“That was incredibly adult of you.”
“Thanks, I think. I’ve been working on it, not that you’ve noticed.”
His thumbs moved in gentle circles on her shoulders as he continued to marvel. “I just threw a load of crap at you and you didn’t freak out on me.”
“One of us has to be sane right now. Obviously, you’re in raving lunatic mode, so I have to be in reasonable mode. Which, may I point out, I was also being when I said that I might get mad and you’d have to deal with it. Because we’re going to fight, probably a lot, and we’ll have to work it out. Every time. Without one of us running off or one of us being a giant dick.”
His mouth quirked. “Let me take a wild guess about who the giant dick might be.”
“Don’t bother. It’s you.”
Mal wasn’t feeling particularly mollified or forgiving. She was still seriously irritated and really wanted some chocolate and maybe a cocktail. Hitting someone wouldn’t hurt either.
“You know, it could be said that the reverse is true. That I might get mad and you might have to just deal with it,” he suggested.
She scowled. “Yes. It could. However anybody saying thatright nowmight find his nut sack wrapped around his neck. Plus Iamdealing with it. I haven’t gone anywhere, have I? I haven’t thrown any punches or stabbed your foot with my heels, have I? And I notice I’m not even getting a high-five or a pat on the back for my restraint. I should at least get a box of Oreos or a Wonka Bar.”
Neither Mal’s hurt nor her anger were appeased, but she didn’t want Law to know it. Better to just let it go and forget anything had happened. But this unfortunate interaction had sent her back into her doubts about whether she was capable of managing a relationship with him at all. Or would it always be one of them doubting the other?
She released a sigh that she wasn’t aware of. He put his fingers under her chin and lifted it to look into her eyes again.
“We’re going to figure this out,” he promised. “And we’re going to start by stopping whatever shit show is about to get under way. Whatever it is, it’s going to be bad.”
“You said I had a look like I was going to take risks I shouldn’t. Care to clarify?”
“You’re about to dive headlong into this mess,” Law said. “If you’re in the middle of it, that translates into taking risks you shouldn’t. Ergo, I need to be worried about how this plays out.”
“Did you really just say ‘ergo’?”
“Don’t change the subject. I know you want to help the little giants and the pixies. You’re a sucker for underdogs, and you don’t like seeing the little giants lose everything to become slaves just because they shrank. You’re going to do everything you can to make sure they get their wedding and a safe territory to live in.”
Mal made a face at him. “You think you know me so well.”
“Am I wrong?”
“No, but I don’t have to like it. Maybe I want to cultivate an air of mystery.”
“If you had any more mystery going on, I’d have to put a gun in my mouth. You’ve got so many secrets, it would take years to tell me, even if you started yesterday.”
“I thought men liked mysterious women. Open books are boring.”
“Feel free to bore me any time. And I’d like to point out that you’re trying to change the subject.”
“All right, fine. Yes. I want to see the alliance go through and the little giants and pixies start protecting each other, though I still think it sucks that the little female giants aren’t getting much out of the deal.”
“Except their freedom and they’ll retain their citizenship and possessions,” Law said.
“Fine. What exactly are you wanting from me? Since you don’t think I’m all that safety conscious? Are you telling me to stay out of it?”
He glared at her. “Of course not. I’m telling you to be fucking careful. Don’t go it alone. Take a partner. Bring in the ghosts.
“They’re still recovering, and they are going out with a reaper wraith for LeeAnne.”
“Then summon So’la.”
Law hated the demon, but since So’la was very invested in Mal’s staying alive and he had both magical and physical strength, Law had decided the demon was a necessary evil if it meant keeping Mal safe.
She opened her mouth to respond, and he cut her off.
