King of the Seditious

“Dimurah.” He waved as he strode past the counter. Heading for the backdoor.

The command had her leaping to obey, despite herself. She stepped through a swinging half door and headed through a few men parting to make a path. Once outside, she quickened to catch up to him crossing the floating deck to round the front of the structure.

“What is it?” She asked urgently as he rounded to face her.

Without a word he spun and grabbed her cheeks. Slamming his mouth to hers as she ran into him. Consuming her in a kiss that bordered on violent.

She reared back startled.

Probably because I’ve never touched her harshly.

“You have to go.” He gave her a piercing look.

“No.” She shook her head, brows lowering. “No…”

You must.

“I won’t leave.” She read his face.

“Dimurah…”

I knew she’d be difficult.

“No, Jax. I’ve done everything you ever asked me to. You promised me you’d never make me go. You promised!”

“You’re leaving. If I have to banish you, haul you out myself or order my men to drag you by your hair.”

“No, I can’t.” Her eyes instantly welled. “You’ll have to be the one to drag me by my hair.”

He flexed his shoulders. You know I’d never do that.

“I know. You’re scared.”

It’s the only place you’ve ever felt safe.

I’m dethroning the Barter Queen. He realized sadly.

“They put a bounty on your head. High enough to make every man in this Guild turn on you. I can stave off a lot. But not all of them.” His mouth whitened. The hard line of his jaw ticking.

“Why would they put coin on my head? How do they even know?”

“They don’t know. It’s $1,000 crowns for the Barter Queen.”

“Why for me?”

Because you’re an easier target.

“To get to me.”

“Why don’t they put it on you?”

“They have. I’m worth 3,000 crowns but it’s a reward they can’t collect dead. No one will come at me directly.” He shook his head sadly. “But you…they know you’re the quickest way to get to me.”

And you’re vulnerable.

“Then let me stay with you!”

I can’t.

“It’s too risky. I wish I could.”

“Come away with me, Jax! Be with me. Let all your hate go. Let all these schemes be and be with me!” He saw the plea in her teary blue eyes and fractured.

Don’t ask me that.

“Dimurah…” He caught her in a tight embrace. Tucking her under his chin.

“What if something happens to you!”

“Nothing will happen to me.” He reassured.

I’ll hunt them all down to bring you back.

“I’m safer with you.”

“You’re not.” He breathed.

I wish you were.

“Then I’m staying here.”

“It won’t work.” He shook his head adamantly. Arms tightening around her as she sobbed against his studded tunic. His chin lifted and his body was so tight, his muscles ached. “You can’t stay here, Dimurah. You need to understand that your kingdom is going to crumble.”

“And what about yours!” She cried.

“You are my kingdom.” He whispered against her forehead. Pressing a soft kiss against her hairline. “If anything happened to you then this tenuous world I’ve built would fall and shatter along with me.”

“What are you saying, Jax?” She leaned back to see him.

“You know what I’m saying.”

“That you love me?”

He sighed and clenched her tight enough she could no longer look up at him. Reluctant to let her have any space, just now. I’m going to miss you.

I’ll miss the peace you bring me. You silence the voices that torment me.

He felt the briefest shake in his hands as he put a palm between her shoulder blades to hold her more firmly. Don’t give me away. He willed the betraying limbs.

“Jax, I don’t want to be away from you.”

“I know, Murah.”

“Don’t make me go.”

“I have to, Murah.” His voice was steady.

Good. I don’t feel steady.

“I want to go to your tent.”

“Okay.” He walked her backward, still huddled against him, along the deck and around front. He verified no one was around to see her misery. Catching her shoulders, he righted her and walked her before him through the courtyard, the Trader’s Market and to his expansive gray tent. Once inside she twirled to cling to him again.

Looking quite different from the tough Barter Queen that ran the Trader’s Market by day and Winter Haven by night.

This is who she really is. A woman who doesn’t want to be alone. A woman who desperately needs something steady when her waters are stormy.

It’s better for her to be away from me. He thought. Despite every fiber of his being screaming against the thought. And the constriction in his chest.

Dimurah caught the bottom of his tunic and pulled it off, exposing his scarred chest and shoulders. Her hands splaying to run his warm flesh.

He dropped his arms to his side and let her have her fill of touching him. Her nimble hands caressing over the entirety of his body.

She sidled forward to put her cheek to one side of his chest, listening quietly to his heartbeat. “I can’t be away from you, Jax.”

“I know.”

“Why are you making me leave?”

“You know why.”

To keep you safe.

“You always think I know what you’re thinking and why you do things.”

You do.

He looked at her. Face concentratedly impassive. If she sees I’m weak. It’ll weaken her. He knew she always drew her strength from him.

“I don’t.” She spoke.

“You do. You just never agree.”

“Jax…”

“I know, Murah.”

She peeled her cloak off and untied the back of her gown to shrug out of it. Stepping free of it to press her body to his. Feeling his skin.

His arms wrapped her lower back lightly and he walked her backward to his low cot.