Page 78 of The Rebel King

Lennix crosses over and sits beside me, taking my hand.

“What’s the idea?” I ask.

“Wyoming,” Grim says simply. “Think about it.”

I have a place in Wyoming. Completely isolated, well guarded. Lennix would be safe, but I’m not completely sold.

“I’m not afraid of that bastard,” I say harshly. “I’m not running away from him.”

“It’s not just the safety,” Grim argues. “You both have been through a lot these last few months. Costa Rica and all you witnessed there, Lennix. Now, Owen and the emotional toll it’s taking. King, you can work from anywhere, and it won’t hurt you to slow down for a few weeks. It’ll also give us some time to track this son of a bitch.”

“I’m in between campaigns,” Lennix says, biting her bottom lip and wiping a tear at the corner of her eye. “Now that Owen…” She draws a shaky breath. “I guess I’m saying I wouldn’t mind a few weeks away.”

That’s not playing fair because she knows I’ll do anything forher to feel better, to feel safe. Grim knows it, too, judging by the smug look on his stupid face.

I think through the things I’ll need to function out of Wyoming for a few weeks. If I have Jin Lei, Wi-Fi, and good bourbon, I think I can make it work.

And Lennix. She’s my survival kit. The girl who chases stars has war in her eyes, and she’ll need it. The toughest fight of our lives is ahead. The fight toheal.

“Okay,” I say, squeezing her hand. “Looks like we’re going off the grid.”

PART 2

“When you know who you are;

when your mission is clear and you burn with the inner fire of unbreakable will;

no cold can touch your heart;

no deluge can dampen your purpose.

You know that you are alive.”

—Chief Seattle, Suquamish and Duwamish leader

CHAPTER 32

LENNIX

“Pusillanimous.” I glare at the crossword puzzle and clamp an ink pen between my teeth. “It means lacking courage. A sly dig atpussy, like we’re the ones lacking courage in this world. You know somemanmade that word up.”

“Wow,” Maxim says, walking a tray over and setting it on the bedside table. “Glad there are no men around because they’d need to cover their private parts.”

“Are you saying I don’t think of you as a man?” I drop the crossword puzzle and pen to grin up at him from my nest of pillows and luxurious bed linen. “What do you call last night if not sublime copulation between a man and a woman?”

“Keep using these five-dollar words, and I’m taking your crossword puzzles, and yes. Last night was sublime copulation.”

He digs one knee into the mattress, leaning over to kiss me. “Good morning, you.”

“Good morning, you. What do we have here?”

“For madam.” He slides the tray over my legs. “Breakfast in bed.”

“Again?” I smile and pick up my tea, blowing off some of the steam before taking a sip. “And you got my tea exactly right. You’re spoiling me, Mr. Cade.”

“Took some practice, but I’m nothing if not determined, and it’smuch too early to start with the patriarchy. I thought we agreed no talk of blowing up the patriarchy before noon.”

“We said we’dnegotiate. I didn’t agree to that because sometimes the patriarchy needs to be called out.”

---