Page 48 of Bound By Blood
Burden and opportunity both.The totem represents hope for peace, but also the responsibility for achieving it wisely.
"Thank you for believing the secret was worth pursuing." I touch his arm gently, feeling the tension in his muscles despite our successful mission. "Whatever arises hereafter, we confront it as one."
As one.The words carry extra weight after tonight's shared dangers and discoveries. He pulls me into his arms. Our lips meet for a brief, passionate moment before stepping away.
He disappears into the darkness while I secure my tent and hide the totem beneath my sleeping furs. The moon-touched stone continues glowing softly even when wrapped and concealed, its light visible through layers of cloth and fur.
Sleep proves impossible.I lie awake listening to night sounds and wondering about the future we've just made possible. Will the clan elders accept the totem's authenticity? Will Drokhan choose unity or conquest? Will the crown's power prove blessing or curse?
Too many questions, too few answers.
But beneath uncertainty lies deeper satisfaction. Tonight we recovered something precious that was lost, revealed secrets that were hidden, chose trust over fear despite enormous risks.
Mother would be proud.The thought brings unexpected tears, grief and joy mingling like spring rain on fertile ground.
Outside my tent, the fortress sleeps on while I hold vigil over an artifact that could end a war or start a larger one. Tomorrow's council meeting will test everything we've built together, every alliance forged and trust earned.
But tonight, we succeeded.Against ancient protections and shifting stone, against fear and uncertainty, we reached into the mountain's heart and brought back hope.
The totem pulses gently beneath my hands, warm as a beating heart, patient as stone, powerful as the bonds that tie people together in common cause.
Ready for whatever comes next.
10
DROKHAN
The war council's pyre crackles and spits, casting a fiery glow over the gathered faces. The air is thick with tension and burning wood. Eirian sits beside me, her eyes reflecting the dancing flames. Her hand rests on my arm, her touch gentle yet firm, a silent reminder of the bond we share. The threat of another border battle looms large in the air.
I wrap my cloak around her shoulders, feeling the softness of her hair against my cheek. She leans into me, her breath warm on my neck. "Drokhan," she whispers, her voice barely audible over the crackling fire. "What if this is our last night together?"
Her words cut through me like a blade. I tighten my grip on her, pulling her closer. "It won't be," I growl, my voice rough with determination. "I won't let it."
"But if it is," she insists, her voice even.. "Promise me you'll remember this moment. Promise me you'll remember us."
I cup her face in my hands, my thumbs brushing against her cheeks. "I promise," I say, my voice thick with emotion. "I promise I'll remember every moment, every touch, every whisper."
Her eyes glisten with unshed tears, but she blinks them away, her expression turning fierce. "Then let's make this a night to remember," she says, her voice resounds with a passion that matches my own.
I capture her lips in a searing kiss, my hands tangling in her hair. She responds with equal fervor, her arms wrapping around my neck, her body pressing against mine. The world fades away, the noise of the war council, war drums becoming nothing more than a faint echo.
Her hands roam over my chest, tracing the lines of my tattoos, the scars of battles long past. I shudder under her touch, my body responding to her with a primal need. I break away from her lips, trailing kisses down her neck, my hands sliding down her back to grip her hips.
She gasps, her head falling back, exposing more of her delicate skin to my hungry mouth. I nip at her collarbone, my hands roaming over her curves, memorizing every inch of her. She shivers, her breath coming in quick gasps, her fingers digging into my shoulders.
I lift her into my arms, her legs wrapping around me. I carry her away from the pyre, away from the prying eyes of the war council. I find a secluded spot, hidden from view by a cluster of ancient stones. I lay her down on the soft moss, my body covering hers, my lips finding hers once more.
Her hands tug at my braids, her fingers weaving through the copper wire that binds them. I groan, the sensation sending a jolt of pleasure through me. She smiles against my lips, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I've been wanting to do that since the last time," she admits, her voice breathless.
I chuckle, my hands sliding under her robes, my fingers touch the soft skin of her thighs. "And I've been wanting to do this everyday," I say, my voice low and husky. I capture her lipsin another searing kiss, my hands roaming higher, my fingers finding the heat of her.
She gasps, her hips arching against my hand, her body trembling with need. I explore her with slow, deliberate strokes, my fingers teasing and tantalizing, my mouth capturing her moans of pleasure. She clings to me, her nails digging into my back, her breath coming in short, desperate gasps.
The distant war drums grow louder, their rhythm echoing the pounding of my heart. I feel the urgency of the moment, the need to claim her, to make her mine before the battle takes us both. I strip away her robes, my eyes feasting on the sight of her, her body bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight.
She reaches for me, her hands trembling as she unfastens my armor, her fingers tracing the lines of my tattoos. I shudder under her touch, my body aching with need. I capture her lips in another searing kiss, my body covering hers, my hips pressing against her.
She wraps her legs around me, her body arching against mine, her breath coming in short, desperate gasps. I enter her with a single, powerful thrust, her body tightening around me, her moans of pleasure filling the night air.
