Chapter Two #3
The Royal Order consisted of elite knights charged with protecting the royal family. They were very rarely sent on combat missions or patrols, unless it was to escort the royal family or guests of the crown, such as Lord Norwood and Lady Alina.
“What sort of demands?” I asked, eyeing the basket of treats. I snatched a cookie and bit into it. Sugar made everything better. Though, I’d never turn down a nice, beefy sausage either.
“Security, mostly,” Baden answered. “Mercenaries normally work alone, but seeing how the one who attacked you and the prince is sitting in the castle dungeon, more might follow. The orders include frequent patrols of the castle perimeter.”
Duke nodded. “With the engagement ball happening at week’s end, security is of the utmost importance.”
A ball taking place in three days. The Brewed Muffin would be catering the event. Our desserts would be front and center, and there was still so much to do before then. A reminder that didn’t stress me out at all. Not even a little.
The lies you tell.
Knights neared the courtyard, their shields clanking and boots heavy on the ground. Glancing in our direction, one smacked the arm of the man beside him, and the two of them halted. The other three followed suit.
“Lieutenant,” one said, bowing his head.
Callum stood from the log. “Where are you off to?”
“We’re joining a unit from the Third Order to patrol the lower district and along the harbor, sir.”
“As you were, then,” Callum said.
The group of knights gave him respectful nods before peering at me. Something in their expressions caused a weird twist in my gut. They looked… uneasy. Maybe they were just nervous about the recent demon sighting.
“I kind of overheard your conversation earlier,” I said to Hudson. “About the demon horde seen last night.”
“Aye.” The big, blond knight wiped cookie crumbs from his lips. “My younger brother saw them. A dozen or so.”
“Was anyone hurt?”
“By the grace of the gods, no,” he answered. “The demons were seen in the outer fields not far from the dark wood but never ventured closer.”
“That’s good.” I fidgeted in place.
Had Oreo been with the horde? I hadn’t seen any signs of the Fenrir pup since the day he saved me. He had fought off the mercenary and then used some of his own mana to heal the worst of my wounds, literally bringing me back from the brink of death.
Wherever he was, I hoped he was safe. I owed him my life.
“Worry not,” Baden said. “The knights will do all in our power to keep you and everyone in the kingdom safe.” He withdrew two sweet buns from the basket and handed one to Duke. “These treats will help.”
“Aye.” Quincy helped himself to another cookie. “Food of the gods. I feel stronger already.”
“Our thorn prince must use a secret ingredient known only to him,” Duke said. “No other food compares to his.”
“Oh, stop.” I flicked my hand at them. “There’s no secret ingredient.”
“I disagree.” Callum smiled over at me. “You make everything with love. And that love tastes like pure magic.”
Butterflies swarmed my belly. Damn him and that dimple. Sir Swoonamon Roll was at it again.
Hudson rose from his seat and bowed his head to me. “Gratitude for the cookies.”
“You’re leaving?” I asked.
He nodded. “Nikolai and Erik are joining me near the king’s forest. Our orders are to patrol the perimeter.”
“Be careful,” I told him. A threat lurked around every corner. Demons. Dark mages slash mercenaries. More Herbert-type beetles scuttling around.
“I will.”
“Take this token of good luck.” I fished out another chocolate chip cookie for him. “Eating it will protect you.”
Quincy watched as Hudson ate it in one bite. “I want a protection cookie.”
“You’ve eaten five,” Duke huffed. “If you aren’t protected by now, I’m afraid there’s no saving you.”
I laughed. It felt good to be with the knights again. They were the big brothers I’d never had growing up. Part of my found family.
The air then stirred at my back, causing a tickle at my nape. A smile formed on my lips as a shadow loomed over me, blocking the sun. I turned and peered up at a face that still made my heart wobble, even after a year by his side.
“Afternoon, sweetheart.” Maddox brushed a hand over my hair. “Behaving yourself, I hope.”
“Always.” I stood from the log and wrapped my arms around him.
The scent of leather armor and warm spice enveloped me, mixing with the smoke from the firepit.
“About time you got here. I was beginning to think Captain Braun kidnapped you and was about to throw down the gauntlet and fight him to get you back.”
He barked out a surprised laugh and cupped the back of my head. “No one will ever keep me from you.”
“Only because you know I have muffins with me.”
“I already have the muffin I came for.” His arms tightened around my waist.
I melted against him. “Not fair. You and Cal can’t release the full force of your charm so close together. You have to coordinate and stagger it.”
