Laura
When Pearl came to fetch me saying that Magni wanted me in the strategy meeting, I didn’t believe her for one second. Still, I was excited to get close to the decision-making process for once. Both Athena and Pearl were there, and it was fascinating to see Pearl conduct herself like she belonged at the table. She didn’t keep quiet when the men spoke, but freely offered her opinion as an equal. I would have expected Khan to silence Pearl, but instead he listened and valued her opinion. At one point, Khan also spoke directly to Athena, involving her in his plans to get as much from the Motherlands as possible in the upcoming negotiations.
I found the priestess fascinating. Like me, Athena had red hair, but hers was much darker in color and with the intricate tattoos on her forehead, and the green dress she wore on her petite shape, she looked like a forest fairy to me. I wanted to apologize to her for causing Magni to kidnap her. I still couldn’t believe he had done something that awful. However, now wasn’t the time to bring it up. All I could do was smile at her when she looked over. Warmth spread inside me when Athena smiled back. Her eyes shone with wisdom and kindness, and there wasn’t a trace of resentment to be seen.
Khan pointed to Athena. “You will come with us to the negotiation meeting, and when I ask for the seventy-five percent men on the Council you will speak against me. It will make them feel like you’re on their side and that you’re not being controlled by me.” He leaned forward. “However, when I ask for the thousand Nmen living in the Motherlands over the next five years, you’ll support the idea. Do you understand?”
Athena was smart enough to get that what Khan needed was enough good news to calm our people. The men of the North were ready to storm the Motherlands and take back the power that had been denied men for centuries. If Khan failed to negotiate a lucrative deal for the Northlands, he was in danger of being lynched by our people.
I didn’t say a word as I sat, listening to them put together a long list of demands. When it grew too unrealistic, I couldn’t keep my mouth shut any longer. “There is no way the Council can give you everything on that list,” I pointed out.
Magni pinned me with his eyes, his brows drawn closely together, and his tone dripping with annoyance. “They’d better, if they don’t want us to invade.”
Empowered by the equality I had just witnessed between Pearl and Khan, I squared my shoulders. “I’m sorry to break this to you, but the women in the Motherlands aren’t submissive by nature, and they’ll have no problem standing up to you.” I raised my chin to underline that statement.
Magni’s scowl deepened and he leaned across the table. “Don’t worry, honey, I love a good challenge.”
God, the man was insufferable, and magnificent at the same time. A tingling sensation spread in my lower regions. Magni would never be soft or weak like the men I had gotten to know in the Motherlands. With him I could push and fight. He would stand his ground. Women from the Motherlands would no doubt find his rude domineering manner a turn-off.
On me, however, it had the opposite effect. Annoyed with myself, I crossed my legs and narrowed my eyes, reassuring myself that aroused or not, I’d never go back to being the weak woman I’d been before I left. Whatever it took, I would find a way to show Magni that I meant business. If Khan had learned to respect and appreciate Pearl, then I wouldn’t settle for anything less.
“Okay, let me summarize the top priorities on my list then.” Khan read from the list that hung projected above the table for everyone to see.
“1: Complete equality on the Council of the Motherlands within the next ten years. If we land on twenty-five percent that’s a good start.
“2: Permanent residency in the Motherlands for one thousand Nmen over the next five years.
“3: Free entry to the Northlands for every female who wishes to live here.”
“Yes,” Pearl nodded her head. “This is where you should be willing to compromise. The Council is going to want the women to have rights. Tell them that you’re willing to let the women work, and that they will be allowed to choose their own partners.”
“I still say we should have tournaments,” Magni exclaimed.
I nodded in agreement. No woman should be denied the chance to see men fight for her. We women of the North spent our childhood and youth dreaming of the day we would get to see our future husband heroically fight for our hand in marriage. Why wouldn’t Pearl want the women to experience that?
Pearl continued talking. “We should offer to create a system where every male looking for a female can register. That way the women can make an informed choice.”
