Page 52 of Protecting His Treasure

“No one. Not many women train.”

“Sexist much?”

“Huh?”

“Why aren’t there many women here who train?”

“Not many want to. Most find protectors to keep them safe.”

Sin shook her head. “I’ll never understand a woman who depends on a man for everything.”

“You can depend on me. For everything.”

“That’s good. But I don’t want to. I want to be able to depend on myself.”

“Why?”

Sin ceased peering into the chests and faced her mate with her arms folded. “What do you mean, why?”

“Why is depending on yourself so important? You’ve got me.”

“And you’ve got me? I got your back. You got mine. If you go to war, I go to war. If I got war, you got to war. We’re in this together. Together, remember?”

“I do. But you shouldn’t criticize those who’d rather stay back and allow their men to fight the battles. They’re not weak.”

“I never said they’re weak. I just said I hate that they depend on a man for everything. Even if they let their men fight the literal battles, they should at least learn how to shoot a gun or an arrow. What happens if they’re protector gets taken out? What will they do then?”

“They…”

“They’ll be lost. All alone. They want know one thing about surviving in this place.”

“Not all women are like you.”

“And not all men are like you. Some of these so-called protectors abuse the women they protect. I’ve seen it firsthand. I once tried to help a woman I came across in the woods. Her protector was beating her for taking too long finding water. He told her that she only had one job, get the damn water, and she couldn’t even do that. And then he punched her in the chest, knocking her to the ground and knocking the air from her. When I tried to help, she lashed out at me and begged me not to interfere. I just wanted to help her get away from her so-called protector.”

“Know this, men like that aren’t protectors. They’re cowards. That’s a difference. I’m not a coward.”

“I agree. And I know you’re not a coward. But know this, you’re my mate, not my protector. We’re a team. I protect you. You protect me. Team. Okay?”

He stared at her for a long time before nodding and them replying. “Yes, team. But know this.” He took a step forward, closing the short gap between them. “I’m not just your mate. I’m your mate, your dragon, your alpha. I will do anything to keep you safe. Anything. Okay.”

She was trying to read between the lines. She knew there was an underlying message in his seemingly sweet words.

“So, what you’re saying is…”

He pulled her close. “I said, what I said.”

“You’re learning too many of my sayings.”

“I happen to like this one.”

“But, does it mean….”

“Anything, mate. I’ll do anything to keep you safe. And there’s nothing you can do to change that. Now, we can keep discussing this. Or we can get changed and go to the training facility. Make a choice.”

Sin frowned. “You’re lucky I want to see this training facility of yours.”

“Come on. I’ll help you get dressed.”

“No. No. Every time you help me get dressed, you end up undressing me.”

“That does tend to happen, does it.”

Smiling, Sin nodded. “It happens ninety-eight percent of the time.”

“What about the other ten percent of the time?”

“Oh, well, that’s when I end up undressing you.”

Kaede smiled, revealing that adorable dimple of his. “We make quite a pair, witch.”

“I agree, dragon.”