“This is what was in the drop,” Lana says, tossing several crumpled pieces of paper on the table.

Rosalind grabs one and straightens it before reading it. Lana shifts from foot to foot while she waits. Rosalind reads each piece of paper before leaning back in her chair, shaking her head as her brow furrows and her mouth turns down.

“It’s bad,” she says, looking at me.

“How bad?” I ask.

“He’s implemented martial law,” she says. “Those armed guards aren’t to keep us out. They’re to keep those who stayed in.”

“Why would he do that?” I ask.

“Because he’s an asshole,” Lana snaps.

“Yes, but it’s food that’s the problem,” Rosalind says. “They’ve been on short rations for a month, and even that’s not enough cuts. They’ve lost several of those who could hunt, and now the people inside are starving. She says a lot of them aren’t showing up for work, as of her last report. They’re too weak to get out of bed.”

“That should make it easy to take the City back,” I observe.

“Maybe,” Rosalind says, pursing her lips. “They still have the guns, and I’m betting that the ones who have them are better-fed than the rest.”

“And the dome,” Lana says.

“And that,” Rosalind agrees.

“Thank you, Lana, I appreciate your going out of your way to get this,” Rosalind says, motioning at the papers.

“No problem. I can’t believe you had a message system worked out ahead of time. Is there anything you’re not prepared for?” Lana asks.

Rosalind smiles and says nothing. Lana shakes her head and leaves us alone.

“How is Sarah getting out of the City to the drop?” I ask.

“I’m not sure. She’s resourceful,” Rosalind answers.

“We need to get them to come out of the dome,” I say.

Rosalind nods, rubbing her temples. Suddenly she stops, looks at me and a smile spreads across her face.

“Food!” she exclaims.

“What of it?” I ask.

“They’re starving. We bring them food,” she says.

“How would it help us to feed them?” I ask.

“Because he has to come out to get it,” she grins.

Understanding dawns, and a smile spreads over my face too. “Of course!” I say, jumping up and running outside.

Looking down from the ramp at the Tribe working, I scan them looking for Ragnar. There, he’s instructing some humans on how to butcher.

“Ragnar!” I yell.

When he turns to look, I motion for him to come to my quarters. Once he joins us, I lay out our plan. As it becomes clear to him, his grin is ear-to-ear and he nods enthusiastically.

“I’ll get Ladon and the others to help,” he says.

“How long do you need?” I ask.

“Two days, maybe three,” he answers.

“Good,” I say. “Get to it.”

Ragnar rushes out to gather the others, leaving us alone. Rosalind’s smile fades, turning serious again.

“What is it?” I ask.

“Push is coming to shove,” she says. “I’ll have to deal with Gershom, somehow.”

Rather than speaking, I nod. This is her decision, and anything I say will come across wrong. If she had done this when I pushed her to, back when the Tribe arrived at the City, we wouldn’t be here now. There is no changing the past. Even if I could, would she be mine now? Besides, I understand her even if I don’t agree with it.

She paces the small space of my quarters. I don’t know how long she paces back and forth, lost in her thoughts, but eventually it’s clear she’s not getting anywhere. I step into her path and she bumps into my chest, unaware I was there until then. She looks up, anger flashing in her eyes, but I grab her by her hips, lifting her off her feet to my lips. Taking a kiss whether she wants it or not. She stiffens, pulls back, and I let her. She stares into my eyes, the fire raging in them, then she smashes against me with bruising force.

Her legs wrap around my waist, and before I can move, she’s grinding herself against my stiff dick. Her arms are squeezing my neck tight, so that it’s hard to breathe, but air doesn’t matter. I’m devouring her lips, needing more—I can’t get enough of her. Clothes fly off, barely breaking our kiss as we undress. She unhooks her legs from around me to let her pants slide off.

In my arms, she wriggles out of the last of her clothes. Free at last, her legs encircle me. I lift her up, she shifts her hips, and I lower her onto my waiting cock.

“Mmm,” she moans as it slides into her wetness.

She takes my full, hard cock, in a single downward motion, not even pausing for the ridges. I’m deep insider her, hitting the bottom. She moves her hips in a small, tight circle, groaning as she does. The hard tips of her breasts move against the scales of my chest, leaving burning trails across me. She’s so hot inside, taking me, she’s claiming me as hers. I give myself fully to her. She is my treasure.

Moving my hands to her sweet ass, I lift her up, pulling out until the head of my cock is all that’s left inside her warmth. She bites her lower lip, eyes half-lidded, anticipating what’s to come.

“Yes, yes, yes,” she pants.

When I let go, she slams down my shaft until once more my cock finds bottom. She cries out her pleasure as each ridge of my dick passes into her, expanding her soft walls, filling her completely. Her nails dig into my shoulders, she cries out, throws her head back, and moans.

Wrapping one hand in her hair, I lift her with my free hand on her ass, repeating the motion. She gasps loudly. It feels so good, the way her pussy clamps my cock, spasming on it. Her sweet, hot, wet pussy milks my cock, squeezing me, demanding my seed.

Pulling her head back, I kiss the hollow of her neck, along her shoulder, lifting her and slamming her up and down on my dick all the while. Reckless abandon takes over. All control is gone. I have to have more of her. Balls tightening, stomach a hard knot, slamming her on and off my dick, I’m edging closer and closer to an orgasm.

“Visidion,” she groans as I slam into her again.

“Rosssss-lind,” it comes out in a long hiss, breathing hard, holding the orgasm at bay to enjoy her longer.

“Yes,” she grunts, pulling herself up then dropping, over and over.

My entire body stiffens, my cock swells, then explodes inside her. Pumping load after load into her welcoming womb. Giving myself to her fully, her sweet pussy claiming my cock as its own. She is my treasure; I will protect her. She is mine.