“There is nothing to worry about,” I inform her.
Though, I’m not sure if even I believe my own words or not. The simple fact is that I do not know what the future holds and I can’t say that there is nothing to worry about, but then an image of Adelaide will pop into my head, of our Temperance, and I’ll remember that life can change in an instant.
“I will protect you and unlike many women, Birdie. You, can protect yourself.”
Saying the words aloud, it causes me to believe them that much more. Unlike many helpless women, Birdie is anything but that. She has powers and while her teleportation powers may be stunted, the others are not and she can hold her own in battle.
We don’t say anything else as we ride in the sweltering sun. We stop several times to water not only ourselves, but the horses as well. Birdie’s guard closes in on us as we approach a large town, the first stop on the trip.
“Tonight will be our last night in a bed at a hotel before we arrive at my city home,” I inform as we approach the cityscape in the distance.
“City home?” Birdie asks.
I don’t answer, sure that she knows that while I may not own castles all over Devilrise, I do indeed have homes throughout the country, given and appointed to me by the Assembly for work purposes.
“You have a home in the city?” she whispers. “How many homes do you have?”
“We,” I chuckle. “How many homes do we have?”
She shakes her head, but doesn’t look back at me. “They aren’t mine, Colt.”
“You’re my wife. I don’t know how it is in your world, but here, we are two that have become one which means what is mine is also yours.”
“Even if you share your bed and body with another?” she snaps.
“Birdie,” I warn.
She’s quiet for a moment, then clears her throat. “I’m just asking. You know you made it all too clear that it could be a thing.”
Pressing my lips together, I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from lashing out in anger. Instead, I pull her body a bit closer to mine on the saddle. “There is nobody I wish to have anywhere near me, or my bed, but you. You’d do good to remember that and to not bring it up again.”
“I’m sorry, Colt. I’m just sensitive.”
I think of dropping the conversation and either saying nothing, or switching topics and talk to her about something else, but then I remember what Martha suggested. I must show Birdie my love, and that includes saying the words.
She must know how I feel about her, even if I’m not completely comfortable saying it aloud quite yet. I’ve told her that I love her, but I’m not sure she’s believed me completely yet.
“I love you, Birdie. We will have a good life together, it just takes time to build all of it,” I murmur. “First, we must make sure we’re protected and so is our position.”
Nothing else is said as we arrive in town. The hotel has some vacancies and I’m not surprised to see Logan make his way into the city with us and demand one of the rooms for himself. It’s better that he’s close enough for me to keep an eye on anyway, so I allow it.
The rest of my men make camp on the edge of town and we all quickly find our way toward our rooms and retire for the evening. I make sure to lock the door, but before I do, I ask Jeremiah, Thatcher, Markus, and Samuel to stay alert and completely on guard.
Chapter Forty-Three
BIRDIE
I’m not sure how, but I sleep through the night and don’t awaken until the next morning with the warm sunshine beating down against the side of my face. My other cheek is pressed against a warm hard body and I let out a sigh as I lift my head, tilting it back and slowly open my eyes.
Colt’s eyelids crack open and I see his gaze focused on me, a small smile playing on his lips. “Mornin’ darlin’,” he says, his voice husky and fabulous.
Humming, I place my hand on his chest and push myself up, tipping my chin, not breaking eye contact. Colt lifts one of his hands, cupping my cheek, and slides his thumb along my bottom lip, his eyes following the motion.
“How do you feel this morning?”
I could lie, but I decide not to. He’s my husband after all. “I’m hungry and my ass hurts from sitting on that horse all damn day,” I admit.
His lips curve up into an even bigger smile and he lets out a bark of laughter at my frankness. “Do you need a rubdown?”
Shaking my head, I can’t help but giggle before I lower my head and touch my mouth to his. “Maybe when we reach our destination?” I ask against his lips.
He hums, his arms wrapping around my back. “Indeed.”
Unfortunately, we’re not able to stay in bed all day, though it’s exactly where I wish that we could stay and had we, things would probably have been much easier to deal with.
It doesn’t take us long to get dressed. He sends Martha in to help me lace up my corset and tie up the back of my dress before we all go down and eat some breakfast.
Jeremiah keeps his eyes on me, never leaving me, even as he eats. He’s watching me, his body alert and ready at any given moment for whatever could come his or my way. It doesn’t take us long
