Fool, I admonish myself, walking away from him.

Fool or not, the heat between my legs isn’t being denied. The fire burning low in my stomach is a raging inferno needing satisfaction. Satisfaction I won’t give it.

The way he grabbed me, taking what he wanted—the nerve of it! Exactly why I can’t be his lover. A display like that in public? I’d lose every ounce of respect and all ability to lead.

Tingles run through my body, remembering it. Damn if it didn’t feel good. Wrapped in his arms, his massive, hard cock digging into my stomach, begging for me. He may have been physically dominating me, but his desire for me was dominating him, giving me a degree of control still.

If only he’d open his damn eyes!

The ground rises and I start up another dune. Sand slides from beneath me with each step making it take three steps forward to gain the equivalent of one step. As I struggle, Visidion catches up to me and silently lends his aid.

I stiffen at his touch, then push that instinct aside. I’m not a fool. I can’t navigate this world without him, no matter how angry I am with him. Or how much I want him, which is the deeper problem. My skin burns where he touches it, and visions of his touch in more intimate places dance at the edge of my thoughts.

After an hour, the desire has tamped down, but the anger is still there.

If only he would open his damn mind. Everything is there, if only he would see it! The Tribe could go in a new direction, a better one. One that would help ensure the survival of all our people.

“How much further,” I ask, stopping for a drink.

“We should arrive tonight,” he says. “At our current pace.”

I cap my water bottle then start forward again. The suns beat down mercilessly, relentless, as harsh as anything else on this desert planet. This is so far from the ideal world for which we were bound. That empty rock will be halfway done with its terra-forming now. Two more generations and it would be ready for our arrival, which wouldn’t have been for another generation after that.

It doesn’t matter. This is where we are.

“Rosalind,” Visidion says.

“What?” I ask, not bothering to look at him.

He doesn’t say anything for a long time. We continue walking, my curiosity growing as I wonder what he’s thinking. His strong arm hooks my hips as he helps me out of another bog in the sand. When I look up at him at last, he’s staring ahead, either not looking or avoiding looking at me.

Curiosity gets the best of me.

“What, Visidion?” I finally ask.

He stops, rolls his shoulders, and at last meets my gaze.

“Nothing,” he says.

“It’s not nothing,” I snap. “Say what’s on your mind.”

“Gershom could have hurt you,” he says.

“Yes, he could have,” I agree. “But he didn’t.”

Back to climbing the dune, we walk in continued silence.

The sand shifts suddenly, pouring down from the top of the dune, burying my feet. I’m sliding backwards, even though I’m leaning forward as far as I can. There is no stopping my backwards motion.

Visidion holds me by my waist, struggling to move forward too.

“What is happening?” I ask.

Visidion doesn’t answer, spreading his wings and using them to stop our retreat. The ground trembles beneath our feet, reminiscent of the transport’s approach. Visidion stiffens, his wings snapping shut. He looks around, eyes wide, frown on his face.

“Damn,” he exhales. “Zemlja, hold still.”

My heart pounds in my chest as we both stop struggling. The sifting sand carries us backwards until we’re at the bottom of the dune. I’m afraid to breathe. Zemlja, the giant worms that crisscross Tajss beneath the surface, are the most dangerous thing on the planet. This on a planet where even the plant life is trying to kill you.

They’re massive. Even the babies are over a hundred feet in length and twenty to thirty feet in diameter. Relentless hunters, they travel constantly, hunting and eating, never stopping.

The best encounter with one is the encounter you avoid.

I focus on controlling my heartbeat. Zemlja hunt by vibrations. The slightest sound can attract one if it’s close. The sand continues shifting but slows.

Visidion is turning his head around looking for something. Following his gaze, I try to figure out what it is he’s watching. When he stops turning and stares at a spot for an extended period, I figure it out. The ground where he’s staring is jumping. The sand shifts like the waves of an ocean. That is where the zemlja is passing by. I start counting, trying to estimate the size of the beast, guessing that each second is about one foot. By the time the last of it passes us by I’m up over four hundred.

A massive worm, definitely not one we want to confront with just the two of us. We stand silent a while longer, letting the minutes tick past while the double red suns beat down on us. The warm breeze does nothing to cool my burning skin. My mouth is dry and my throat raw, but I don’t want to risk getting my water bottle. Not until I’m sure it’s passed us by.

Visidion relaxes and I take my first deep breath, letting it out in a sharp exhale of relief.

“That was close,” he says.

“Too close,” I agree.

We resume traveling, silence still hanging heavy between us.

Why is he being stubborn?

He’s right, I should have dealt with Gershom sooner. It was a mistake but it doesn’t change the facts. Gershom has followers, too many for me to lose. If I took action against him it would solidify the divide among the survivors. What would that gain us?

