Chapter Two #2
Two men rounded the corner, both blond and broad-shouldered.
One of them I knew well. Baden smiled and hastened his steps to reach us.
Captain Braun walked with him. He commanded the Third Order and was handsome in a rugged way, sporting a finely trimmed goatee and dressed in a dark gray officer’s uniform.
“Did you fall and injure your ankle?” Baden asked, raking his gaze over me on Callum’s back. His hair reminded me of a military cut, buzzed on the sides and a tad longer on top. “Brawl with another thornbush, perhaps?”
It was Callum’s turn to laugh.
“I’m fine.” I slid from Callum’s back. “My gentle and noble cinnamon roll of a knight is just overly protective. One labored breath and he refused to let me walk.”
“Because you’re still healing, Ev,” Callum said.
“You’ve certainly been missed.” Baden’s blue eyes crinkled with a smile. “I was certain the captain would have you confined to a bed for the next year.”
“He’s suggested as much,” Callum responded with a barely repressed chuckle. “Our little lord is quite persuasive though, especially when he bats his lashes.”
Baden nodded. “A mighty weapon, indeed.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Captain Braun.” Callum tipped his head to the officer. “May I ask what brings you to our camp?”
“A meeting with your captain.”
“Is everything okay?” I asked, fighting a wave of anxiety. He normally only visited Maddox after something bad happened, like one of his units being attacked. Or when discussing patrol schedules. Hopefully, it was the latter.
“All is as well as it can be,” the knight captain answered, his voice lacking any sort of emotion. His eyes, however, softened as they fell to me. “You need only concern yourself with regaining your strength.”
Touched—and surprised—by his concern, my cheeks heated. “I will.”
“See to it that you do.”
I blinked at his authoritative tone and resisted the sudden urge to salute him and shout ‘sir, yes sir!’ like it was muffin bootcamp or something.
“We should be on our way.” Baden nodded toward the officers’ quarters.
“You should join us, Lieutenant,” Captain Braun said. “Your input into the matter would be appreciated. If you have the time to spare.”
“Of course,” Callum responded, then shifted his attention back to me. “I’ll escort you to the mess hall before I go.”
“Nah. I can manage just fine on my own.” I took the basket from him and slung it over my forearm before standing up on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Now, go see our captain.”
He ruffled my hair in his familiar way before leaving with the other two men. As they walked in the opposite direction toward the officers’ quarters, I could still feel the warmth of his palm on the top of my head.
“Freaking cinnamon roll,” I muttered, heart fluttering. He had turned me into a lovesick muffin.
Scattered voices sounded from the courtyard, as did the smells of something cooking. The knights must’ve been sitting around the firepit, having a late lunch. Warming themselves and filling their bellies before setting off to patrol the kingdom.
I continued in that direction, in a great mood and overcome with the sudden urge to whistle. Too bad I lacked that skill. When I tried, it sounded like a pitiful puff of air.
“Damned bastards,” a deep voice boomed over the others. Sounded like Roth. He was a burly knight who pretty much hated my guts. “Heard another demon horde was spotted late last night.”
I halted in step and crouched down at the side of the mess hall. Eavesdropper muffin was back in business. I peeked around the corner. Knights sat around the firepit, eating what looked like chili from wooden bowls. Roth, Hudson, Duke, and Quincy.
“Aye,” Hudson said. He was the youngest of the group with short, blond hair and biceps bigger than my head.
“My brother’s a new recruit in the Third Order.
He was with the patrol party who saw them.
Lower level, he thinks, but he wasn’t certain.
Can’t blame him. All demons look the same. Like monsters.”
Duke drank from his mug. “They bleed just like the rest of us. That’s all that matters.”
“Bleed, yes, but when controlled by magic?” Roth tossed his empty bowl to the grass. “They’re far more aggressive and harder to kill.”
“Controlled by magic? The mercenary is detained,” Duke said. “He’s unable to enchant the hordes.”
Roth scowled. “I never said the mercenary was responsible. Could be someone else doing it. You’ve heard the rumors as of late. The ones about him.”
I inched closer. Rumors about who? Someone else with dark magic? Maybe another mercenary from Nocturne?
“Silence your tongue before I remove it,” Duke growled through gritted teeth. I’d never heard him so angry before. “Those rumors are utter shite, and you know it.”
“All I know is this madness began with him,” Roth grumbled. “The bandits. The rise of demon attacks and sense of unrest among the people. I’m not one to believe in coincidences. He has all of you under his spell, but my mind is clear. I see him for what he truly is.”