Callum chuckled. “Seeing that flush in your cheeks is much more entertaining. As is the little swoony sigh.”
“I don’t swoon.”
Maddox then dipped me and grazed his lips across mine, ever so lightly licking the corner of my mouth. And yes, I emitted a little sound that was, undoubtedly, a freaking swoon. Damn him.
“Lovesick muffin,” Quincy said.
“Muffin lord,” Baden corrected. “Show some respect.”
“Evan the Small but Mighty,” Duke said, raising his mug. “Lord of the Muffins and Prince of Thorns.”
“And Tamer of Demons,” Quincy added. “Ow!”
Duke had kicked him in the shin.
“What was that about demons?” I asked, turning from Maddox.
“Put it from your mind,” Duke told me. “This fool has clearly had too much sun and doesn’t know what nonsense he’s spouting.”
A strange pressure settled over my sternum. They were definitely keeping something from me.
“Let’s get you home,” Maddox murmured in my hair.
“But I’m still visiting,” I whined.
He looked at the knights gathered around the firepit. “You’re all invited to dinner this evening. And by invited, I mean it’s an order.” Then, to me, he said, “There. You will see them again later. Now you have no excuse but to do as I say.”
“Meanie.” My brow furrowed.
A faint smile touched his lips. “Only because I love you.”
“I love you too, big guy. Even if you’re bossy. To me and your knights.”
“Ordering us to eat your cooking is no bother, I assure you,” Quincy said with his mouth full. He’d helped himself to the last few cookies in the basket. “Especially if there’s dessert.”
“I’m sure Ev will make you something tasty.” Callum grinned. “You’re his oh-so-cute Quincy.”
Duke spat the drink he’d just taken from his mug. “Come again? If that bastard’s cute, then I’m a one-legged brothel wench.”
“A one-legged brothel wench?” Baden tilted his head in interest. “Very specific. Speaking from experience? A long-lost love, perhaps?”
“Aye. Fairly sure it was your mother.”
With a roar, Baden dove forward and tackled Duke. The two then rolled around in the grass, pummeling each other.
Maddox watched them with a subtle smile before scooping me up into his arms.
“Hey!” I wiggled against him. “Let me go.”
“Never.” He spoke directly in my ear, using that deep, gravelly voice I loved. “You have a hold over me that nothing will ever break.”
Heat filled my veins, spreading from my toes to the top of my head. He had a hold over me too. And always would. “I think I’m ready to go home now.”
“Home will have to wait a while longer.” He kissed my earlobe. “There’s somewhere else I wish to take you first.”
“Where?”
Answering with only a smirk, he carried me from the courtyard and found the path toward the barracks.
It was a path I’d walked countless times.
Trees I’d passed beneath and stopped to stare up at, admiring the rays of sun peeking through the branches.
Familiar smells of honeysuckle, pinecones, and timber.
So many memories within those castle grounds. Falling in love. Cooking for my knights in the mess hall. Being pounced on by Kuya and forging a strong friendship with him and Prince Sawyer.
“It’s hard to believe I’ve only been here a year,” I said, resting my head against his. “I can barely remember my life before Bremloc. Before meeting you.”
“I recall mine all too well.” Maddox slowly exhaled.
“Endless days where I merely existed. Bleak and hollow. Then, you stumbled into my life and brought color to my world. Loving you changed everything. You…” He swallowed hard, and his voice held a slight tremor.
“You gave me a family, sweetheart. Briar. Lake. Even Rowan. Callum and I are closer than we’ve ever been.
I wake each morning excited for what the day may bring. And it’s all because of you.”
Happiness filled my chest. With it came the fear of losing it. But that’s how you knew it was real. “You sap.”
“Sap? Don’t forget the vulnerable position you’re in,” he said with a touch of mischief in his eyes. “You’re at my mercy.”
“One of my favorite places to be.” I nipped at his throat, loving the salty burst of his skin on my tongue. “In your arms.”
A low growl vibrated in his chest, and he broke his casual pace, carrying me with more haste down the tree-lined path. As the officers’ quarters came into view, I understood his intentions.
“Is the noble Captain Maddox taking me to his bed to ravish me? How scandalous.”
“Scandalous?” He stepped across the threshold and kicked the door closed behind us.
“Oh yes.” I toyed with the clasp on his cloak. The desire for a little role-play struck. It was something we hadn’t really done before. “What would the people say if they knew?”
