Chapter Two
Sneezing Muffin and the Snarly Knight
Briar’s clinic felt like magic, bringing to mind stories about magical apothecaries and the hot wizards who owned them.
Potted plants hung from hooks in the ceiling, the volley of leaves cascading down the sides catching the sunlight coming in through the windows.
Herbs dried on a rack along the far wall, and thick books covered the shelves, the spines worn from years of being opened and closed—loved like books should be.
A small cauldron bubbled on the crafting station, surrounded by glass vials filled with colorful elixirs, varying from sky blue to grass green and others that looked like honey.
Callum placed the basket of pastries on the kitchen counter.
“Thank you for your assistance, dear knight,” I told him. He’d refused to let me carry it.
“My pleasure, milord.” He flashed that irresistible dimple. “Shall we add Carrier of Treats to my noble title?”
I hugged his arm and pushed my face against his tunic. “Carrier of Treats and Eater of Muffins. Has a nice ring to it.”
“The captain and I both hold that title now.” Callum kissed my hair. “No one stands between us and our muffin.”
My heart was so light. He and Lake had helped me bake a few batches of treats before leaving for the clinic that morning. I couldn’t show up at the castle without something yummy to feed my boys.
“Over here, love.” Briar stepped away from the crafting table and led me over to the plushy armchair near the fire. A vial was in his hand. “Open up.”
“I don’t wanna.”
He smiled. “Ah, come now. This one tastes much better than the sex tonic.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. His smile grew. I behaved myself, though, and let him administer the medicine. The blue elixir tasted like berries. I smacked my lips, pleasantly surprised.
“See?” Briar lightly pinched my cheek, squatting in front of my chair. “Not bad at all.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I put my arms around his neck, preventing him from leaving. “How much do I owe ya for the treatment, Doc?”
“Let me think.” He leaned forward and ghosted his lips over mine. “A kiss should cover the cost.”
We kissed, slow and soft, as the fire crackled beside us. Would’ve been romantic if not for the door bursting open. Two knights rushed in, one bleeding from his temple and the other holding his arm that hung at an awkward angle.
“Oh my,” Briar said under his breath before kissing me again and rising to meet them.
“Happened during morning drills,” the temple bleeder said with a wince.
“Come with me.” Briar motioned for them to follow him into the medical ward.
Callum came to sit with me by the fire as I relaxed and let the elixir work its magic. Gradually, the clogged feeling in my lungs lifted. My eyes got heavy too.
“Take a nap.” Callum smoothed his hand over my hair, patting once.
Didn’t have to tell me twice. I was out within minutes.
When I woke again, the clinic bustled with activity. My poor, overworked Briar had his hands full. A serving boy with a nasty cut on his head. A castle maid with a stomachache. More knights who’d taken injuries during drills—shields to the face, mostly. One had fallen from his horse.
“Many thanks for your help, Master Briar.” A woman clutched her wrapped hand. “I should learn to be more careful when tending to the hearth.”
“Accidents happen.” He offered her a polite smile. “The salve should take effect soon. Keep the wound wrapped for the remainder of the evening and ensure it doesn’t get wet. By tomorrow morning, the burn should be gone. If you have any trouble or concerns, please come see me.”
“Will do.” She bowed her head to him and continued toward the front door, smiling at me on her way out.
Callum helped me stand from the chair, and I walked into the small kitchen.
“You should still be resting, love,” Briar said, approaching me at the counter.
“I napped and feel fine.” I opened the lid on the basket. “Have you eaten lunch yet?”
“Not yet.” He sounded just as tired as he looked. “I haven’t much of an appetite at the moment.”
I could take one guess as to why: the still-slumbering mercenary. The potion to wake him was currently bubbling in the cauldron. Reign had delivered the nocturnal flower first thing that morning. It was a waiting game now.
“All you had for breakfast was tea and a slice of toast with jam.” I slid my hands to his back and pressed my fingers into the tight muscles of his shoulders. He made a soft sound. Yep. He was wound tight. Even his knots had knots. “Don’t make me strap you to a chair and force-feed you.”
Briar caught a strand of my hair between his fingers and tucked it behind my ear. “Our captain gives me orders, and now you too?”
“Yep.” I massaged more into his shoulders, and he rested his head on mine, emitting another soft groan. My workaholic. “Sit your handsome butt down and eat.”
Callum softly smiled at us and helped himself to a muffin.
Me having multiple lovers had the potential to create hurt feelings and stir up jealousy, but all five of my men not only accepted our relationship but welcomed it. They cared for each other too.
