The Heartwood thunderstruck

sorry i keep leaving this for so long, i can't tell when its my turn. i thought it was ensio's! if i should remove this reply let me know and i can wait for them first.

zharille had backup in the form of khaba and, so far as she understood, ensio, even if the ice man carried the scent of this child upon him. the fact that he'd shunned her in favor of the pale stranger did not do sovereign any favors: nor did the teenager's attitude, the flash of teeth or obvious posturing.

there was no place for a woman who did not heed zharille's law.

all that was necessary was the slightest bending, the most subtle moments of acceptance, at least until sovereign made her display; then, zharille needed more. she loosed a snarl and pushed closer to the stranger, intent on proving her point. they were similar in size but not in age, not in desire, and certainly not in confidence. zharille was the boss here. the woman would heed her.

she moved to snap her teeth as close to the girl's face as she could, not caring if a tooth clipped her snout, not caring either if anyone came to her aid. sovereign would accept and bend the knee, or be driven away with extreme prejudice. zharille had no intent to entertain any rivals.