Page 64 of Lawless
MARIPOSA
Hades' large, dilated eyes followed me as I cleaned up my supplies. His tongue hung out the corner of his mouth, which further softened his intimidating appearance. A patch of shaved fur showed off the jagged incision on his flank held together by my sutures.
"That's my boy," Reaper laid on the floor next to him, just outside of the pile of pillows serving as a temporary dog bed. "High as a kite," he chuckled, stroking down Hades' side.
"He won't need another dose for about twelve hours," I rolled my gloves off and shoved them into my trash bag. "He might be lethargic from all the meds for a day or two."
"Oh, we won't be going anywhere right away," Reaper's eyes flashed as he sat up. "We're tearing this place apart for information and living like kings while we're at it."
"Have they interviewed that guard yet?"
"No, but he's being sat on twenty-four seven. I'll talk to him after he's had some time to sweat."
The Steel Demons’ president watched me silently as I sterilized my tools and laid them out on a side table. "Why didn't you heal Shadow's arrow wound?" he asked.
"Because he walked away from me when I offered," I asked. "Which I took to mean he was refusing my help."
"Why didn't you do it anyway? I thought healing was the most important thing to you."
"It is," I breathed. "But I can't treat someone against their will. I need their consent. Especially now."
"Why's that?"
"Because in a world like this," I spread my hands around. "With no laws or rights to protect us, our bodies are the last thing we have control over. To treat someone when they've said no is violating that final piece of personal control, even if it's to their benefit."
Reaper's eyes rolled back to his dog laid out on the floor. "What about animals? Hades can't tell you yes or no. He probably didn't understand down in that ravine and thought you were hurting him."
"I just have to make my best guess," I shrugged. "He saved you, so I imagine he wanted to keep on living to protect you and stay by your side. And something tells me," I paused, "Hades is more intelligent than your average dog."
"What if," Reaper rose from the floor, coming toward me with a slow swagger, "Iorderedyou to treat my men, no matter what they said? If I had Jandro or Gunner strapped down because of some ailment and they were screaming at you to get away, would you treat them if I ordered it?"
I squared my shoulders toward him, refusing to be intimidated. He was using his president's voice and sharp gaze, but I had seen the softness in him. I heard in his voice how worried he was about losing Hades. He held me against that beating heart in his broad chest so I wouldn't freeze to death. Who knew if his men ever saw that side of him, but I'd never forget it.
"No one has that kind of power," I told him. "Not even you."
"Not even if I punish you?" A wicked smile came to his lips. "Humiliate you with a public lashing, maybe?"
"You can deal out whatever barbaric punishment suits you," I answered. "That doesn't change the fact that you ordered me to violate your men's rights to govern their own bodies. How much would they respect and obey you if you denied them this? If they survived this hypothetical ailment, they'd know you see them as nothing more than slaves."
"Some would say it's better off that way," he responded coolly, his eyes searching mine. "They're rounding up people like cattle in the Southern territories."
"That's not you," I said with a shake of my head. "You're better than that."
"How do you know?" he snapped.
"Because you treat your dog like a family member," I said. "The respect between you and your men is mutual. And you have..."
"What?" he demanded, leaning forward so his face was an inch from mine. His hands braced on the table on either side of me, caging me in. "What do I have that a slave owner doesn't?"
"You have a moral code." His lips and the dark stubble surrounding them consumed my vision. "You value honesty and trust. And you," my eyes lifted to his, "you don't hurt those weaker than you."
Reaper pulled back for a moment, turning his gaze to the window. "Fucking hell. I knew this shit would happen."
I blinked. "What?"
He turned back to me, and the next thing I felt was the heat of his mouth on mine.
My lips parted in shock and his tongue wasted no time in pressing between them, the weight of his hands now on my lower back and pulling me forward. Just like the first time, each kiss was effortless, seamless.
