Chapter One #3
“He’s an ugly bastard to me,” Rowan said.
“Be nice,” I told him.
He smirked.
The reason I thought Quincy was cute had nothing to do with his appearance and everything to do with his gluttonous behavior and silliness. The knight certainly wasn’t the sharpest sword in the armory. Which made him too damn endearing. I had a soft spot for dorks like him.
“How fortunate for them. Being missed by you.” Maddox’s deep blue eyes flickered to me. “You normally hug me as soon as I step through the door. I suppose you no longer have need of me now that you have another knight.”
Was he pouting?
“Oh, stop.” I went over and wrapped my arms around his waist. “There’s room in my heart for two knights.”
“Aye,” Callum said. “Me and Quincy.”
“Remind me to toss you in the stables first thing tomorrow morning,” Maddox told him. “They could use some mucking out.”
Callum cringed. “Apologies, Captain. Have mercy.”
There was a twitch in Maddox’s cheek as he visibly fought a smile.
“Enough of the pouting, big guy.” I hugged him tighter. “You know you own a piece of me no one else will ever touch. You’re stuck with me for life.”
“And hopefully long after as well.” Maddox’s expression softened. “Did you behave today?”
“I always behave.” I snuggled into his chest, inhaling his warm, leathery scent. Any time away from him felt like an eternity. “But I might’ve accidentally dropped a sword on Cal’s foot earlier.”
He drew back, eyes narrowing. “Why did you have a sword?”
“Just some basic defense training. Not a bad idea, considering everything that’s happened, you know?”
“I see your point,” Maddox said. “Yet, I feel you are in far more danger with a weapon than without.”
Rowan laughed.
Callum touched my lower back. “It was a training sword, so the blade was dull, at least.”
“Still too heavy for him though,” Rowan added. “Our little treasure could barely even lift it.”
“Is that so?” The corner of Maddox’s mouth lifted. “Best leave the fighting to Callum and I, sweetheart. Your talents lie elsewhere.”
“Like in the kitchen, baking your muffins?”
His smirk turned smoldering, causing my blood to rush south. “In the kitchen… and in my bed.”
“Our bed.” Briar walked into the room, his light brown hair windswept and his cheeks rosy.
Despite spring being so close, winter still had Bremloc in its clutches, bringing in a round of cooler air once the sun set.
“All this time and you still haven’t learned to share. What am I to do with you, Captain?”
“Smacking him would be a good start,” Rowan said.
Maddox arched a brow at him. “I’d like to see you try.”
While they bickered, I bounced over and hugged Briar’s waist.
“Good evening, love.” He kissed my temple—his favorite spot.
I melted at the endearment. “How was your day?”
“Productive. Thane brewed vials of Herbert’s pain-fighting elixir while I read over documents from the magical academy in between crafting tonics. Reign also stopped by the clinic.”
Reign was one of the spies who worked with Rowan. His specialty? Sensing magic in people. He’d detected the mercenary prior to my attack and had put together a team to track him down.
“Are you any closer to waking the mercenary?” I asked.
Before being captured, he had placed himself under a sleeping spell.
More than likely to delay his interrogation.
As a member of Nocturne, an ancient Order of mercenaries with dark magic, breaking confidentiality and revealing sensitive information about who hired him wouldn’t bode well for either him or Nocturne.
“The potion is proving to be more complicated than anticipated due to the rarity of some of the components,” Briar answered, sounding less than pleased about that fact.
“However, Reign and I are working as efficiently as we can. Only one more ingredient is needed. Three petals from a nocturnal flower that can only be found in the darkest corners of caves.”
“If anyone knows about night flowers, it’s you,” I said with a smile. “I caught you stealing some once.”
“Gathering, not stealing. Silly boy.” He lightly booped my nose. I playfully nipped at his finger, earning a tired but very warm smile from him. “Reign is retrieving the flower tonight. If all goes well, I should be able to start brewing the potion in the morning.”
“I know you can do it.” The scent of magnolia blossoms surrounded me, soothing every muscle I didn’t realize had been tense. “Sounds like you and Reign are getting along. That’s good.”
“He’s quite the character.” Briar combed his fingers through my hair. “He enjoys teasing those around him.”
“Speaking of Reign, he won’t stop talking about your brownies, little treasure,” Rowan said, then smirked at Maddox. “Who knows? Maybe he’ll be the next one to sweep your muffin off his feet. He’ll move into the cottage and take your place in bed. Then you’ll have to sleep on the rug.”
Maddox’s mouth slipped into a scowl. “Shouldn’t you be leaving soon?”
“I’m meeting Draven in an hour,” Rowan responded. “But I may just stay here with you instead. All night long. Since you’re such a cuddle bug and all.”
“Do so at your own risk, thief.”
“Supper should be ready soon,” Lake interjected. “A hot meal will make everyone less irritable.”
Humor shone in Rowan’s topaz eyes. “Are you saying I get bitchy when I’m hungry?”
Lake smacked Rowan with his tail.
“If you wanted to touch my ass, you could’ve just asked, pup.”
Briar laughed, then cleared his throat. I wasn’t the only one who enjoyed their bickering. A ravenous growl then filled the kitchen. All eyes moved to Maddox.
“Apologies.” He placed his hand over his stomach.
“You’re adorable,” I said with a grin.
“Me? Adorable? You must have me confused with someone else.”
“Nope. No confusion.”
“Then what does that make you?”
“Manly and tough.”
“Oh?” Maddox wrapped both arms around me and dropped his face to my neck, blowing raspberries on my skin. I squealed and tried to break free, all to no avail. He had me right where he wanted me, and there was no escape. “Oh, the sounds you make. So manly and tough you are.”
He did it again, and I let another squeak loose.
“More like a little piggy,” Rowan said. “All that high-pitched squealing.”
A rough sound left Lake’s throat. His unique laugh.
“Does this mean he’s a piglet now instead of a sad toad?” Callum asked.
Maddox smiled against my neck.
“All of you are so mean to me,” I whined.
“You love it.” Rowan stepped from the counter and grabbed my wrist, pulling me away from Maddox. We stood around the same height, putting our mouths in near-perfect alignment as he ghosted his lips over mine.
“I do. Just a little.” My body heated. Skin tingled. I wanted to close that gap between our mouths, but when I leaned in closer, he drew back with a teasing smile. “I don’t love that though. You playing hard to get.”
“Liar.” Rowan grazed his lips along my jawline. “Besides. I’m already yours. You’ve had me in a chokehold since the moment I first saw you. There’s no escape for me. Not one for you either. Because while I’m yours, you’re mine too, little treasure, and always will be.”
My insides turned to mush. Between all of them, I really would melt into a puddle of Evan goo someday.
Maddox’s stomach rumbled again.
“We better feed him before he resorts to cannibalism,” Briar said with a mischievous gleam in his hazel eyes. “A man of his size could probably eat two of us before being sated.”
Our captain smirked. “Mind that tongue, physician, or you’ll be the first to be eaten.”
Rowan’s nose crinkled. “What would Specs even taste like?”
“Plants,” Lake said casually. “With a floral hint.”
“Wow, pup. Sounds like you put some thought into this. What about me? How would I taste?”
Lake eyed Rowan. “Like cheap, watered-down rum, rotten almonds, and lies.”
I laughed.
As we filled our plates and sat at the table, my heart warmed. A simple life with them, laughing and loving like this in our cozy cottage, was all I wanted. Forever.