Chapter Three
Masked Men are Still Hot
Thunder rolled in the sky, like a distant growl. So much for the clouds just floating past us like I’d hoped when spotting them earlier.
I stood at the kitchen sink, washing dishes and fighting the anxious twists in my belly. Worrying about the approaching storm, sure, but also about Briar.
Had he woken the mercenary yet?
Voices filled the cottage, coming from the main dining room. My favorite band of knights had come over for dinner and were now decompressing with mugs of ale and a platter of brownies. The noisy house helped me feel more at peace. Comforted.
“Hear ye, hear ye!” Quincy exclaimed. “I propose a contest. What do ya say, Lieutenant?”
I laughed under my breath. He and Callum often challenged each other to eating contests.
Once, they’d tried to see who could fit the most muffins in their mouths without swallowing.
Muffin chunks had soon ended up spewed all over the table and floor as the pair of them erupted into a fit of giggles.
“Touch my muffins and die,” came Maddox’s voice.
My quiet laughter wasn’t nearly as quiet anymore. My big grump was still bitter about all those wasted muffins.
There was another flash of lightning, and my humor fled. I peeked out the window and groaned. The flickers were more frequent now, almost constant cloud-to-cloud lightning.
The scent of peaches tickled my nose before arms came around me from behind. Lake walked so soundlessly, the perfect predator. I didn’t mind being his prey though, especially when getting caught came with the sweetest nuzzles and kisses.
“I sense your unrest,” he murmured into the back of my hair.
As a demi-wolf, fated mates worked differently for him compared to my other men. His soul had imprinted on mine, allowing him to feel my strong emotions. It also helped him sense my life force. Meaning, he could always find me, no matter the distance between us.
“I’m okay,” I said, resting my arm over his. “Just dreading the storm. Do you think it’ll be a bad one?”
He stood quietly for a moment. “No, not a severe storm. Mostly rain and thunder with a little wind.”
Lake was my personal weatherman. He could feel the energy and small shifts in the air. Thunderstorms, blizzards, and even cold fronts.
“Good. I can handle rain.” I slowly exhaled, less nervous now. “I hope Briar remembered to eat something for dinner.”
“As do I. He’s neglected his needs for too long, in both eating and sleeping. Stress weighs heavily on him.”
“Poor guy needs a vacation.” I rested my head against his. “Once all of this is over… the ball and resolving the whole mercenary thing, we should all go somewhere together. Have a picnic.”
Lake turned his face into my neck. “My human wants a picnic?”
“Yep.” I smiled at his playfulness. “We can travel south where it’s warmer and stay in a little beach house. A secluded cove away from other people so you can go outside without fear of being seen. We can swim, eat, and soak up the sun.”
No stress about war or doom flags. Just all of us being together.
“That sounds nice.” He breathed out and relaxed more against me.
“The mountains would also be beautiful. Somewhere near a lake and surrounded by lush trees, fields of flowers, and rolling hills. We can go hiking and then take a dip in the water. Sit outside around a firepit in the evening and talk about the day. Perhaps Duke and the others can come as well.”
His wistful tone struck my chest, plucking at my heartstrings. For so much of his life, Lake had been alone. Now, he had friends and people who loved him.
“Exalos has nice mountains,” I said. “Maybe we can go there.”
I felt him smile against my neck. “I’d like that.”
It would also give me a chance to visit William and see how the café was coming along. Maybe visit with Xavier as well. He had loved my mom. Still did. I’d learned a lot about her because of him.
The sky flickered bright beyond the window, the lightning skipping between the dark clouds. Thunder rumbled a handful of seconds later. The storm was moving slowly toward us. As another flicker lit up the sky, the wooded area behind the cottage flooded with light.
And within the trees? I could’ve sworn I saw something dark crouched near a bush.
I dove closer to the window. “Did you see that?”
Lake stepped up beside me, gaze on the glass and his fluffy wolf ears pointed upward. An odd expression crossed his face, a mix of worry and awe.
“Lake?”
His purple eyes shifted to me. “It’s the Fenrir pup.”
“Oreo? He’s out there?” I shot toward the back door, only to be caught around the arm and gently tugged away from it. I spun on my heels to look at my protective male. “He won’t hurt me, Lake.”
Indecision marred his features. “It’s too dangerous. He’s not simply a wolf pup, Evan. He’s a demon.”
“A demon who saved me, remember?” Desperation laced in my voice. “I’d be dead if not for him. Please, Lake. I just want to make sure he’s okay.”
His hold eased on my arm. “Very well. If it’s so important to you… I wish to come with you. To see him.”