“I’d rather nibble on you.” Briar gently pushed me against the counter and kissed me.
Was he using his charm to distract me from making him eat? Sure. But I was powerless against said charm.
“Not in front of Herbert,” Thane said.
I broke from Briar’s lips with a laugh and looked at the young apprentice. His shaggy hair had grown longer, falling past his ears and nearly brushing his shoulders. “How is Herbert these days? Have he and Holly made any babies yet?”
Thane collected insects, both because he loved them and also because he studied them for medical purposes. Holly was the same type of beetle as Herbert.
“No, but I remain hopeful.” Thane retrieved Herbert from his jar and petted his back with his index finger. “Holly seems to like him. She let him sit on her leaf yesterday.”
“That’s actually kind of sweet,” I said, surprisingly invested in their love story. “First comes the shared leaf. Then comes the offspring. Even if the thought will give me nightmares.”
“Nightmares?” Callum asked mid-chew.
Briar stood beside him, having helped himself to a croissant sandwich. Good boy. It had grilled chicken, lettuce, and tomato with a light raspberry vinaigrette.
“Yep. Nightmares.” I nodded. “Usually involving me running away from a giant Herbert with his pinchers chomping ever closer to my head.”
“He’s so silly, isn’t he?” Thane told the little terror. “You’d never hurt Evan. You love his muffins too much.”
“A small blessing.” I shuddered as Herbert crawled across Thane’s palm.
The clinic door swung open.
“Pardon the intrusion,” an older woman said. A younger woman leaned against her, extremely pale and shaking. Her hand was wrapped with a blood-soiled cloth. “A bit of a mishap in the castle kitchen. The poor dear nearly cut off her finger chopping potatoes.”
“Potatoes, huh?” I looked at Callum.
“Wicked little bastards, aren’t they?” he responded with a knowing smile. “I told you so.”
“Allow me to help,” Thane told the two women. He placed Herbert back in his jar and rushed over to the basin of water to wash his hands. “Please show her into the medical wing. I’ll be right with you.”
The women did as he’d instructed.
“I should return to work.” Briar sighed and pulled me in for a hug. “And you, my handsome and restless boy, need to return home and not overly exert yourself.”
“Can’t.” I nuzzled him. “I have a group of hungry knights to visit first. If I don’t, they might start a mutiny against their captain.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Tingles ran rampant over my skin as his lips gently pressed to mine. “But if I hear of you pushing yourself too hard, I’ll have Callum take you home and keep you there for the foreseeable future.”
“Yes, sir.” I gently poked his chest. “But only if you promise to eat the rest of that sandwich. Don’t think I didn’t notice you only ate half.”
That made him smile. “What would I do without you?”
“Live off tea, probably. The only thing you remember to make on your own.”
“A correct assessment.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “I will more than likely be home late tonight.”
“Because of the mercenary?”
“Yes. The potion should be ready later this evening, and I’ll need to be here to administer it to him.”
Nerves rippled through my belly as I recalled my attack, the surge of power in the air as the mercenary summoned a ball of magical fire and sent it hurtling toward me and my friends.
“Be careful,” I said, dreading the thought of Briar anywhere near him. “Please.”
“I will.” He kissed me again. “The same goes for you and those lungs.”
After hugging him once more, Callum and I left the clinic and found the path toward the knights’ encampment.
The air smelled of spring, but a chill lingered in the air.
Winter wasn’t quite ready to throw in the towel yet.
The longer we walked, the harder it was to keep pace with him.
A slight pressure filled my chest, and my breaths shortened, becoming unsteady.
Damn weak lungs.
“Are you all right?” Callum asked, missing nothing.
“Y-Yeah.” I exhaled, inwardly cursing the shake in it, and gave him my best smile. “My short legs are just having trouble keeping up today.”
“Unacceptable.” He dropped down in front of me and offered me his back. “Allow me the honor of carrying you, milord.”
I smiled and latched on, hooking my legs around him.
Much like when he ruffled my hair, this had become our thing too.
I hugged his neck and stared at the passing trees, loving the whiff of vanilla bean coming off his brown hair.
Buildings soon came into view—the mess hall, officers’ quarters, and the barracks.
“I think I can walk now,” I said as my breathing returned to normal.
“I prefer you riding me.”
“Don’t get me wrong. I love riding you, Cal. But I’d rather it be in a different way. Like last night in the tub.”
He stumbled in step, and I laughed.