Page 62 of Bound By Blood
She hadn’texpected him to come near her. If she’d believed he would enter thekitchen, she would have starved even if her stomach wasrumbling.
She had nointention of saying anything to him unless it was goodbye.Scrubbing more vigorously, she ignored the peppermint scent as heapproached to stand by the table.
Whywas hehere? He’d kept himself occupied elsewhere for the last three days;why couldn’t he go back to doing that?
“How is the swordcoming?” he asked.
Caro’s jawclenched until her teeth hurt. She’d prefer not to answer him, butit seemed childish not to do so, and she refused to let him knowhow much his rejection the other night bothered her.
“Fine,” shesaid.
“Will it be donesoon?”
“Yes.”
Good because thesooner they left here, the better off he would be, Saber decided ashe slid a puzzle piece into place. “I’ll let Ronan know he shouldexpect us when it’s finished.”
“Expect uswhere?”
“To meet with themso you can get to work on the other weapons.”
There were noSavages around here, and it was secure, but he still wasn’t takingthe chance. He wasn’t going to give away the location, even if hedid trust her. It was better and safer for her if she didn’tknow.
“It would beeasier if they came here,” she said.
“Not forthem.”
Despite herresolve not to reveal how much he irritated her, she slapped herscrub brush down and turned off the water. Lifting a towel, shedried her hands as she turned to face him.
“I don’t care. Mysupplies are here, this is where I’ve worked for twenty years, andI’m doing this forthemandyou. They can eitherbring the stones here or shove them up their asses. The choice isyours.”
She tossed thetowel aside, removed a bag of blood from the fridge, and walked outthe back door. She was too tired to pretend to be civil anymore,and being near him was too much of a drain on her emotionalreserves.
She requireddistance. Unfortunately, he was unwilling to give it as he followedher out the door.
“There’s notenough room for everyone to stay here,” he said.
Caro stoppedwalking so suddenly he nearly collided with her as she spun to facehim. Planting her hands on her hips, she scowled at him.
“That’s not myproblem! Tell them to bring tents if it’s going to be an issue, andwhy does it have to beallof them? Why do any of them haveto come? Why can’t they drop off the stones, take you with them,andgo? I’m safe here and have been working on swords sinceI was old enough to hold a hammer. I don’t needyouoranyone else here.”
Saber crossed hisarms over his chest. He’d been thinking about having someone elsewatch over her, but hearing her say that he should go didnotsit well with him.
“That’s not goingto happen. You’ll remain protected, and I’m not going anywhere,” hesaid.
Caro rolled hereyes. “Yippee for me.”
She started toturn away again, but the maddening ass continued speaking, and shespun back to face him.
“It would beeasier if you left here and we went to them,” he said.
The man wascompletely obtuse. “Easier for who? Do you think I can just pick upmy forges and carry them away? How easy do you think it is toreplace all my supplies and build a new forge? I can’t exactly haulall my things away from here with ease.”
“We’ll get you newthings and build you new forges.”
Caro threw herhands in the air. There was no point in trying to make himunderstand; he would never get it. “They either come here, bringthe stones and leave them here, or I don’t do it.”
With that, shespun on her heel and stalked toward her foundry. Saber sighed as hewatched her storm off. She was right; it would be easier for theothers to come here, but he’d prefer not to have most of theAlliance crammed onto this property with them.
