56 Donst Worry (2/2)

As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I see Alexios roll his eyes in disbelief as Oren and Silver turn to him.

”You did what?” Oren asks, dumbfounded.

”She was going to do what she was going to do. I wanted her to be safe. We know she can handle a weapon.”

”We should be the ones handling the weapons, not encouraging her to run off into war zones by herself!”

Suddenly, Alexios tips me off his lap and they're on their feet. Oren looks like he's about to hit Alexios, and not in a sexy way.

”Either we put her on a leash, or we work with the temperament she has. She's going to be punished for her disobedience, so what's the difference?” Alexios argues.

”The difference is days without a guard. Days alone across the predator-infested countryside, to come to this city. How dare you give her weapons!”

”You might own her, Oren. But you don't own me,” Alexios reminds him.

A fight seems almost inevitable. Pharaoh is a little taller than Alexios, but Alexios has a lot of combat experience. I don't know who I would put my money on if they were to fight.

”Enough,” Mattias intervenes. ”There is no need to take your aggression and concern out on each other. Put it where it belongs. On Trissa.”

”Hey!” I exclaim in protest.

Mattias lifts a brow at me. ”You are under my command too, girl. I own you as much as they do. And I tell you now, your disobedience will not be permitted. You chose to return here—and as I have already said, that also meant choosing to accept the consequences. Stop stirring up trouble among your men and make a proper apology.”

It was different before. When they spanked me, fucked me, lectured me, it was easy to be sorry then. But am I sorry now? I don't know anymore. Seems to me I did the right thing, even though I was doing the wrong thing. If I hadn't killed the sheriff, nobody would have died. But if nobody had died, Dallas wouldn't be free, Mattias would still be a eunuch slave, and I would be an object to be sold and used. I sinned again when I set out for Dallas the second time, but in the process, I brought us together. Mattias is a good king, but he will be a better-protected one with my mercenaries around him. And my child will grow up in a city of opportunity, in a world that is changing for the better, not roaming a desolate wasteland learning the wrong words for things.

Oren won't understand my defiance. Mattias won't appreciate it. Alexios and Silver might be more sympathetic, but who are they against a pharaoh and a king?

I lift my chin and shake my head. ”I can't.”

”Don't worry,” Mattias smiles patiently. ”I will have you in a much more sorry mood soon enough.”