“That would never work,” Magni objected. “What if the women choose some weaklings that can’t protect them? With tournaments, at least we know that the husband is strong and capable.”
Athena coughed.
“What?” Magni asked her as if she had argued against him.
“Nothing, I’m just excited that the Motlander women might nurture some of the less violent traits in you Nmen. It should be interesting to see the men impress women with more than just their muscles.”
I almost laughed at Athena’s words. The concept of weaker men marrying women would turn everything upside down in the Northlands. But then again, maybe that would fit my agenda of equality in general.
Magni glared at Athena and crossed his arms. “Yeah, I’m sure you’d like to see us write love poems and jump around and do ballet and shit, but if I were you, I wouldn’t hold my breath.”
I spoke up. “Love poems sounds nice. An Nman expressing his feelings would be very refreshing.”
Magni’s foot was tapping under the table and when he met my eyes there was a promise of another spanking for provoking him in public. Another surge of excitement shot through me from the sizzling energy between us. I was annoyed with him. And I was drawn to him. Argh… folding my hands under the table, I pressed my nails into my palm to distract myself. Magni made me lose my focus. He made me forget everything I’d learned in the Motherlands about female empowerment. I was slipping back to adoring him, and wanting to make him happy.
Yesterday when I returned to meet Magni again, I’d been so convinced that I was strong enough to stand my ground. Now, I was beginning to doubt myself.
My nails dug deeper into my skin. I want him to respect me and treat me as an equal.
As if sent from above, the perfect opportunity to earn his respect presented itself right after the meeting when we all stood in the entrance hall of the Gray Mansion. It was a conversation between Finn and Khan that caught my ear.
“I thought you said all the men who had tried to cross the border had been captured,” Finn said.
Khan crossed his arms. “Of course I would say that in public. I was trying to stop other men from doing the same.”
“Wait, what was that?” I walked over to the group of men. “I thought I heard you say that some men crossed the border without being captured.”
Khan exchanged a glance with Magni before he answered. “I’m afraid so. The Council has provided photos from the border drones, asking us to identify the men.”
“How many are we talking about?” I asked in a hard voice. My protective instincts flaring up just thinking about the kind people I’d come to care for in the Motherlands being hurt.
“Not many. If the latest numbers that we received this morning are accurate, they caught two hundred and thirty-five men who tried to cross the border unauthorized.”
“And how many didn’t they catch?”
Khan hesitated before he answered. “Nineteen got away from them, and twelve of them have us concerned. It’ll be all right. I’m going to offer the Council to send in the Huntsmen to locate and arrest the Nmen. We’ll bring them back here before they do any harm and bring shame to our name.”
“I told you,” Pearl brushed her hair back in frustration, "the Council will never allow you to send in soldiers. They will insist on solving this problem themselves.”
Magni spoke up in his deep voice. “Your mediators aren’t equipped to deal with men like that. They could be armed, and I’ve seen their profiles. At least five of them are dangerous criminals with violent backgrounds.”
Athena gasped. “Why would you allow anyone who is dangerous to walk around?”
“These men took their punishment already. Unless they’re given a life sentence they’re allowed back out when they’ve served their time,” Khan explained.
This was my chance to make a difference and earn Magni’s respect. Flicking my long ginger-red hair back and straightening my back, I declared, “If the Motherlands won’t allow any of our male warriors to go, then I’ll do it. I’m the best female warrior that we have.”
Alexander Boulder snorted. “A female warrior – ha, that’s a good one.”
That provoked me. I had worked my ass off to learn how to fight these six months, and my sensei had praised me for my speed and strength. Pushing my chest out, I narrowed my eyes. “You won’t be laughing when I track those fuckers down and bring them back here.”
Everyone grew silent just staring at me in disbelief for a few seconds.
“You’re serious?” Pearl asked.
“Why not? I’m not letting the Motherlands deal with those twisted Nmen by themselves." I would prove to Magni that I was anything but weak and helpless.
