Page 69 of The Barbarian King's Assassin (Magic and Kings 1)

“I’m fine.”

“Okay.” He didn’t loosen his grip.

It bothered me mostly because I enjoyed it. “We should get up.”

“Why?”

“You’re a king. You probably have kingly things to do.”

“Not really. I’m only rarely in my summer home. They are quite used to governing themselves.”

“Fine. Stay in bed. But I’m getting up.” Not according to the arms clamped around me. When my struggle netted no result, I glared.

He had the nerve to smile. “No point in you rising since I’ll be spending the day in bed relaxing.”

Suspicion reared its head. “You’re doing that because of me. You think I’m not fit to protect you.”

“I think we could both use a day of rest.”

“Only if we’re lazy. There’s nothing wrong with me, or you.” Only a little lie. My battered body didn’t entirely agree with my statement.

“Speak for yourself. I am not moving.”

“If you want to stay abed, go ahead, but release me.” I shoved at him, and his arms loosened.

I rolled out of bed and held in the groan as my aching body said good morning. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of admitting I needed time to recuperate. And, yes, I fully realized how stupidly stubborn I was. Or, as Jrijori often said, tenacious. My best and worst trait.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, showing concern.

I didn’t think, just grabbed the closest object, which happened to be a book, on his nightstand and fired it at him.

He caught it and arched a brow. “Is this your way of saying you hate reading?”

“Stop treating me like I’m fragile or broken. I’m fine.”

“Really?” He tossed the book back. Not hard. I didn’t even have to lunge, but I did have to move quickly to snare it to prove a point. I gritted my teeth lest he see my wince.

He grumbled, “You’re so damned stubborn.”

“Actually, I’m hungry. You joining me for breakfast?”

“I’m famished, but I don’t want to deal with the stairs today. I think I shall request a meal be brought to me that I might dine in comfort in bed.”

“I’ll send someone in to watch you while I’m gone for mine.”

“I have a better plan. I will tell them to send up enough for two so you can join me.”

“I am not eating with you in bed.”

“Then sit at the table.” He waved a hand. “After all, you’ll want to be close to me given you are well enough to resume your guarding duties.”

I wasn’t sure I could fight off a fly and gnashed my teeth as the barbarian, using only words, trapped me. “Aren’t you worried your people and horde will think you weak?” My last-ditch effort.

“There is nothing wrong with taking time to rest when a moment presents itself. They can be unfortunately too far between.”

Wise words that required a change of mentality. Since a young age I’d been taught to work. Always work. To what end? Jrijori had more than two decades on me and still hadn’t retired.

It took only the pull of a rope for someone to come find out what the king wanted. And what Konstantin asked for, he got.