At Her Oasis

3. Mother's Eyes

Sakina

I stood with Orsa, practising Yuj as the sun rose. Everyone else was still fast asleep. Lucien had entered our tent just a few hours before and collapsed. On the journey here, he had only slept in the tent if it had been raining outside, otherwise preferring to sleep under the stars. When he did sleep in the tent, he turned with his body away from me, escaping to the furthest corner. Not only was I not his mate, I seemed to repel him.

I banished these thoughts as I cleared my mind, focusing only on my muscles as I stretched my body, perfecting my balance. Orsa had taught me new postures. I balanced on my palms, pressing them flat to the ground. Then I lifted my body, spreading my legs horizontally, using them to keep balance. I had fallen on my face the first few times I had tried, but now, I could even lean forward towards the ground, keeping my entire body aloft.

I heard a low whistle. I turned to see Lucien standing outside our tent. His hair was tousled, falling over his eyes in a way that made me want to push it back.

“So that’s how you ensnared the lion prince,” he said, grinning widely.

He looked at me shamelessly, but it was only lust. He’d lust after a tree if it had the right sized hole for him. It meant absolutely nothing.

“Well, you were there when it happened,” I said, poking my tongue out.

Something flashed behind his eyes but it was gone before I could decipher its meaning.

“I was busy with not one, but two lions, in case you’ve forgotten.”

I grinned widely, even as the weight on my chest threatened to crush me. How could I forget? The tent had been full of bodies, full of the erotic sounds of flesh on flesh, moans and groans of pleasure. And yet, I had heard only him. Atari had f*cked me and yet the only sound I had heard were Lucien’s groans as someone else pleasured him. I had been sick with jealousy, barely able to look at him. I had caught a glimpse of his face over Atari’s shoulder, his head thrown back, his eyes clamped shut as he faced the heavens, his body taut as he f*cked. I had come hard, with a force so visceral, I had nearly clawed the skin from Atari’s back, though my orgasm had had nothing to do with his lovemaking. He was good, but I hadn’t come since then, no matter what I did.

“There’s a spring just down the path there if you want to bathe,” Orsa said, pointing him in its direction. “You’ll hear it when you get close enough.”

He nodded, heading off towards it.

“Goddess above, Saki. You’re practically eating him with your eyes,” Orsa laughed.

“Shut up, Panda,” I muttered, standing straight.

She was one of two people permitted to give me a nickname.

“Surely you’ve seen the way he looks at you?” she asked.

I raised my brow at her.

“He looks at hot, buttered bread in the same way,” I retorted.

She laughed hard at this and I joined in.

“Ah, my friend. I worry about you,” she said, her laughter ceasing suddenly. “Have you thought of just telling him? Maybe force him to reject you so that perhaps you have a chance at finding a mate?”

I had thought of it. In fact, I had thought of nothing else but war, s*x and Lucien for the past six months.

“I will. Perhaps it will just go away. Maybe goddess will take pity on me and remove this cursed bond. I have some dignity left, Orsa. I will not throw myself at a man who doesn’t wish to claim me.”

She nodded, understanding.

“I just don’t see how. I mean, firstly, look at you, Saki,” she said, grinning.

I rolled my eyes. A flirt through and through. There was a s****l charge running through my friendship with Orsa that I knew we both greatly enjoyed. Of course, nothing would ever happen. Kai was her mate and I also loved her far too dearly to ruin our friendship with s*x. But we both knew had she not met Kai, a good time would have been on the cards. I loved the bond we shared, it was unlike anything I’d ever had.

“I mean it!” she protested, as I shoved her playfully. “Do you remember when I kissed you in the barracks? My goddess, Sakina, I had to f*ck Kai within an inch of his life afterwards. Those lips, those hips – if Kai wasn’t my mate, goddess only knows…”

I laughed, pushing her again. She held my hand affectionately.

“If Lucien doesn’t feel your bond, then your goddess has greater plans in store for you, my friend.”

I smiled gratefully at her. She always knew just what to say, despite being an awkward Osha when she’d first come to us.

“Come, enough about my petty, little life dramas. We have an egg to save and you may very soon have a kingdom to run.”

