“Your people,” he corrected gently.“Seven Warriors.No humans.”
The ache in my chest deepened.“Who?”
He recited the names, and each one hit me like a blow.Two of them had families.One had just become a father for the first time.
I pushed myself up partially, my muscles protesting.“The men need us.What are we doing in here?”
King wrapped his arms around me and pulled me back into bed again.“You have only one choice.You can read your grandmother’s journal, and eat,” he said, “but you’re not leaving this room until you’re healed.It’s not up for discussion.”
I wanted to push back, but the hard look in his eyes made it clear I wouldn’t win.“The men need to see me,” I tried one last time.
His expression didn’t change.“The men know you’re injured.They also know you saved us.They won’t think less of you because you need to recover.”
I let out a loud, frustrated huff, but the fight drained out of me.
King’s lips quirked into a small smile for the first time since I woke up.“You won’t feel as grumpy after you eat.”
Like handling Ruth, I had to pick my battles.Fighting this one would only exhaust me, and I’d still lose.I couldn’t believe I was letting him alpha me like this.
∞∞∞
I behaved like the good little queen, at least until the next day.King had left early, ordering me not to leave the room until after lunch.Sticking out my tongue at him had no effect, though it did earn me a steamy kiss before he walked out.
After he was gone, I took a long shower, letting the hot water soothe my sore muscles.I ate everything from the breakfast tray that had been delivered earlier and did the same when lunch arrived.In between meals, I worked on deciphering my grandmother’s journal, my frustration mounting as the hours ticked by.
By the time the afternoon sun angled through the windows, I’d had enough.I fastened my gear, determined to reclaim my autonomy, and left the room.My first stop was the armory, where I had punishments to delve out.
Che and Ruth were in the middle of overseeing a wall remodel when I arrived.Ruth barked orders like a seasoned drill sergeant.“If it was this easy to blast through, you need better materials.These walls need steel reinforcement, or it’ll happen again,” she declared rigidly.
The Warriors ignored her entirely.If they had snapped at her, I would have applauded.
One of the men noticed me, his eyes lighting up with unspoken relief.He stopped working, and the others followed suit, their collective expressions practically begged: Save us!
“Ruth.Che.Come with me,” I said firmly, not waiting to see if they followed.
They deserved a thorough butt-chewing, but it wouldn’t happen in front of the Warriors.Still, judging by the men’s barely concealed relief, I had a feeling they would enjoy watching it.
I led them down the hall into one of our meeting rooms, closing the door behind us.
Che immediately wrapped his arms around my leg, holding on tightly.I placed a hand on his back and used the other to ruffle his hair, taking a deep breath.Relief coursed through me, knowing these two little hellions had survived.
“You don’t look so good,” Ruth said, squinting as she gave me a once-over, her eyes traveling from my boots to the top of my head.
“I don’t feel so good either, so be nice to me, please,” I replied, wincing at how pathetic I sounded.
She crossed her arms and tapped her foot.
“What?”I snapped.
“Do I get a hug?”she asked, her expression holding unending defiance.
I sighed and pulled her into my arms, keeping Che in the mix, and breathing in their youthful scent.No matter how infuriating they could be, I loved these two brats.After thirty seconds, I released them and pointed to the chairs.“Sit.”
Ruth wasted no time stirring the pot.“Uh-oh, we’re in trouble, aren’t we?”She wrapped her arms around herself and gave an exaggerated shudder.Her smug grin made me itch to knock the cocky right out of her.
I fixed my scowl firmly in place.“I ordered you to stay in the armory,” I said sharply.
Her expression grew even more insolent.“The room shook, plaster fell on us, and you wanted us to stay in there and die because you ordered it?If the roof caved in, we’d have been squished, and our guts would’ve slid out and become one with the floor.”
