Author's note: I admit it – I wasn't going to finish this, but something happened in recent days and someone by the name of 'No Longer Writing' gave me incentive to again, so thank you so much to them. I hope I still have readers of this after so long…

Also, sorry for the sex scene. But, it is kind of necessary, as you will find out a little while later.

Chapter Four | Who Can Say What's True?

As Neytiri and Tsyal's relationship started to escalate, another one was hitting the rocks. Eytukan's fury had reached the roof. He had had it with Grace and her attitude – what had gotten into the sensitive, easy-going woman he had married? Had she disappeared, just as Mo'at had?

"What the hell were you thinking?" he stormed as Grace and him entered their quarters. His eyes were on fire, and he stared directly at his mate, humiliated and angry.

Grace's ears were flat against her skull, but she kept her head up high. She would not bow down this time. "I was thinking that our mateship was in trouble and I had to save it!"

The words came like a whiplash to Eytukan. He eyed his 'tsahík'. "Since when are we in trouble?"

An infuriated snarl came from Grace as she moved her way to the hammock, sitting on the edge and facing him directly. "You don't think I don't see it?"

"See what?"

"You. With her. Every day!" Eytukan arched his eyeridge, completely baffled. "You and Ixchel. Don't think I can't see it."

"Again – see what?!"

"Oh for Eywa's sakes Eytukan! Everyone can see it!" Grace looked away from him, peeling the skin off her lip. She gave a frustrated snarl. "Everyone can see it. She is completely in love with you, or lusting after you, whatever it is. And everyone knows that she's better than me."

Eytukan's anger was only fueled. "So she wants to sleep with me, is it? Just… are you actually fucking hearing yourself right now?" Grace opened her mouth to retort in a snap, but Eytukan put his finger up to silence her. "Ixchel is one of the biggest members of this clan. She was best friends with Mo'at – "

"Oh, that magically makes her better – "

" – and me! Nothing more." Eytukan breathed hard, his chest moving quickly as he inhaled deeply, his brow creased in indignation. "Do you honestly think I'd be unfaithful to you, Grace?"

That did it. The words sprung to her lips before she could stop them, and the moment they were out, they would be out in the open. "Well, you can understand how I'd think that, considering the way we started out…"

Eytukan's head raised up, and his teeth snapped shut like an animal trap. The sound made Grace cringe. She had really done it now. "Oh my Eywa," Eytukan murmured, moving away from his mate and pacing up and down, not looking at her. "Oh my Eywa, I cannot… I cannot believe you are actually throwing that in my face!"

Grace shook visibly, and she stood up. "I'm sleeping in the lounge."

She walked towards the entrance of their quarters, trying to get past Eytukan. His sharp reflexes were much better than her own, and he whirled around, grabbing her wrist. A quick baring of her teeth and a tug would not make him let go of the vice-like grip he had on her. "Eytukan! Stop it, you're hurting me…!"

He didn't let her go, pulling her back to him. It was where she belonged, after all. "I can do what I want! You're my mate; I do as I see fit."

"Well ditto here!" She tried to yank her wrist free. Her blood boiled under her skin. He wasn't going to control her! That was not how this marriage worked, ever. It had never worked that way before they had joined, and now that had changed? No. It hadn't changed. This wasn't how Na'vi worked – the male wasn't necessarily the top. What the hell had gotten into Eytukan?

What the hell had gotten into Grace? She had been acting like a nightmare for ages now. Eytukan was far stronger than her, as most males were to their female charges. Automatically, she struggled against him, but Eytukan only held her fast to his chest, securing her flailing limbs. She could feel the coiled tension in his body. "Do. Not. Fight. Me." Dominance and arousal radiated off of him as he dragged her and pushed her into the hammock.

Grace continued to struggle, and Eytukan grabbed her hair back, pushing his lips to hers. His teeth tore against them, and as he pulled away, her blood was painted on him. She looked up at him, his gaze intensely on her own. She pressed up to him, kissing him deeply in return. There was no usual warmth in his replying kiss, and he tore her clothes off in quick succession, leaving her exposed underneath him.