“My love for you is no secret.” He dropped me onto the bed and removed his cloak. His expression veered on confused, which made it hard for me not to laugh.
“Oh, but it is,” I said theatrically, throwing a hand across my forehead.
“We come from two different worlds. You’re sworn to serve the royal family, oh valiant knight, and I’m merely a lowly peasant.
If the people learned of our love, it would undoubtedly tarnish your honorable reputation. We mustn’t do this.”
“Did you just call yourself a peasant?” He frowned down at me. “Are you all right, sweetheart? You’re speaking out of your mind.”
“Maddox,” I mumbled with a little frustrated kick of my feet. “This is supposed to be sexy role-play time.”
“Role-play?” He got on the bed and hovered over me, bracing his arms on both sides of my head.
“Yep. Where we can act out sexual fantasies and be anything we want. Enemies to lovers with some rough ‘I hate you but need you’ sex. Captive and captor, if you’re feeling some dark romance vibes.
Or the forbidden love trope. That’s always been one of my favorites. Hence, the noble knight and peasant.”
“Ah. I see.” An amused gleam lit his blue eyes. “What if I don’t wish for you to be a peasant?”
“What would you like me to be, then?” I asked with an excited wiggle. “It can be anything. The sky’s the limit.”
“Anything? Only one thing comes to mind.” Maddox slid his fingers through mine and lifted my hand to his lips, kissing my middle knuckle. “My prince.”
My heart lifted into my throat at the sudden tenderness in his blue eyes. Then, he kissed me. It was soft at first. Hesitant. Different than how he normally kissed me.
“How long I’ve yearned to taste your lips,” he softly whispered. “To feel your skin on mine. Yet, as you stated, we come from different worlds. I haven’t a right to touch you. To love you. Your place is on the throne, and mine is on the battlefield, fighting in your name.”
Holy shit. He was actually playing along. I hadn’t expected him to.
But as his mouth crashed against mine, his body quaking ever so softly, I got the feeling it wasn’t totally an act.
Aside from being more protective, Maddox had treated me the same once learning whose blood ran through my veins.
He still teased me and bossed me around in the way I loved.
However, I’d occasionally caught a glimmer in his eyes, a sense of awe that made me feel like he was putting me on a pedestal in his mind.
Like I really was his prince.
Our role-play gave him the freedom to act on those feelings.
“My shield. My sword. Both belong to you.” He dipped his face to my neck and shakily breathed out. “As does my heart. Until my dying day.”
“That day better not come anytime soon,” I said, emotion tight in my throat. “I forbid it.”
“You forbid it, do you?” Maddox unfastened the strings on my tunic and exposed the top of my chest, lifting his gaze to mine.
“Yep. I’m your prince, after all. Gotta obey me.”
He didn’t smile, but I saw the joy in his blue eyes—the love. “I’ve changed my mind. You can return to being a peasant.”
I laughed. “Too late. This muffin has a crown now. So you have to—”
Maddox claimed my lips in a heated kiss, silencing my snarky response and causing every coherent thought to flee my head. I melted into him.
Love was illogical and messy, something that couldn’t be explained with words.
But I felt it in his kiss. In the way he stripped off my clothes and worshiped my body with his lips and deft fingers.
I saw it in his eyes as he joined our bodies and cupped my face.
They shone with a vulnerability that threatened total annihilation of the heart should something ever tear us apart.
I felt it too.
“Maddox,” I whimpered, overcome with the feelings crashing over me.
“I’ve got you, sweetheart.” He cradled my head and rocked into me, pressing the softest of kisses to my cheek and jaw. “Always.”
Afterward, he held me against his chest, slowly moving his fingers through my hair. Sunlight spilled in through the window near the bed, the rays a dark golden hue as the day neared its end, creeping ever closer to dusk. I watched the shadows shift along the wall.
Things I’d tried hard to shove from my mind surfaced again.
“You’re the one. I sense it in your blood.”
So much was still foggy from my attack, but I recalled the mercenary’s words perfectly as he’d stood over me. I had been the true target all along, not Prince Sawyer. Why? What was so special about me? It made no sense.
And perhaps the most nerve-racking… what would happen once he woke from the sleeping spell? Would he reveal everything? Who hired him, as well as my true identity? The son of the prince who’d sent the kingdoms back into war.
“You look so faraway.” Maddox slid his hand to my cheek. “What’s running through that beautiful head of yours?”
“I’m just enjoying this.” I leaned into his touch. “Being with you.”
For as long as I could.