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mightiest warrior, yet he’d retained enough of his senses to defend himself. What was he like when not ill and at full strength?
    “Are you seriously thinking of going to Kaban?” Justan’s question snapped her back to the present.
    “Kaban? No.” Her secret night excursions from their cavern home revealed that Argan lived with the Overlord among the Raasa. It had been easy enough to slip through the shadows and make her way to Kaban where she could listen to talk. Apparently Vaan Galip mated a Raasa female and his top Warlords chose to live with him away from the compound in Kaban.
    Justan rose to his feet, his towering height enabling him to look down on Shaina. “Tell me your thoughts.”
    Shaina pursed her lips. “No need to become worked up. Argan Kril is in Raasa. I can be there and back before anyone notices my absence tonight.”
    “This is a dangerous path. Even for you.” His hands reached out to gently stroke her shoulders.
    Shaina tipped her head back to meet the blue of his eyes. Blond hair brushed the collar of his leather vest. Bronze muscles contracted beneath the loose lacings at his chest. Sometimes the two years separating their age seemed like much more.
    They’d kissed once in their younger years and both agreed the experience was akin to kissing a sibling. Their friendship had been secured ever since.
    “What will come of you going to see him?”
    “Aside from knowing he’s well?” Shaina pulled away and skirted a small, side table to renew her pacing. More than ever the stone walls of her home pressed in on her. The plan she had was a thinly formed one. “I’m going to ask him to make good on his debt.”
    “How?” A frown pierced his brows.
    If she told him, he’d try to stop her. “Let me worry my tiny head about that.”
    Justan snorted with laughter as she intended. “Would it help if I said your feet are big? Bigger than is ladylike.”
    Shaina couldn’t hold in her peals of laughter. “I no longer wonder why you’re still single, Justan.”
    He stilled at her words, then shrugged his shoulders. “I will find the right woman some day.” Shaina believed him. Justan was not only very handsome but he had a heart of gold beneath his mischief making.
    Resuming his seat on her lounge, he placed his hands behind his head as he lounged back and cleared his throat. “The bigger question, my Queen, is how long you expect to remain single. Ivak stirs our people daily with rumors that you plan to avoid tradition, forego an heir and lead the Olak’din into extinction.”
    Shaina paced faster from one end of her living space to another and nibbled her thumbnail. Justan was right, though. Ivak’s attempts to turn her people against her had increased as if panic ruled his actions. Matters would soon come to a head and she needed to be prepared.
    “I’m going to Raasa tonight.” Shaina paused and dropped her hands to her side. “After the round meeting.”
    Like her father before her, Shaina conducted meetings around a common fire to discuss important matters that impacted all of them. Anyone was allowed to attend if interested in voicing their opinions. Shaina knew Ivak would seek to use the occasion as an opportunity to disparage her ability to lead.
    “I stand by you as always.” Justan sat back up. “But I implore you to be careful, Shaina. Ivak is a warrior from the old times. He values tradition and has swayed many to his way of thinking.”
    She agreed. “Yes, but there isn’t a need for us to live in secret any more. The old ways are changing. The Gornan have increased their raids. They want to take over the caverns we’ve made into homes. Something has to be done before things come to a head.”
    Justan sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “At least tell me your plan. We do this together, my Queen.”
    His faith overwhelmed Shaina. “Thank you, Justan. It’s best I see how things are first. Until then, I won’t share my plan.” She really didn’t have one