She shakes her head. “No. I’m sure. Thank you for offering though. It was…sweet. In your own barbaric, brutish, ridiculous way.”
“I can threaten, hurt, or kill anyone you want. You just give me a name.”
She snorts, her fingers tangling in my beard. “Thank you. I’ll be sure to do that if the need arises.”
My need is going toariseif I don’t let go of her soon.
Even so, I drop my hands to her ass and squeeze and then hold her there as I stand up. She lets out a little squeal as I carry her to the bed. When I set her down on the edge, she reaches for my pants, but I step away. Fucking hate that I have to, but we’re on a tight schedule.
Her face scrunches up in irritation. “What are you doing?”
“Unfortunately, Yellow Bell, we don’t have time for that. We have to pack.”
She sits up straighter, eyeing me. “Pack? For what?”
“We’re leaving. I gotta go to a battle.” I glance around the room, searching for that trunk of clothes I’d brought her, but I don’t see it. Must be in the closet. When I look back at her, I realize she’s gaping at me. “What?” I ask.
“You’re going to abattle?”
Really considered more of a war, but I don’t want to split hairs.
“Yeah.”
She leaps to her feet. “Firstly, why are you going to a battle? And secondly, are you mad? Why would I go with you to abattle?”
“I’m a soldier and a captain,” I say slowly. “Battles are what I do. That’s why I’m going.”
“Okay…and why the hell would I come?”
My brows drop down into a frown. “You think I’m leaving you behind? Fuck that. You’re safer with me.”
She continues to stare at me. “You’re…you’re serious.”
“Yep.”
When she scoffs, I cross my arms in front of her. “You want to be separated? Stay behind? Because if that’s what you really want, then that’s what we’ll do.”
Rissa glares at me. “I amnotthe kind of woman who will just wait around for a man who’s going off to get himself killed!” she seethes.
“Okay…” I say, thoroughly fucking confused.
She storms past me, heading for her closet.
After a few seconds, I call out, “So, youdowant to come?”
“Of course I’m coming!” she snaps, voice slightly muffled as I hear her tearing through her clothes. She mutters something else but I can’t catch it.
“Alright, then. Pack warm.”
Her head pops out of the doorway, blonde eyebrow arched. “Howwarm?” she demands.
“Fifth Kingdom warm.”
Her lips do that thing where they get real fucking tight as she presses them together. Then she starts tearing through her closet again, muttering more shit I can’t hear.
When she comes stomping out, she’s got an armful of clothes that she shoves into my chest. “I need a bag.”
I glance down at the huge pile and start counting all the pieces. “This is too much shit, woman.”
