She smiled at me. “I am. But I am not a pacifist. Sometimes you have to fight for what you believe in. And I like to be prepared.”
I gestured to a sword. “You know how to wield that?” It looked almost as long as she was tall.
She snorted a laugh. “No.” She pointed to a much shorter narrow blade with a slight curve. “That one’s more my style.”
I tried to imagine her with a weapon of any kind, and failed.
Kiko lifted the big sword down off the supports and almost dropped it. “It’s way too heavy.”
I took it from her and laid it on the table in the center of the room. Then I selected a long knife from the collection.
“Would you prefer it against your arm, your ribs, or your thigh?” I asked.
She regarded me with wide eyes. “Are we talking about the knife?”
Satyrs. I stifled a sarcastic reply, and said, “Yes.”
She pouted. “Oh, well, then. The thigh, I think.” Then she waggled her brows. “I have very strong thighs.”
Vali smacked her hard on the arm. “Seriously. Your mind and libido are one and the same.”
“Thigh is easy to reach, but harder to hide,” I said. “If an assailant can see it, they can block it. Under the arm is well hidden but a more difficult draw, depending on how you are dressed. This harness is designed to hold it upside down, so you can draw it more easily with the opposite hand.” I held it against my arm to demonstrate. “The waist is the most common, because it draws easily, but can be hidden by a cloak.”
Kiko stared at him. “You know your stuff.”
I shrugged. “Had it drilled into me from a young age.” I ran my gaze over the available assortment. “You can do all three if you like. Where we’re going, you might need them.”
“Don’t want to clank when I walk.” She frowned for a moment, then looked at Vali. “What do you think?”
The Dragona snorted and held up her hand, sprouting talons. “I don’t need knives. So it’s up to you.”
Kiko tapped a finger on her chin. “The underarm one is cool. So long as I don’t slice myself trying to pull it out.”
I handed the knife to her, along with the harness, and then showed her how to attach it. Which necessitated leaning close to her.
As I fiddled with the little buckles, my fingers brushed her skin, and her scent wafted around me. It stiffened every fiber.
I pulled away, fearing the emergence of my inner scaly demon, but it remained silent.
Interesting,commented Iskar.
Great. I can fuck every woman except the one I want.
No need to be profane.
I think it is a perfect time to be profane.
As Iskar fell silent, the Satyr said in a throaty purr, “Maybe I’ll get a thigh harness too.”
Vali rolled her eyes.
“Enough,” Havoc snapped from the doorway. “Get your pointy sticks, and let’s go.”
His eyes gleamed copper. The guy was always so damned hostile. How could Riley have let him—
The scales slithered asitstirred deep within.Marcus—
Yeah, yeah. Got it.
