Free The Destroyer Book 4 by Michael-Scott Earle Page A

now.” He crossed his arms over the chest of his green velvet robe.
    “Relyara said she would return when it was time to prepare.”
    “What if she was late? You would disrespect our time?” He smelled angry, but there was a hint of something else. The bathwater was only somewhat opaque and he could see my naked body from his standing position. He must have realized that I smelled his arousal and he looked away toward the bedroom.
    “That is such an interesting word.” I found a wood comb on the ledge of the tub and ran it through my long, wet hair.
    “Time?”
    “No. Disrespect. I have found that those who use the word the most are often the least deserving of it.”
    “What are you trying to say girl?” He turned to me with obvious fury in his eyes and scent.
    “I am not implying anything negative about you, Father. Perhaps your elders have used that word often. You should keep a careful eye on them.” I knew that his father was an elder, and had assumed role of Chieftain of the Laxile Tribe after an orchestrated uprising. They were supposed to help manage the various bloodlines and families of the tribe, but they would gladly betray the leader if it put them on a course of mastery.
    “I will consider your words. But for the next few months, I need you to be polite to them and ensure them that you are supporting my decisions and looking to create opportunities for our clan’s advancement.”
    “With my womb?” I snorted.
    “This is the attitude your mother warned me about. She said you would be useless to me just as you were useless to her.”
    “Those are harsh words. And I’m sure she meant all the venom in them.” I almost laughed. Cobras were less cunning and deadly than the woman. She would have tied me to a table; legs spread, and invited every male within one hundred miles to inseminate me so she could breed the next generation of strength for her clan. But I was stronger than her and she knew this. The best way to combat a cobra was to cut off its head.
    “You are cunning. You got that from her. I will admit that my strengths lie in other places. This does not have to be an antagonistic relationship. Your offspring shall give us great leverage over the other clans, but I would also appreciate your perspective with the other elders and tribe leaders.”
    “Hand me the towel.” I gestured to them and he got up to retrieve one. I stood up naked from the water and watched his hungry eyes appraise my body. His arousal musk poured into the room and I fought back a smile. “I will consider your words.” I ran the towel down my breasts, stomach, hips, and then I parted my legs to dry between them. “I am going to need instructors. Apparently, we are good at hunting?”
    “Yes.” The word escaped his mouth in a slow drone and I could see the sweat pouring off of his brow. The sick fuck.
    “Good. I will require some private instruction from the best in the tribe. Archery, riding, tracking, perhaps various weapons, the usual martial arts. I am sure your elders will identify them for me during dinner tonight and then you can summon them. I will want to assess their abilities myself, of course.”
    “Very well.” He choked out the words. Inbreeding had been against our race’s laws since the time of the Dead Gods, but I had no doubt that if I bent over the bathtub he would have fucked me right then. I found the idea repulsive, but his scent gave me all the information I needed about how to leverage our relationship to my advantage.
    Men were so easy to manipulate. Women had their desires as well, but our bodies and minds were not beholden to them. My father would allow me to delay mating, clinging to the fucked up shred of hope that I would allow him to do the deed himself.
    “I will change now. How soon until dinner?” I dropped the towel in the bathroom and walked into my room naked so he could see my backside. The silver dress was laid out on the white bedsheets. The latest style in the desert