“You’re not going anywhere,” Magni said in a no-bullshit tone of voice. “You’re staying right here where I can keep you safe.”
I hardened my jaw, ignoring my hammering heart. “That’s not up to you! None of your Huntsmen will be allowed in, and I’m going.”
Magni cut me off “The fuck you are. You just got back and the two of us have things to discuss.”
“I know, but you’re too busy cleaning up this border mayhem for us to talk anyway. You’ll deal with it on this side, and I’ll track down and bring those men back before they hurt innocent people.”
“No!” Magni said in a non-negotiable way, his brows lowered and his stance intimidating.
I couldn’t back down now, or he would succeed in bringing back the old dynamic between us, with him being in complete power. “Yes!” I exclaimed and placed my hands on my hips to stop them from shaking.
“Laura dear,” Pearl said softly. “This is a job for the most skilled mediators in the Motherlands; I doubt they will let you put yourself in danger.”
I raised my chin, signaling that I wasn’t backing down. “We’ll see about that. I want to give back after everything the Motherlands have done for me, and they’ll be fools not to take my offer.” I held out my hand to Khan. “Give me every file you have on those shitheads, and I’ll find them.”
Khan didn’t have a chance to answer before Magni grabbed me and pulled me aside. “Have you lost your damn mind?” he hissed.
“No. I can do this.”
“I won’t let you! What kind of protector do you take me for?”
“I’m not asking for your permission. I can take care of myself.”
“By storming after violent men bigger and stronger than yourself, I don’t think so.” His voice grew low as he spoke through clenched teeth. “I’ll lock you up in our suite before I let you go after them.”
I scoffed. “If you do that, I’ll find some way to escape again, and believe me I won’t be returning to you, ever!”
“Then I’d better make sure to lock the door.” Despite my protesting, Magni picked me up on his shoulder and walked up the stairs. Behind me Athena and Pearl were pleading for the other men to help me, but I didn’t want to be rescued. I wanted to fight my own battles, even if I had to use dirty tricks. Not knowing what else to do, I planted my teeth in Magni’s neck, making him growl and spank my behind, hard.
“Put her down,” Khan commanded in a loud booming voice. Magni stiffened and the distraction that it caused gave me a chance to wriggle out of his hold and run back to the group.
The two women quickly moved in to shield me, and Athena stroked my back in a soothing manner.
Magni stood halfway up the staircase looking at me with fury on his face, before he turned around, and ran up three steps at a time.
“Laura, Magni is right,” Khan said and rocked back on his heels with a deep frown. “Chasing down criminals is no job for a woman.”
Pearl shook her head at Khan before taking my hands. “Don’t listen to him, Laura,” she said in a soft voice and turned her head to Khan. “When will you accept that women are as capable as men?”
“When will you accept that when it comes to handling violent Nmen, they aren’t?” he said in a sharp tone.
Pearl wasn’t intimidated. “You’re forgetting that women were police officers and soldiers before the Toxic War.”
“And you’re forgetting that they had training,” Khan pointed out. “Laura doesn’t.”
That wasn’t true, and although I had been taught to look down when addressing our ruler, Lord Khan, I was so agitated that I looked straight at him. “I’m the best-qualified person for the task. I’m not afraid of Nmen and I have fight training now.”
Khan took a step closer, pinning me with his dark intelligent eyes. “If you aren’t afraid of those men, then you’re the least qualified person for the task. I’m not sending a fool on a suicide mission.”
“I’ll be cautious. I’m not stupid.”
“If Laura wants to do this, we should respect her choice,” Pearl said and stepped toward Khan when he pivoted around and dragged his hands through his hair.
“Laura.” Athena had a worried expression on her face when she looked deep into my eyes. “You have the strength to do this, but I wonder if you’re doing it for the right reasons.”
“I want to help!”
“Yes, but if you’re trying to prove the point that women are strong, there are better ways.”
Maybe there were, but I needed something extreme to make Magni take me seriously.
