King of the Seditious

She gasped in outrage. Slowly turning to see his unabashed grin. She tossed the pitcher at him.

He casually deflected it with a forearm. Laughing uproariously as it sloshed another of the barmaids.

“You unbelievable wretch!” Dimurah quaked with rage.

“Tent it is!”

The crowd in Winter Haven roared in approval.

“You’ll have to be quiet this time! No rousing the courtyard again.” He waved a finger in cautioning.

“You heathen! That’s not true!” She nearly shook with rage. Making her blue eyes glimmer.

“You take it back!” She rushed over to order.

“Clearly. As you wish. I take it back!” He announced. “It’s not true. It wasn’t the whole courtyard!” He laughed raucously. Dodging the tankard, she tried to splash on him next. Moving smoothly from its trajectory so is slopped harmlessly over the boards onto the floor.

“Contain your fire!” He shouted laughingly. Tone softening, he ensured it was still loud enough for everyone to hear. “Save it for later.” He let the innuendo fill the alehouse.

“You’re absolutely a monster!” She seethed.

He gave a grudging shrug.

Opening his arms to her as though to offer a hug, feigning a dramatic pout.

She huffed, appalled. Tossing up a hand to dismiss him as she walked away.

“Not what you’ll be saying later.” He laughed to himself. It didn’t bother him that the men in this alehouse believed, despite his bluster, she rejected him as heatedly as she did each of them.

She and I know the truth. He turned and strode from the alehouse. Still chuckling.

Dimurah glaring at his back.

Dimurah had locked Winter Haven for the night and was heading for her hut. She’d nearly made it there when she past a tree in the courtyard, and a hand shot out to yank her behind it.

She was rolled backward against Savage’s chest before she could fully formulate a shriek for help.

His muscled body keeping her immobilized as he drawled. “Where are your bodyguards now, Darling?”

“Jax.” She growled through her teeth. Struggling against his hold, she tried to throw an elbow. “What do you want now?”

“The same thing I always want.” He inhaled the scent at her neck and hair.

She struggled against his grip, but he had her arms crossed over her chest.

Laughing coldly as he hugged her close enough, she had to gasp for air. “You.”

“I’m not so easy as that.”

“Hmm.” He grunted. Easing his grip. “That’s not what you said the other night up against that tree, now is it Murah? And didn’t you feel good…Sweet and soft…”

“Jax!”

“I told you…You were supposed to come to me.”

She scoffed. “Yes, and I always do as I’m told, don’t I?”

“Fair point.” He grunted. Faintly amused.

“But come, let’s go to my tent and discuss some things.” He began dragging her along behind him.

“I don’t want to.” She clawed at his hand but found she couldn’t break his grip.

She was pulled through the courtyard back around toward the front of Winter Haven and the small lake it floated atop before seeing his towering white striped tent set out near the wall.

So, I can hear everyone coming and going.

“I don’t want to go in there with you, Jax!” She objected.

“Alone then?” His lips quirked sideways.

“That neither.”

“Why not, you have plenty of times afore.”

“Not, tonight. Jax. And likely, never again.”

“Oh?” He quirked an intrigued brow. Interest brightening his face at the idea of a challenge.

Her brows drew together and her face darkened. “I’ll rip you open if you try to take me.” Dimurah said waspishly.

Perhaps not tonight.

“Do you think so?” He tilted his head. “Or would you melt in my hands before you got close to it?”

She scowled.

“Cease, your bickering, Murah. I just want to talk…For now.”

She looked at him askance but reluctantly let him drag her around toward the tent flap. He whipped it open and held it for her. Gesturing for her to go inside.

Dimurah was still glaring at him as she took a purposeful step into the tent.

He entered behind her and let the flap close. Immersing them in utter darkness.

Dimurah’s stomach sunk as she realized she could see nothing, but Savage seemed to be moving around the tent as though he were perfectly able to see. She realized in that moment, how vulnerable she’d be if he elected to wrestle her down.

His movements had stopped, and she felt his gaze burning into her.

“What?”

“Do you really think I’d do such a thing?” His voice was dangerously low.

She chewed her lip but didn’t answer.

“Or is it just your innate distrust toward men that has you so alarmed?”

“What did you bring me here for, Jax?”

“That woman.” He said, using a flint box to make a candle burn to life. Illuminating part of the tent and slashing over his face. A narrow square jaw and a pointed chin did not detract from his harsh blue eyes and the long blonde hair. Wound into warrior braids which were beaded near his face with the marks of those he’d killed.

Well, some of them.

“The one hiring the DeathDealer?”

“Yes.”

“Why’d you scare her?”

“Because she was royalty. And a woman like that in a place like this is sure to bring us more trouble. Queens and kings, princesses and princes infiltrating our Guild are sure to try and bring the law here. And the law would peel apart this precarious world I’ve built. I can’t have that.”