“You’re attracted to my wife?” I ask.
Slowly, he lifts his head, his eyes finding mine and widening. I have no doubt that I look terrifying right now. It matters not. I want to finish all of this business today and move on.
I still have to find the group of rebels and the Assembly members, deal with them, all while ensuring my wife’s safety, what I can’t have is her guard lusting after her.
“She’s beautiful,” he announces. Nodding my head, I must admit that I agree with him. “I would take her as my own wife if she needed protecting.”
“Do you feel she does?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “It is clear that you are her match, sir. I would never intentionally attempt to do anything with another man’s wife.”
“You’ll protect her with your life, always?” I demand.
“For love of country, for respect of my leader, and for my respect of her as a friend. I would die for her.”
My lips curve up into a grin. “Let’s hope that it never comes down to that.”
He nods his head. Then we devise a plan to find these people. Just as we’re discussing this, Logan walks through the door, breathless and wild-eyed. When he sees me, he lets out a sigh of relief.
“You’re okay.”
“I am,” I agree.
“Birdie?”
“She’s been taken to safety.”
Though I have not checked on her, Arion is trustworthy and he will guard her with his life. He can also take her places where no human can go, which I know that he will until I am ready for them to return.
Chapter Thirty-Four
COLT
I turn toward the door, ready to yell for Ernest to ready my bags, when Logan stomps through the entry. His eyes widen at the sight of me, then they slowly curve up into a grin. He shakes his head once, then a second time.
“You’ve discovered the plan, I see.” He chuckles. “I knew you would beat them, that you would prevail, you tend to do that quite often.”
Grinning, I take a step toward him and extend a bloody arm and hand to shake his. He doesn’t even flinch at the sight of the blood that covers my entire body, extending his hand he gives me a shake.
“You’ll have to fill me in. I only know rumors,” he murmurs.
“Where have you been?” I ask.
He jerks his head, then turns around and starts to walk outside. I follow behind him and can’t believe what my eyes see. Hundreds. There are hundreds of men sitting astride their horses, facing me, their eyes all focused forward.
“Gathering men,” he murmurs as he turns his head to look back at me.
My lips curve up into a smile at the same time his does as well. “Seems as though these men who have attempted to rebel and fight will never win.”
Logan laughs. “They will not. All of these men, soldiers like we once were, they have all sworn their fealty to you, Colt.”
Nodding my head, I bite back the shock and surprise that hundreds if not thousands of men have just sworn their allegiance to me. I don’t feel worthy of it, not in the slightest. There are other men more qualified, but will any other man appreciate it or treat them the way that I will?
Never.
Walking up to Logan, I lift my blood-soaked hand and wrap my fingers around his shoulder as I give him a tug. “Why have you done this?” I ask.
All I advised was to prepare the troops, I didn’t expect them to be here, surrounding me and ready to fight for me. He turns his head, before looking directly into my eyes. His lips twitch, and he shrugs a shoulder.
“A statement needed to be made and since these particular members are no longer an issue, all of them will come with us as we head toward the city and their headquarters.”
“How do you know where I’m headed?” I ask.
He snorts. “Where else would you be going? You have the blood of your enemies coating your body. They came to your home on the day of your wedding, they disrespected you in more ways than I can count. I know Colton James and he would not accept this, I presume you’re still that man.”
“No matter my title, I will always be that man.”
Logan grins. “Gods be damned,” he murmurs.
“Yes.”
With a nod, I take a step backward. Turning to Ernest, who is exactly where I knew he would be, standing almost directly behind me. I grin at him. “Go and tell the general store that we need more supplies, a lot more supplies.”
Ernest dips his chin in a short nod. “Sir, your wife?” he asks.
“After I’ve talked to the men and the lions, after I’ve developed a plan for our attack in the city.”
Ernest opens his mouth, then snaps it closed before he walks past me and heads toward the barn to fetch a horse for his trip into town. I watch him retreat before I turn toward the troops, walk down the stairs, and head toward them.
The men that fought the battle are weary and worn as they lean, sit, and watch me pass by them. Making my way to the center of the men, I look up at the ones who are leading the new troops and I clear my throat.
I thank them for their courage, for their tenacity, and for their devoted commitment to this country. I remind them that their duty is not just to protect me, but it is more to protect this country from enemies, no matter where they hail.
“I’m not a man who minces words. I’m not a man who will pretend that all is well, when clearly it is not. Our enemies were domestic today and they are not all gone, yet. We
