Chapter 11: All of It

"A hospital," Wes said. "On a lakefront. The fourth floor, with a window."

Brigid said nothing for a long moment.

"And you cannot wake."

"I can't log out. The man who owns the building sets the locks."

"Then he is a jailer," Brigid said, "and I know what to do with those."

"You can't kill him, Brigid. He isn't here."

"Then I will wait until he is."

Tamsin was leaning in the doorway.

Neither of them had heard her come.

"I came to see if the captain had killed you," she said. "I'm glad she hasn't."

"I told her," Wes said. "What I really am."

"I heard." Tamsin shrugged. "A man in a bed, a lady with a glaive. It's not the oddest thing I've heard this week."

"I thought you wouldn't want me. Either of you."

"Why?"

"Because you love the lady. She's strong. I'm a man with a bad back who can't hold a sword."

Brigid stood and took his face in both her hands.

"I kissed you in the armory," she said. "I knew there was a man under the braid."

"You said which one-"

"I asked because I wanted to know what you would say. You said both. I believed you."

"She's right," Tamsin said. "I liked you on the wall, Wes. Before you were pretty."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome." She crossed the room and sat on his other side. "Do you know what you are? You're the one who gave away the barley."

Wes laughed, and it cracked in the middle.

Brigid kissed him.

It was slow, and it was deep, and it lasted until he forgot where he was.

Keep reading free with an account. Start Every Fight Turns Him Into a Woman, So the Whole Kingdom Kneels from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.