Her nails ran along his cyan skin, digging into spots, making him growl. His hand dipped down to rub her in her special spot, making her cry and squirm underneath him. His lips met hers again, slightly softer this time, but still with a lot of the same energy. They looked at one another, and Grace's hands slipped down to strip off his loin cloth, feeling how ready he was for her.

More ready than she was. She cried out as he suddenly pushed into her, feeling him almost tear her again. She tried to kick him off again, but she wanted this. What the hell, though? She was mad at him, wasn't she? Age-old instincts were surfacing and logic was slipping away. Desire consumed her and in the end, she relaxed and let him press against her intimately. "I am your mate, Grace. And you are mine. No one else can touch me and make me feel as good as you. And same for you. Got it?" She meekly murmured her response. "Good."

Their earlier anger was basically gone. Both of them just wanted to be together. Sex was something that could fix a lot of things. Eytukan's tail sought out his mate's, and he moved in and out of her, a little more gently, but still quite hard. It felt like he was going for eternity. She yelped a little, and his firm hand clasped over her mouth to quiet her. Almost there… So closeSoon… Can't stand it anymore…

Her whole body jerked as her orgasm hit her, muscles clenching and then convulsing in release. She could feel Eytukan's release a little while after her; she knew the ecstasy shooting down his legs and up his spine. It became so hard to breathe, to think… It was just too much. She released her grip on her mate, and he rested his head between her breasts, breathing hard. Then everything went black.

· · ·

How could Bree not want a baby? Wasn't that what all women wanted? Marriage and children? It made sense. That was usually how they were thinking. Neytiri was desperate to have a mate and children, Tsu'tey could see it – why else would she hang out with that scoundrel of a male? Desperation.

And that was what Tsu'tey was eventually resorting to. Males had that dream too, of having a prodigy. He just wanted to know that a little someone was there to carry on their name, someone that he could teach and love. It was just something he had to do.

He headed towards the royal lounge, finding his beautiful mate dozing quietly on one of the cushions. He tip-toed in quietly to kiss her temple, brushing her hair back gently. "I have to do something," he told her softly. "And I know you will come to see the light of it very soon. All right, Bree?" Her response was her nose twitching.

He stood up and walked out of the area, heading down the spiral staircase of the tree. He walked towards a small area off the tree, and went inside. "Adaman."

Adaman had been quietly enjoying the day off. No lacerations, no broken bones… Oh crap. "Tsu'tey." His voice was monotone. "What is it? You knocked your shoulder out again?"

"I am not that weak, Adaman," he told the elder. "No, I came to talk about Bree's birth control."

Adaman went rigid. His mouth went a little dry. His topaz eyes shot to the second-in-command, and then down at his table. He gave a small laugh. "There's no such thing."

"I may not have become a healer like you wanted me to, but I am no idiot. I know there is such thing. And I know you know something about it."

But he wasn't supposed to – only female healers were meant to – it was a trusted secret – but seeing as he was trusted, Adaman knew such a plant existed, and he also knew he had prescribed it to Bree. Tsu'tey kept his gaze right on the healer; he relented. "What do you want to know?" he asked, leaning back against the wall.

He shook his head. "Nothing. I want Bree's supply for the next five months."

Adaman arched an eyeridge. "Why?"

"She… asked me to pick it up," he lied.

He wasn't too sure about that, but Tsu'tey was trustworthy. He stood up, stretched, and went over to his cabinet. "Eywa. I should never have prescribed this to Bree," he muttered under his breath. "Dreamwalker… I should have known she would reveal its existence to you."

Tsu'tey watched the healer as he returned with five small pouches of liquid. He passed them to him. He smiled pleasantly. "Thank you, Adaman," he said. "I'll talk to you later." Adaman waved him off and turned away, which Tsu'tey was glad he did, so he didn't notice the eager glint in his eye.