Page 41 of The Ruler
“Hey, careful,” I warned. “One broken nose doesn’t give you the right to be disrespectful.”
“Disrespectful,” he said in an incredulous tone. “What the hell is happening to you, man? Are you sure that councilwoman isn’t affecting you more than you think? Soon you’ll want us to speak in low soft voices and be kind to each other.” He spat blood on the floor, emphasizing how disgusted he was with the very thought.
“Don’t be stupid,” I scoffed.
“I don’t know, man; you’ve changed since Pearl came.”
“No, I haven’t.”
Finn threw the towel to the floor and placed both hands on his hips. “What’s the plan with her anyway? How long are you going to keep her?”
“I don’t know.” I dried sweat from my forehead. It had been a hard workout. “I’m thinking about handing Pearl over to someone I trust.”
Both his hands flew up. “Not me. I’m still pissed over getting cursed by that first Momsi you made me protect.”
“So who’s the softy?” I grinned. “Five days with a woman and you’re traumatized. I’ve been with Pearl for two months and you don’t see me whining, do you?”
“Didn’t you just say that you were considering handing her over?”
“Only because I need to travel.”
“So?” Finn shrugged. “Just take her with you.”
“I can’t, it’s too dangerous.”
“Nobody will touch her if we’re there, and some would be impressed that you have a councilwoman under your control.”
I scoffed at that comment. I would like to think I controlled her, but I’d be lying to myself. “I don’t control her enough to make her do my bidding, yet.”
“But the people don’t know that. They’ll respect you just from seeing her stand behind you. Could you make her do that at least?”
Tilting my head, I thought about it and, yes, I probably could.
Finn used his forearm to brush back his sweaty hair since his hands were both bloody from his bleeding nose. “You could still hand Pearl over to someone else, if you want. That way you don’t have to share your bed with her on the road.”
My throat burned and I swallowed down what felt like thick lava setting my belly on fire.
He grinned a little. “If you ask nicely, I’ll take her or you could ask Archer; I saw him the other day.”
“No,” I barked. The thought of Archer with Pearl disturbed me deeply.
“Whatever you want, man. I’ll go find the bone accelerator.”
“Finn,” I called after him when he was almost out the door.
“What?”
“We leave tomorrow and I want you with me.”
My friend broke into a huge grin, and with his face and front teeth smeared in blood it made him look like a crazed man.
“Can’t wait,” he said and tapped the door twice before he closed it.
I was done being housebound because of Pearl. She would just have to come with me, because the idea of handing her over, I had died just from imagining her and Archer in the same bed.
With a surge of energy from all the plans forming in my brain, I ran to Magni’s room and opened all the windows to let in fresh air and light.
My brother lay comatose on his belly, his arms spread out on the bed, and his head buried in a pillow.
