"Males bind others to us, yes, but those alliances are fleeting at best and you know it, Shayla. Do not try to smooth over this disaster! That child s...ould be smothered and we should announce a still birth! You know the other councilors already talk behind your back about the number of males you whelp, mother."Shiena gritted her teeth at the truth her eldest and heir spoke. Ce'al women were prone to birth more males than females, but she seemed to be cursed with an abundance of the filthy. Getting out of our cars, Jay led the way to a side entrance door. He had a set of keys with him and using one of the keys he opened the door, and I followed him inside.The place was nearly pitch black. There were only a few windows in the entire structure. There were some overhead translucent skylights in the high, metal roof, but they let in little light. Jay found the light switches and there appeared a series of grimy, yellowish lights, that created dingy pools in the otherwise dark. I had some idea of what I would do when he arrived. I wanted him to feel welcome and at ease, offer him glass of wine, and talk. But my plans evaporated in his arms. The longer we hugged the more we started to sway back and forth, in and out. My hand went down to his butt and pulled him even closer. At almost the same time he moved his hands down from my waist and reached for me. The way he stroked my leg and then held me in his hand took my breath away. It felt so good to have him touch. "Oh yes we did, and we had the most interesting of conversations with him," said Brianna quietly as she looked hard back at Galen.This was a different Brianna than he was used too.Of everyone, including Aric, she could if the need arose, show her anger to them. But of everyone she met, he was the one person she never could bring herself to become angry with. Now he could clearly feel her anger directed towards him, continuing to radiate from where she was sitting."Before you two get started.