Crucible of Fate

it up,” I quipped. “Or, more likely, I’ll ask someone.”
    He grunted softly. “Well, anyway, Traore thinks that he still has power. He doesn’t and he needs a reminder. Alhaji needs to understand who he should be listening to. He too will be educated.”
    “How?”
    “I’m going to have your sheseru discipline them both.”
    As if on cue, Taj was there, an enormous bullwhip rolled up in his right hand.
    “I’m sorry,” Mikhail said quickly. “I know you prefer not to punish, but there is no recourse.”
    “They’re the ones who should be sorry,” he replied. “They cannot be allowed to insult you. It’s not maat .”
    It was not like Mikhail at all. “You—”
    “They continue to test me. I’ve cited them, I’ve fined them, and no one responds. I’m done.”
    I had no idea Mikhail went in for physical punishment. “This doesn’t seem like you.”
    “Respect is earned, and I understand, but barring that, fear will work in the interim. I’m done being talked about behind my back and having them talk about me in Arabic and Egyptian and Farsi. They think I don’t know what they’re saying, but I do. They think I’m not trained in the law, but I am. I’m the sylvan of my tribe, and anyone who wants to, can debate the law with me, but I will win. If they don’t like how I conduct the affairs of my station, they’re free to challenge me in the pit. But I will no longer stand for insolence.”
    “I don’t remember ever hearing about you having anyone flogged in Logan’s tribe.”
    “Begging your pardon, but until you believe that you are semel-aten, the people will not. No one ever questioned that Logan Church was meant to lead and be followed. His respect flowed to me.”
    “And what, no one respects me?”
    His eyes, deep cobalt blue, locked on mine as he waited. He had a good face, chiseled and strong, striking and sharply angled. You remembered him, but he wasn’t beautiful, not like Yuri. Normally, Mikhail wasn’t the kind of man you noticed, but now, in the middle of a town in Egypt, he stood out. With his fair complexion, his height of six two, and lean muscular build, you noticed him moving through a crowd here. In Nevada, where we had come from, he inspired no second glance, but in our new home, he drew attention.
    Sobek lay between Cairo and Giza on land that was almost like another country, with borders patrolled by armed guards and a no-fly zone above it. The land gift dated back to the time of pharaohs.
    “Domin?”
    I shook my head. “Just, do you really need to—”
    “Yes.” His voice, normally smooth and silky, was hard and cold. “I do. No one but me changes my schedule. No one.”
    He left then, Taj walking beside him.
    I didn’t like the harsh changes I was seeing in any of them, the men who made up my household, who helped me lead my tribe, at all.
    After walking down one of the many long staircases, I took a right into the vast library, an endless room filled from floor to vaulted ceiling with shelves of books, ancient texts people from all over the world came to use.
    As I crossed the floor, people lifted their heads and greeted me as was custom.
    “ Sah’eed nahharkoo ,” they called out.
    It meant “good day” in Arabic, and though I was learning the language, the task was daunting. So I waved and walked on. As I passed one of the many small alcoves riddling the library, I saw the place where I had last touched my mate before he had left for Ipis two weeks before. I nearly stumbled over my feet getting to the window where he had stood. He had been there, standing still, staring down into the courtyard…
     
    I moved up behind him and put my hands on his hips.
    “You know, the semel-aten will have your head if you touch his mate,” Yuri vowed.
    “Will he?” I whispered, inhaling his musky scent before pressing my face into the side of his neck and kissing him.
    “He will,” he said, taking one of my hands, easing me closer until my chest rested against his broad, muscular back, and then placing it over his heart. He flattened my palm there, over his hard pectoral, and then slid his fingers between mine. “He’s very possessive.”
    “Why do you put up with that?”
    “Because if he stopped it would kill me.”
    I adjusted my stance so my groin rubbed against his plump, round ass. It was beautiful, solid and soft at the same time, a cushion when I took him from behind, and I could never keep my hands from it. Yuri was heavy with meaty