Crow nods gravely, “Indeed.”
“Are they sending someone here?” Ax asks, getting right to the point. Crow shrugs.
“For now, no. But I have a feeling your peace here will not be long lived.”
Ax turns to me and I sigh, placing a hand over his.
“No rest for the wicked, right?” I say with the smallest smile and Ax rolls his eyes. Crow chuckles and I watch with interest as he passes a small blade between his fingers.
“Fortunately for both of you, my travels will be taking me West. I’ll surely send word if someone comes,” Crow continues.
“What’s West?” Ethan asks.
“Oh, you know the usual. Drugs and whores, good times to be had. A pissed off Messiah. You know, all the best things!”
Ethan shakes his head and I laugh.
“What is your story, Crow?” I ask, “Surely you’ve got some tales for us.”
Before Crow can respond, Ax grips his hand in mind and turns to the table.
“That is a story for another day,” he tells me. He turns to Crow and Ethan. “If they’re going to come, let them come. For now, all I care about is getting my beautiful woman to our bed.”
∞∞∞
We make our way down the quieting streets of Tekir toward the home that was given to us by the townspeople. It’s small and nothing special, but it’s ours.
When Ceyda showed me, I’ll admit I cried.
Closing the door behind me, I groan lightly as I pull off my shoes. My eyes catch sight of another pair given to me by Sammi in her constant efforts to make me more ‘girly’. My thoughts drift back to what she told me earlier.
“So, you heard Sammi and Ethan are engaged?”
“Yes,” Ax chuckles, “Self-imposed insanity is more like it, but aye I’m happy for them.”
A small smile hints on my lips but I’m not really feeling it. These damn hormones have me all over the place with my emotions. One second, I’m happy and smiling, the next bawling. Poor Ax can hardly keep up with it, and there’s still another four months to go.
I don’t notice when he comes up in front of me until a hand gently raises my chin to look up at him. I feel a bit of wetness piercing my eyes but know it’s ridiculous so plant the stupid smile right back on my face.
“What’s wrong,tesoro?” he asks softly, and I let out a small chuckle at the same instant a tear falls free.
“It’s nothing, just silly hormones,” I tell him, severely wiping my face on my sleeve.
“Mmmm,” he replies, scooping me up in his arms and planting me back onto his lap. His hand makes slow steady circles on my back and I sigh, letting my head fall to his shoulder. “Maybe silly hormones, but something always starts it. So, tell me. What’s bothering you, my love?”
A true smile touches my lips this time at how the most savage man I’ve ever known can also be the most tender.
“I was just thinking about…” I trail off, not wanting to admit it even as my cheeks flush pink. Ax’s eyebrows raise at me in question and I sigh.
“I guess I was just wondering if we’d ever get married,” I manage to mutter, feeling silly at wanting such ridiculous tradition in my life. Ax looks at me and I can’t read him at all.
“Marriage is a ridiculous thing,” he tells me, his hands never ceasing their small circles.
I feel the smallest crack in my chest but nod at him.
“I know, I feel the same. That’s why it’s silly I shouldn’t have brought it—”
He stops me with a finger to my lips.