31. Xax

Chapter 31

Xax

C ould my life get any better? My mate was perfect. Her pretty passage had taken my cock very well, sucking it all down and then quivering all around it.

Why had I thought I could survive without this? Actually, I knew. I was more than willing to survive without this if I couldn't do it with Amanda.

After pulling out of her, I lifted her higher on the bed and climbed in beside her. I wanted to hold her forever, kiss her pretty cheeks, and stroke her body—not only with passion but just to show her how much she meant to me.

"Precious mate," I said, curling my body around hers. "As soon as I can move, I'm going to make you breakfast. I'm going to feed it to you too, right here in our bed. And after that—"

"Xax?" someone shouted from outside. "Hey, Xax. Tribon said he wants to talk to you right now. "

"Tribon can wait," I yelled right back.

"He's kind of your boss, right?" Amanda rolled over to face me. "You're the second, and he's the leader. I don't want to endanger your position here in your clan." She nudged my chest. "Go. I'll make breakfast, and I'll serve it to you when you come back."

I stroked her cheek. "I'm sorry. I want more time for us."

"We have plenty of time." She gave me the sweetest smile. "I'll clean up in the bathing area and chat with Alexa. I have some ideas for later. Go take care of whatever Tribon wants you to do."

"I doubt he needs much. He knows you're here with me, and I imagine he hates it."

"I don't like that your traedor can declare I'm his and take me."

"I declared you were mine, and you seem happy enough with the fact that I've taken you."

She poked my chest. "I wasn't happy when we first met."

"No," I breathed, my grin sliding into place.

"I didn't know you then."

"Once a mate is fated, it doesn't take long for each to care, to crave the other." I lifted my hand and was disappointed not to find a mating mark there yet. We were perfect for each other. Why hadn't our god made that clear to everyone around us with a sign?

"Xax," the person bellowed again. "Tribon's waiting!"

"I need to go," I said. "Wait here."

"As much as I love the idea of lounging in bed all day, I'm going to get up and get moving. There are things I can do in my tea shop, and . . ." Shadows flitted across her face. She must be realizing that my mother could return today with news from the island gods, though I suspected we wouldn't see her until tomorrow.

I was confident the gods would say they'd chosen Amanda for me, but I could understand her fear. She didn't know our gods like I did.

And if they didn't?

No one was going to take her from me. I'd find a way to make sure we remained together, no matter what that took.

Would I consider leaving my clan? As much as it would hurt to do so, yes. I'd ask Amanda to go with me. We could travel to another clan where we'd be welcome, where we could live together in peace. We could start over, far from those who tried to tell us how we should live.

It felt good to come to this decision, one I'd share later with Amanda. We were going to face whatever came for us together.

Dressed in a loincloth, I left the room, stopping quickly in the bathing area before gliding down through the stem to the ground and exiting.

"Where is he?" I asked Julop, peering around.

"In the first field." He pointed in that direction.

"Ah." Now I knew what he was questioning. "Thanks for coming to get me. "

"Yes, no problem." Julop peered up at the top of my home. "Will Amanda be serving tea today? I'd like to try some."

I was sure he would, as would every eligible male in the village. "Gerain and Floosar are going to bring her some herb samples today, but I don't think Amanda is ready for customers yet. She'll be down later, however, and you can ask her."

Funny how yesterday, I was jealous of any male seeking her favor, but now . . . I'd treasure what we'd shared this morning, what we might share later today, and the bond we were building that . . .

I scowled at my hand, still finding smooth, unmarked skin.

I didn't need a mating mark to prove she was mine; that knowledge blazed across my heart. But it would help with this situation with Tribon.

"I'll look for her later, then," Julop said. He frowned at his spear. "I'll hunt in between then."

And no doubt offer her meat. My mother couldn't return soon enough for me. Once she announced that the god looked upon my mating with Amanda favorably, the others would give up. If they gifted me with Amanda, they might send a mate for other males as well.

I strode down the trail and emerged in the open meadow, finding Tribon stomping around, ripping down what I'd started.

"Stop," I cried, rushing forward. "I need that."

"This is a mess, and I didn't approve it." He ripped another log from the ground and tossed it into the pile with the others. "I'm burning this."

"It's a fence. A pasture. Amanda needs it."

Pausing, he frowned. "Why would a female need something like this?"

I explained my plan.

His frown only deepened. Then his slick smile rose. "You hope to win her approval with this."

That, yes, but I wanted to do it for her no matter what.

"I don't want you winning her favor." He ripped up another log and threw it onto the pile.

I'd worked hard yesterday, and it was discouraging to see him ripping it apart.

"When Digaray returns, she'll come with the word of the gods," I said. "Will you respect it?"

Wiping his dirty hands on his thighs, he grumbled.

"You'll have no choice," I said. "You can't go against the will of the gods."

"They're not traedor of this clan." He poked his chest with his finger. "I am. Perhaps it's time we ignored the beings who I suspect are not true gods."

I'd wondered about their godliness myself, but it didn't matter. Our clan god watched out for us, cared for us.

"How can you scorn them?" I asked. While some might mutter about not needing beings controlling our actions—especially when it came to who we mated with—shunning them altogether was unheard of .

"As I said. I make the decisions for this clan."

"You are not a god."

He rushed across the meadow and flung himself at me.

I stepped to the side, and he landed hard on the ground, skidding across the grass.

Growling, he scrambled to his feet and leaped at me. Again, I slipped to the side.

"Fight me, damn you," he bellowed, whirling around to face me.

"No."

"No?' Rage suffused his cheeks, darkening them like storm clouds looming on the horizon.

"If I fight you, and I suspect I soon will, it will be in the center of our village with our clan and elder watching." I gave him a growl of my own. "They will judge the outcome."

"You'll challenge me for rule?"

"It's past time, don't you think?"

He drew himself up stiffly. "You are no longer my second."

"I no longer wish to be the second of a male such as you." I said it quietly but with my whole heart. I was proud and honored when he asked me to take this role a few years ago, but this male was not the one I'd felt honored to follow. He'd turned mean, and I took no pride in supporting him now.

"You will lose," he snarled. He shoved past me and started down the trail toward the village.

I'd leave soon to make breakfast for Amanda, and I looked forward to being with her again. She soothed me. Comforted me. She made me feel proud for being the male I was today and the male I'd be tomorrow.

With a sigh, I started tugging logs off the pile and resetting them.