My people are scared and how can I blame them for that? There are only a handful of us left. The ship housed almost quarter of a million souls. Now there are so few of us left I’m worried about the gene pool. No one else thinks that far into the future, but I have to. It’s my duty, entrusted to me, no matter that everything has changed.

If I don’t care for them, no one will. If I don’t guide them, they won’t survive.

What I need him to see is that I need the Tribe too. Bringing our two races together increases our odds of survival exponentially. Together we can survive.

“Why can’t you see that we need everyone?” I ask, exasperation pushing me to break the silence.

Visidion glances over, arching an eyebrow.

“Why can’t you see that we can’t include those who aren’t strong enough to add to the group?” he asks in return.

“Because in the end that doesn’t matter! Human decency if nothing else?”

“What is ‘human decency’? An excuse for the weak?” he asks.

“No, damn it, it’s being human.”

“But I’m not human, Rosalind,” he says. “I’m a Zmaj male. Our duty is to be strong, to claim and protect our treasures. This is my home—do you see softness here? Do you see this ‘decency’ anywhere in my world?”

“Just because it’s not here now doesn’t mean you can’t embrace it,” I respond.

“To what end?”

“To the end of the survival of all of us,” I answer.

“You keep saying that, but what would then survive? A weak group without the strength to survive the planet. You would breed us down to nothing.”

“That is not true, and you know it,” I snap.

“Isn’t it?” he asks. “How do you know this? This is not your home. You do not comprehend what it takes to survive here. Weakness and divisiveness cannot be tolerated. Survival of the group matters. It overrides the rest of the Edicts. You’re a leader, as am I. We are the ones who must make the hard choices, the ones who dictate survival for the many versus the needs or wants of the few.” His eyes drill into me before he goes on.

“That is where you went wrong with Gershom. You should have stopped him in the beginning. Look where it has gotten you.”

The truth in his words cut deep. Icy rage consumes my thoughts, but I cannot give in to it. A lifetime of controlling my emotions, pushing them aside, remaining rational in the face of impossible odds keeps me in control. It doesn’t matter how much his words hurt.

“Fine,” I say, marching away from him.

I won’t argue further. If he doesn’t want to see the truth then so be it. I’ll continue without him.

“Rosalind,” he calls after me.

Ignoring him, I continue walking. There is nothing more to say. His mind is set and so is mine. Anger pounding through my thoughts drives me to walk faster. Focus on the mission to hand. I need to know if there are more survivors. That’s what’s important. I’ll deal with Visidion when the time comes. If he won’t come along of his own free will, then I’ll find another way. Our races will survive.

A hand grips my arm with the power of a vise, forcing me to turn around. Pulling me into his arms, smashing me into his broad, muscled chest, he wraps his arms around me and lifts me off my feet. Desire pushes away anger. I’m wet, ready, muscles trembling as he crushes me against him. His lips find mine and his tongue invades my mouth. Resisting, I push back with mine.

Hands on my ass, squeezing, pulling me even closer. Hard to breathe, heart pounding, core tight and ready to explode. Wetness pours out of me, feeling his erection pressing hard against my silk tunnel.

Wrapping my legs around his waist, I grind against his erection; arms around his neck, I push his tongue out of my mouth and drive mine into his. Pushing back against his dominance, I take control from him. He groans, his cock spasms between us, encouraging me. His tail rises up behind him, swaying in the air, his wings open as our tongues wrestle, neither of us submitting.

Nipples hard as diamonds shoot thrilling jolts through me as they rub against the scales of his chest through the thin cloth of my blouse. Grinding harder, faster, he’s groaning, his body relaxes into me, his cock harder, pulsing.

Breaking the kiss, I pull back, look into his eyes. We gaze into each other, looking deeper than our mere physical bodies. Our connection and desire for each other are deep and strong, but I won’t give in to him. Not yet.

“Put me down,” I say, unhooking my legs and dangling in his arms.

He jerks me tighter to him, thrusting his hips up, driving his cock hard against the cloth that separates us. He’s hissing, grunting with desire, but I shake my head.

“No, Visidion,” I say, controlling my own need and desire.

No matter how much I want him, I can’t. Survival of our people is foremost. Giving in to him now puts everything in jeopardy. I can’t, I won’t.

He sets me down on my feet.

“How many times?” he asks, breathless.

“Until it’s right,” I answer, not needing him to clarify the question.

I want him every bit as much as he wants me, but the greater good overrides personal desire.

He shakes his head. His cock is sticking straight out, tenting his pants. An impressive member. I’ve heard about the Zmaj cocks, and I can’t say I’m not curious for the experience. I’m so wet my panties are soaked and uncomfortable. Nothing would be better than to give myself to him and take our pleasure of each other.

No, it can’t be. Our mission is first, then the survival of our groups. Somehow, we have to come to an agreement. Somehow, some way.

Until then, no.