Page 130 of The Warrior
Kya, who sat next to me, caressed Mila’s hair and smiled. “You and Mila have grown close.”
“I feel closer to Magni when I’m with her, and she’s so easy to love.”
“Just don’t take off like Magni did. Her small heart has suffered enough already.”
Sitting on the long bench by the dining table, I leaned my head back against the wall. “Let’s not talk about Magni.”
Archer frowned. “I can’t believe his men would storm the Mansion like that.”
Kya looked over at her husband. “Didn’t you hear that Laura doesn’t want to talk about Magni?”
“But it’s not fair that eight of our best Huntsmen are facing life in prison because of that failed attempt to find Magni.”
“I thought Khan was planning to kill them. Did he change his mind?” Shelly asked.
“Pearl argued their case until she was blue in the face,” I said. “She gets almost hysterical when the subject of the death penaltycomes up. She says it’s a violation of human rights and it’s medieval.”
Marco crossed his arms. “Yeah, that’s Pearl for you. She’d prefer to sit down and talk things through. Like that ever helped.”
“Hey, making people reflect on their actions is a good thing,” Kya argued. “And you Nmen kill people for senseless reasons.”
“We do not,” Marco retorted. “We just don’t believe that people can change. Killing them guarantees they’ll never make the mistake again.”
“Of course people can change, Marco. I’m a good example of that.” Shelly looked straight at the young man. “I used to be quiet when I arrived, and now I speak up for myself.”
“I suspect you never changed, you just grew bold enough to show your personality.” Marco gave a small grin. “At least when you were quiet, we assumed you were nice.”
“At least Ihavea personality.”
Marco angled his head. “Oh, that’s nice, Brainy. But wait, do you remember when I asked for your opinion?” He angled his head. “Yeah, me neither.”
“Be nice, Marco,” Kya pleaded. “Shelly is leaving in a few days. You might miss each other.”
“Maybe for the entertainment value,” Shelly said dryly. “People in the Motherlands don’t climb poles to solve mathematical questions, and we don’t mumble to hide that we can’t remember science facts.”
“Hey, if you’re referring to this morning, I was just tired. I knew the answer.” Marco leaned closer to Shelly. “It’s basic knowledge that the universe is made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons.”
Shelly locked eyes with him. “You forgot morons.”
Marco rolled his eyes, turning to Archer, who was laughing like me. “It’s such a pity that Shelly won’t be marrying an Nman. I would have loved the chance to discipline her.”
Kya shook her head. “No one is spanking Shelly.”
Marco looked over at the fifteen-year-old girl, who had turned pale. “I’ll have to use my imagination then.” He held up his palm with a challenging smile.
“You would want to marry me?” Her tone was incredulous.
“If that’s what it would take to make your ass red.”
We were all expecting some witty comeback from Shelly, but she bit her lower lip and shrank back in her seat. With her face turned downward, she effectively retreated behind the curtain of her long unruly brown hair.
Archer didn’t notice the awkwardness of the situation. “Did Khan say how long he’ll wait until he sends out search parties for Magni?”
“What happened to a man’s free choice? If he wants to live in Alaska, shouldn’t he be allowed to?” Marco asked.
“And leave his wife behind without a word?” Kya’s hand rested on her belly. “If that’s the kind of husband you’re going to be, Marco, then it should be you getting that spanking.”
Archer flashed his teeth in a grin. “Not all wives are as hardcore as you, Kya.”