“Okay.” I smiled. “There’s some steak scraps left over from dinner. We should bring him a plate. Wait. Do demons eat cooked meat? Or do they prefer raw?”
Hopefully not people-flavored meat.
Lake crinkled his nose. “Your guess is as good as mine. However, given the gnawed-on bits of my tomato plant, I know he at least likes vegetables.”
I snorted. “Still mad at him for that?”
“No.” He mirrored my smile. “The Fenrir ensured you made it home to us. He can eat as many tomatoes as he wishes. Let’s take him a plate before the storm hits.”
After making a plate, Lake and I snuck out the back door.
Sneaking because Maddox and Callum would never let me go outside to visit with a demon, no matter how adorable that demon might’ve been.
Briar either. He was just as protective as they were, though I bet he’d secretly want to see Oreo, too, and give him head pats.
More thunder sounded, closer now. With luck, the rain would hold off for another few minutes.
“Is he still out here?” I asked, nearly toppling over as a gust of wind swept around us. “I can’t see him.”
“Aye. He’s by the shrub ahead of us.” Lake kept his arm around me, probably both as a form of protection but also to keep me from blowing over. “He’s baring his teeth at me.”
Oreo had done the same to me at first. But once he’d realized I wasn’t a threat, he’d rolled to his back and wanted belly rubs.
He would see that Lake wasn’t a threat either.
My wolf had a gentle nature and would never hurt a living thing unless forced to.
Hell, he even sang to his garden when he thought one of the crops might be sad.
Lake slowed in his step as we reached the tree line. “I’ll stand here for a moment. He’s scared.”
My eyes adjusted more to the dark, and I saw the puppy beside the shrub. He inched away from us. Well, from Lake.
“Hey, buddy.” I crouched down and carefully set the plate in front of him. “We brought you some food. It’s yummy steak. Do you like steak? I hope so.”
Oreo’s ears perked up the more I spoke. The tension in his little body gradually eased, and he sniffed the air a few times before creeping forward.
“I know meeting new people can be scary,” I continued in a gentle voice. “But Lake is nice. He won’t hurt you. He’s the one who grows those tomatoes you love to eat.”
“Hello.” Lake bowed his head. “A pleasure to meet you.”
I pressed my lips together. He was too damn cute.
Oreo inched closer, glancing between Lake and the plate. Then, as if understanding he was safe, he snatched a chunk of steak and started chewing.
“That’s a good boy. Eat all you want.” I lightly petted the top of Oreo’s head. He didn’t even flinch at the contact. Instead, he nuzzled my palm in between bites, seeking more pets. A ball of emotion swelled in my throat. “Thank you for saving me.”
The puppy stopped eating and lifted his gaze. His blue eyes looked electric in the shadow of night, faintly glowing just like another wolf I knew and loved.
“Briar said you infused your own mana into me. To heal me.” I scratched his left ear while the right one flopped, just like it’d done the first day I’d met him. “I hope it didn’t hurt you to do that.”
Oreo emitted a little whine and came closer. He licked my hand.
“He wasn’t hurt,” Lake said. “It only made him tired for a while after.”
“Wait.” I glanced up at him from my crouched position. He remained about a foot away. “You can understand him?”
“Not in the same way you and I understand each other. It’s more of a feeling.” Cautiously, Lake closed the gap between us and squatted to my level. “Perhaps it’s my animal counterpart.”
When Lake held out his hand, Oreo sniffed the air again before slowly nearing him. He released another small whine and licked Lake’s fingers.
Lake smiled down at him. “He’s sweet-natured.”
“He is.” I scratched Oreo’s ears, then trailed my hand down the back of his neck. Soft fur tickled my palm.
Even knowing the truth, it was still hard to believe he was a demon. He looked exactly like a wolf. Not like the monsters from my nightmares—the ones who’d chased me and Rowan through the dark wood.
Oreo returned his attention to the plate and allowed us to pet him as he ate. Which was a big deal. Some animals got really territorial when they ate and would snap at anyone too close. But not him. He wagged his poofy tail and gobbled up every bit of the food, then head-butted each of our hands.
A loud crack of thunder pierced the air. The kind that came with no warning. Oreo snarled and nipped at Lake’s fingers.
“Oh my god!” I grabbed Lake’s hand. Blood beaded to the surface. “Are you okay?”
Oreo whined and scurried back a few steps.
“I’m fine,” Lake gently said, not sounding angry at all. “He didn’t mean to. The noise frightened him.”
I glanced at the puppy. “You’re afraid of storms too? I feel ya, buddy.”
He whined again, and his ears slumped.