“For what he truly is?” Quincy frowned. “And what’s that?”
“A traitorous bastard who’s been playing you for a fool.”
“Enough!” Duke pushed up from the log with a murderous look in his eyes. “Say another word, and it’ll be your last.”
My heart pounded hard against my ribs.
And then there was a tickle in my nose. I tried to fight it but failed. I sneezed. Loudly. Damn allergies. Probably the evil stinky trees—that’s what I called them. They looked pretty but smelled like cow shit and sent me into sneezing fits.
Following my loud-as-hell sneeze?
Silence. They’d stopped talking.
Uh-oh. I ducked farther out of sight. My feet always betrayed me, and now, my nose did too. So unfair. The spy life clearly wasn’t for me. Just as I was debating on how to approach them without letting on I’d been eavesdropping, a shadow passed over me.
My cover was blown.
Slowly, I lifted my gaze and found my least favorite knight glaring down at me.
“Boy.” Roth’s disdainful tone matched that glare.
“Um. Hi.” I quickly stood from my crouched position. “Beautiful day we’re having, isn’t it?”
“Sneaking around our camp is a good way to find yourself in shackles.”
“I wasn’t sneaking.” I adjusted the basket over my arm. “I brought snacks.”
His dark eyes narrowed even further. “Have you no common sense in that head of yours? We have enough troubles without being bothered by you and your dry muffins.”
My chest deflated. “Do you really think they’re dry?”
The burly knight’s eye twitched. “That’s what concerns you? My opinion of your muffins? Merlin’s beard, boy, you are truly daft. How you haven’t gotten yourself killed by now is beyond me.”
More knights rounded the corner. Quincy nudged Roth out of the way before throwing his arms around me and lifting me off the ground. As my feet dangled, he swayed from side to side. I giggled and returned his hold. He made me feel better. All of my boys did.
Duke regarded Roth, expression hard. “Evan is the captain’s sweetheart. The lieutenant’s too. You’d do well to remember that.”
Roth huffed and stormed off, mumbling to himself as he went.
“Never mind him. We all love your food.” Quincy placed me back on the grass and patted the basket. “Speaking of… do ya have any cookies in there? I fancy the ones with chocolate.”
“As do I,” Hudson added, practically salivating.
“Both of you are in luck, then.” I fished out cookies for them, then handed Duke a sweet bun. “And this for you. I remember how much you liked the last batch I made.”
“Gratitude.” He grinned like a schoolboy who’d been given an extra cup of pudding at lunch. His anger from earlier had fortunately lifted.
They led me over to the firepit and dug into their treats.
Mouths full, they spoke of their day and filled me in on what I’d missed since last seeing them.
As they talked, I peered up at the blue sky.
Clouds were scattered throughout, a mix of thin wisps and small fat ones.
Off in the distance, a wall of puffy clouds rose.
The sight caused a worried pit to settle in my gut. I’d seen enough of them to recognize storm clouds. On top of allergies, it was the worst thing about spring—thunderstorms. Hopefully, those clouds just floated right past us. Evil bastards.
A hand landed on top of my head and ruffled my hair.
“You’re a breathtaking sight, Ev.” Callum beamed down at me. “The sun on your face and that smile on your lips. I’ve never seen anything more stunning. The gods must surely favor me.”
Baden stood beside him. “Fortune favors the brave, as they say. And for us, that fortune comes in the form of an adorable little lad with the best pastries in all the realms.”
Warmth flooded my system. “I’m already yours, Cal. No need to sweet-talk me.”
“But I like sweet-talking you,” he said, sitting beside me on the log. “Your answering blush is endearing.”
“I don’t blush.” I hid my face against his arm. “It’s just the sun.”
He nuzzled my hair. “If you say so, milord.”
Baden sat beside Duke and stole the rest of his pastry.
“The thorn prince made that specially for me, you bastard,” Duke snapped. “Get your own.”
“But yours is so tasty.” Baden kept eye contact with him as he bit into the sweet bun.
By the sudden flush in Duke’s cheeks, I wondered if he envied that bun. Wanted Baden to bite into him the same way.
“Looks like the sun’s affecting you too,” Quincy told Duke.
“Bugger off.” Duke shoved his shoulder and turned his face the other way.
Baden stared at Duke a moment before dropping his gaze to the half-eaten pastry. His expression wavered between different emotions, as if uncertain of his own feelings. Or confused by them.
“How did the meeting go with Captain Braun?” I asked.
“Both captains received demands from the Royal Order,” Callum answered. “The meeting was to strategize how to effectively carry them out.”