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“He’ll understand why I did it and realize the benefit of it. The short amount of pain and discomfort I’m feeling will be worth keeping the peace.”
“He’s not going to understand anything. It’s clear as day you two have some unsorted business. What’s also very clear is that he cares deeply for you, and he’s going to lose his mind when he sees what was done to you.”
“You don’t understand. Kaden didn’t want to be mated to me.”
“The only way to become someone’s mate is for them to mark you. He marked you. I don’t know why you think he doesn’t want you, but he wouldn’t have done that if he didn’t. I could rattle off the names of a hundred women, and some men too, who would’ve given their eyeteeth for him to mark them. He wouldn’t do it.”
“He didn’t mark me with the thought we’d end up mated. He did it because there were some things that happened that he believed were his fault.”
“It’s obvious you’re not going to listen to me, but I’ve known Kaden for a very long time. He doesn’t get tricked or do anything he doesn’t want to do. When he marked you, he knew the possibilities and was willing to accept them.”
“It’ll be fine. He’ll probably be happy I took the beating so he won’t have to clean up my mess.”
She sighed again, and her weight lifted from the bed. “I brought you something else to help you sleep.” She pointed to the small bottle on the table beside us.
“No, I’m good.”
I didn’t trust this place enough to dare that kind of deep sleep anymore. Not here, anyway.
“It’s on the table if you change your mind.”
“I’m good. I’m going to just lie here.”
Chapter Seventeen
Sitting up in bed took ten minutes. I felt like a beat-up old piece of equipment that had been sitting out in the rain for a decade, neglected and rusty. Too bad I couldn’t oil these joints a little before I headed out to do chores. Didn’t matter if my joints locked up. I’d made an agreement. Damned if I’d let anyone call me out for not holding up my end of the bargain.
If getting down two flights of stairs was any indication of how my day would go, it was going to be rough. Hopefully some of my parts would loosen up and my rust would flake off as I moved along.
I made it to the kitchen, never so grateful for the pot of tea Luisca already had brewed. The girls were either in bed or out and about somewhere.
“How are you?” she asked, sitting down at the table with me.
“Stiff but fine.” I grabbed one of her biscuits, and then another as she watched me for signs of issues. I got up after my third biscuit.
“Are you going to lie down? That’s good. You should rest today. I’ll bring a snack up to you later.”
“I wish. I’ve got to head over to Mason’s.” I had a vague idea of the direction he lived just from seeing him walking around. I should probably confirm with Luisca just to be safe.
“What are you doing? I don’t think this is a good idea. You look like you can barely move, and you’re going to go work like a dog for that man?” Her voice was rising, again.
“I agreed. I’ll do his son's chores for a week or two. How bad could it be?” I headed toward the door faster than I thought I was capable of walking, and all because Luisca was trying to follow me.
“This is not a—”
“I gotta go! I’ll see you in a bit.” I closed the door and got out of there before she tried to tackle me to the ground.
I found Mason’s house easy enough, even though it was on the very outskirts of the inhabited area. He was on his porch, arms crossed, waiting for me.
He pointed to some logs stacked up. “Split those and stack them over there. They gotta start drying out.”
How bad could it be?My back was on fire from this asshole and this was what he gave me?Those had been my last words to Luisca as I left the house.
I met his stare, not faltering for a second. He knew exactly what he was doing to me, and he didn’t give a shit. He wanted me to either fail or say no, so he could call me out, tell everyone I’d reneged on the deal.
“Where’s your ax?”
He pointed to a nearby stump with the ax sticking out of it and then smiled.
