“I don’t have a place anywhere without a war. That much I’ve proved.”

“Then I fear for you.”

Shivers snorted. “I’m lucky to have you watching my back.”

“I wish I could do more. But you know how the Butcher of Caprile solves her problems, and Duke Rogont has scant regard for honest men…”

I have nothing but the highest regard for honest men, but fighting stripped to the waist? It’s so…” Rogont grimaced as though he’d tasted off milk. “Cliché. You wouldn’t catch me doing it.”

“What, fighting?”

“How dare you, woman, I am Stolicus reborn! You know what I mean. Your Northern accomplice, with the…” Rogont waved a lazy hand at the left side of his face. “Eye. Or lack thereof.”

“Jealous, already?” she muttered, sick at even coming near the subject.

“A little. But it’s his jealousy that concerns me. This is a man much prone to violence.”

“It’s what I took him on for.”

“Perhaps the time has come to lay him off. Mad dogs savage their owner more often than their owner’s enemies.”

“And their owner’s lovers first of all.”

Rogont nervously cleared his throat. “We certainly would not want that. He seems firmly attached to you. When a barnacle is firmly attached to the hull of a ship, it is sometimes necessary to remove it with a sudden, unexpected and… decisive force.”

“No!” Her voice stabbed out far sharper than she’d had in mind. “No. He’s saved my life. More than once, and risked his life to do it. Just yesterday he did it, and today have him killed? No. I owe him.” She remembered the smell as Langrier pushed the brand into his face, and she flinched. It should’ve been you. “No! I’ll not have him touched.”

“Think about it.” Rogont padded slowly towards her. “I understand your reluctance, but you must see it’s the safe thing to do.”

“The prudent thing?” she sneered at him. “I’m warning you. Leave him be.”

“Monzcarro, please understand, it’s your safety I’m—Oooof!” She sprang up from the chair, kicking his foot away, caught his arm as he lurched onto his knees and twisted his wrist behind his shoulder blade, forced him down until she was squatting over his back, his face squashed against the cool marble.

“Didn’t you hear me say no? If it’s sudden, unexpected and decisive force I want…” She twisted his hand a little further and he squeaked, struggled helplessly. “I can manage it myself.”

“Yes! Ah! Yes! I quite clearly see that!”

“Good. Don’t bring him up again.” She let go of his wrist and he lay there for a moment, breathing hard. He wriggled onto his back, rubbing gently at his hand, looking up with a hurt frown as she straddled his stomach.

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“Maybe I enjoyed doing it.” She looked over her shoulder. His cock was half-hard, nudging at the back of her leg. “I’m not sure you didn’t.”

“Now that you mention it… I must confess I rather relish being looked down on by a strong woman.” He brushed her knees with his fingertips, ran his hands slowly up the insides of her scarred thighs to the top, and then gently back down. “I don’t suppose… you could be persuaded… to piss on me, at all?”