The sound of running footsteps had us all looking up the stairs to see Magni return. He carried a small arsenal of weapons, and Athena gave a loud scream. “He’s going to kill Laura.”
Magni stopped cold, and then his face distorted in a grimace of anger. “What the fuck are you talking about, Priestess? I took a vow to protect Laura with my life,” he snarled. “And just for the record, I don’t need no fucking weapons to kill a person.”
Walking the last five steps with his eyes glued on me, Magni spoke, “If you’re determined to chase those motherfuckers, then I’m going with you.”
“That’s impossible,” Pearl exclaimed. “After you crossed the border, unauthorized, twice and kidnapped Athena, you have become public enemy number one. They would never allow you to pass the border.”
“They just did,” Magni argued. “I was at the ceremony when the earthquake happened.”
Khan spoke up. “You have no idea how long it took for Pearl to convince them to let you come. Both she and I had to make solemn promises that we guaranteed you would return with us to the Northlands, and that you wouldn’t be trouble while we were there.”
“Public enemy number one, huh!” Magni scrunched his face.
“I understand your frustration, brother, I know it’s against your nature to leave Laura unprotected, but you can’t leave your post now. There’s too much going on here and I need you to stay.”
Magni groaned and turned to me, his eyes expressive with deep worry. “If I can’t stop you, then at least I can make sure that you’re wearing the right protection, and that you bring solid weapons.” He held out a one-piece suit in a see-through material that I recognized as Proteco.
“Remember the video that I made for you?” he asked in a gruff voice. “The one where I promised you that I would teach you to fight if you came home?”
I nodded.
“Well, I had this made for you, so you wouldn’t get hurt while training. There’s no better protective gear than this and you can wear it under your clothes.”
I took the one-piece and looked it over. “I’ve seen vests and gloves, but never a full body suit. This must have cost you a fortune.”
“As I said,” Magni mumbled, “I had it especially made for you.”
I was touched by his thoughtfulness and for a second I wanted to reciprocate his kindness by telling him I would stay. But I knew Magni, and he hated indecisiveness and people who didn’t follow through on their promises. If I wanted his respect, I’d have to earn it the hard way. “Thank you,” I said and held the suit to my chest.
Magni gave a small nod, his brows drawn close together. “I wish you could wear leather on top, but if you want to blend in, I guess that’s out of the question.” He looked down at the weapons. “They might come in handy for you if those motherfuckers won’t cooperate.”
I was in a bubble with only Magni and me, and didn’t notice the others until Khan called out to Magni as they walked off. “Come join the rest of us in my office when you’re done. The negotiations will begin in half an hour.”
“Understood,” Magni muttered without taking his eyes off me.
“You can take Laura to the border afterward,” Khan added.
All I could see was the way my husband’s body was tensed up like a tragedy was about to happen.
“Tell me you’ll stay,” he said, low.
I lowered my gaze to the floor, summoning the strength to follow through on this insane quest I’d volunteered for.
“Laura?” His hand grabbed the back on my neck and he leaned his forehead against mine. “Why are you doing this to me?”
“Because I have to.”
“You don’t have to do shit, and you know it.” His grip tightened before he let go and moved back.
“I’m not asking you to understand, just to accept that I make my own decisions now. I’m not the child you once knew. I’m a woman.”
Magni rubbed his forehead. “Where is this coming from? When did I treat you as a child?”
“You always did. You never cared for my opinion or saw me as an equal.”
He made sounds of frustration but no real words.
“Would you prefer that I get a ride to the border from one of your men?”
“No, I’ll take you myself.”
“Then I’ll wait for you to finish the negotiations meeting with the Motherlands.” I moved toward the staircase.
“Laura.”
“Yes?” I stopped and looked back.
“While you wait, search for your sanity, will you? Going after those men is crazy.”
“Maybe, but I’m going anyway,” I said and walked away from him, my hands folded into fists to hide how much they were shaking.