—

Orsa

The four of us strode through the broken castle gates. Bears growled as we passed, some turning away. But no one approached us, not when we had dragons flanking us. I walked into the castle, the air stale. Without hesitating, I charged straight for the throne room. Dama saw me through the open door and stood angrily. My other siblings, cousins, whatever they were, stood quickly, their hackles raised.

“Stand down,” Dama said, through gritted teeth.

“Funny, brother, I was going to tell you to do the same,” I said, sweetly.

His head tilted to the side as he glared at me.

“What do you mean, slut?”

I felt Kai bristle beside me. I put a hand gently on his arm. It didn’t go unnoticed.

“Him? The youngest prince of Zamee? You give yourself to him? You’re even more disgusting than I thought you were,” he spat.

I said nothing, still smiling at him sweetly. It unnerved him and he paced in front of the throne.

“What the f*ck do you want?” he roared, suddenly.

Sakina drew her sword, a short, curved blade. Lucien followed suit and the dragons readied themselves to shift. I held up my hand for them to stop.

“Dama, stop pouting. It doesn’t suit you. I want to reclaim my father’s throne. The throne that Baka stole,” I said, simply.

“How dare you,” he roared, charging up and getting in my face.

I reached up, grabbing his throat in a vice-like grip, my fingers clawed around his larynx. His eyes bulged and his knees buckled and he fell onto them before me.

“I am the rightful heir to this throne. You are nothing but the son of a rapist and a murderer. If you wish to challenge my right to the throne, so be it. According to our laws, we fight to the death. No weapons, no shifting.”

His mouth opened but no words came out.

“Orsa.”

I heard Kai’s voice and let go. He fell onto the ground, choking on the air that now filled his lungs, coughing and spluttering.

I turned to the bears who sat in the throne room, all of them avoiding my eyes.

“Is this your king?” I declared, as he spluttered on the ground before me.

“Is this what we have become? Scavengers? Hoarders? Living in past glories in this disgusting hovel,” I shouted, my nose turning up at the stench.

“Kavos arrives here tomorrow. He is a learned bear of this land, he served in my father’s council and he will be the Steward of Karhu while I complete my affairs. Any arguments?”

Dama was on all fours, struggling to get his breath back.

“You… can’t… just… come back… and demand…”

I kicked him hard in his stomach and he doubled over.

“Too long this rot has festered over our people. This rot that Baka created after he murdered King Artur.”

I crouched down to Dama. His mouth was a thin, cruel line. He had been beautiful once and when he looked up at me, my mother’s eyes stared back.

“Dama. You are born of my mother, Ursa, so I will give you one last chance. Submit to me as your queen, as your leader. I will forgive all. We will rebuild this land together, we will prosper once again. Just take a knee.”

He drew himself up to his full height.

“Never.”

He had always been stubborn. Even as a babe, he had always demanded his own way. But I couldn’t rule the bears if he contested my title. Bears pounced on a weak leader. If I let him live, he would need to kneel.

I sighed.

“Dama, be reasonable. We are the last of my mother’s children. However you were born, you are my blood. We can still rebuild Karhu. Together.”

I offered him my hand. I could feel everyone in the room holding their breath. He stared at my hand. For the briefest of moments, I thought he was going to take it. But he slapped it away.

“Rebuild Karhu with a bear who became a w***e to a Lupo prince? I’d rather die,” he spat.

Sadness ebbed at my heart.

“Fine,” I replied.

I took off my cloak, handing it to Kai.

“Orsa, now?” he asked, his voice concerned.

Dama seemed to have the same question, his eyes widening.

“We have witnesses, we have royal blood watching on. Now seems the perfect time,” I said, stretching my muscles and bouncing on my heels.

The room had grown quiet, the only noise coming from the crackling fire, which did barely anything to keep the room warm.

“We used to bask in the sun once. You won’t remember. Arturio cursed us the day Baka took my father’s life,” I said, circling him.

He snapped to attention, growling as he circled with me.

“If either of us shift, it is the duty of all the bears in this room to tear the shifter limb from limb.”

A murmur went through the room.

“You are bound by law,” I emphasised.

I saw them nodding their heads in understanding. That would have to do. I turned my attention to Dama, asking my mother for forgiveness for what I was about to do.