Page 102 of The Warrior
“I wanted you to be proud of me and respect me as an equal.”
Magni snorted and was no longer whispering when he turned his head to me. “Laura, are you sure you want to bring respect into this conversation?”
Avoiding his hard stare, I focused on his shoulder. “I know I haven’t been a good wife to you, but I’m here and I’m willing to work on our marriage.”
“What marriage? You made your choice.”
I paled and met his eyes. “I already told you that I didn’t mean what I said yesterday morning. I was just angry at you for ordering me around.”
“I don’t know what to think anymore, Laura. You come and go as you please and expect me to be okay with it. I listen to your story of how we ended up together and it sounds to me like you were in love with theideaof being married to me, more than you were interested in me as a person.”
“That’s not true; it’s you who don’t see me as a person. The first year we were married, we never talked. At least not like this.”
“I told you, I’m not a talker.”
“You’re doing pretty well right now.”
He groaned. “I’ve already told Khan that I’m getting myself a fishing cabin in Alaska. I’m done with all of this shit. He and Pearl can rule the country if they want. You can go and live in the Motherlands.”
My voice shook a bit. “I don’t want to live in the Motherlands.”
He shrugged.
“Did you hear me? I don’t want to live in the Motherlands. I want to live here in the Northlands with you.”
“You wouldn’t like Alaska.”
“I’m not talking about Alaska.”
“Look, Laura, I get it. I represented a young girl’s fantasy of a strong hero who lived in a palace. I was the closest thing to a prince you could get. But if I wasn’t enough for you with all that fairytale stuff, then I’m sure as hell not going to be enough for you when I live in a small cabin in Alaska.”
“Enough about Alaska, Magni.”
“I’m serious.”
I angled my head and pointed to Mila. “You’re going to leave her here wondering why she wasn’t enough to make you want to stick around. I’m sure that’s not traumatic to a girl who already lost her mother.” My tone was sarcastic.
“That’s not fair. I’d still visit.”
My throat was hurting from all the emotions stuck down there. “Why can’t we get along?” I asked.
“Because you’re impossible to get along with.” His hands closed in fists and this time his eyes centered on my lips.
I had seen that expression before, and always seconds before he kissed me. Only this time we had a sick child between us and he couldn’t get an outlet for his frustrations by having sex with me.
“I recognize that expression on your face. If Mila wasn’t here, you’d be all over me, wouldn’t you?”
“No.”
“She’s sleeping; you can say it.”
He frowned. “Maybe I would, but with a child in the room, that’s not fucking happening.”
I gave an eye roll. “It wasn’t an invitation. I’m just pointing out the obvious. It’s always been our pattern, you know?”
“So what? Kissing you is the best way to shut you up.”
My eyes were shooting daggers at him. “Are you saying that the only reason you kiss me is to get me to shut up?”
