say we should have tournaments,” Magni exclaimed.
I nodded in agreement. No woman should be denied the chance to see men fight for her. We women of the North spent our childhood and youth dreaming of the day we would get to see our future husband heroically fight for our hand in marriage. Why wouldn’t Pearl want the women to experience that?
Pearl continued talking. “We should offer to create a system where every male looking for a female can register. That way the women can make an informed choice.”
“That would never work,” Magni objected. “What if the women choose some weaklings that can’t protect them? With tournaments, at least we know that the husband is strong and capable.”
Athena coughed.
