Chapter Three #3
“I assure you that I don’t.” A nervous laugh left me, and I leaned against the counter, waiting for the water to boil.
I knew he was only teasing me and not seriously flirting, but the glint in his eyes and smooth voice made me hot all over.
“I’m just an ordinary coffee addicted bookworm who loves to bake and stuff. ”
And who’d traveled across realms, going from one world to another, and just happened to be the son of a prince. But definitely still ordinary and very mundane.
Reign tilted his head, amused gaze still locked on mine. I detected a note of something else too. Curiosity.
“Welcome home,” Lake told Rowan as he entered the kitchen, eyes downcast. My wolf had opened up to the knights and felt comfortable around them, but the spies were still strangers to him.
“Thanks, pup.” Rowan tugged down his mask and took a swig from his flask. “We won’t be staying for long. Just wanted to check on Evan.”
“Check on me?” I was grateful for the change of topic. Reign was too big a flirt, and my awkward self couldn’t handle it.
“Because of the storm,” Rowan said softly and focused on his flask. “I know how you are with them.” Then, his demeanor changed, losing the softness and reverting to his cocky self. “So, I came to rescue you, little treasure. I should get a reward.”
I smiled. Typical Rowan. Showing a hint of affection and then backtracking. In front of others, at least. When it was just the two of us, he let all those romantic and vulnerable parts of himself show.
“I guess I can make you some spicy truffles. Since you’re so heroic.”
“I look forward to it,” Rowan said, smirk softening into a genuine smile. “It’ll have to wait though. We have to return to the castle soon.”
“You do?” I removed the kettle from the heat as it started to whistle.
“Aye,” Reign answered. “The mercenary from Nocturne has woken.”
I nearly dropped said kettle.
“Specs is with him now,” Rowan added, pocketing his flask.
Anxiety bubbled in my gut. With it came a sudden sharpness between my ribs. “Will he be left alone with the mercenary?”
“No,” Draven said. “The physician isn’t qualified for the actual interrogation. Once he’s fulfilled his duty, he’ll be dismissed. The Royal Order will be overseeing the questioning.”
That was good news, at least. I didn’t want him anywhere near that fire-wielding psychopath. With my mind more at ease, I poured tea for each of them and added three drops of cream and just a pinch of sugar to Rowan’s. The only way he’d drink the stuff, not too sweet or creamy.
“Snake,” Callum said as he entered the kitchen. “I thought I heard you slithering around in here.”
“Rabbit,” Rowan shot back, lowering his cup. “I thought I smelled you coming. Might want to bathe before bed, though I’m afraid nothing can take away that stench.”
“Oh? Perhaps it’s your upper lip you smell.”
Rowan smirked.
Maddox stepped in behind Callum and nodded to Draven. The spy returned the gesture. Fitting that the two grumps would form a connection. And just like my captain, who had a gentle and sweet side, I suspected Draven was exactly the same. He just had a lot of defensive layers concealing that side.
The other knights appeared in the doorway, Baden in the middle.
“Full house tonight,” Reign said, glancing at everyone. His gaze then shifted to me. “You really are quite special. So many are devoted to you. Perhaps you’re not so ordinary after all.”
The look in his eyes gave me pause. Almost as though he knew something the rest of us didn’t. Or maybe, like usual, I was just overthinking it.
“Let me fix you something to eat before you go back to work,” I said, stepping over to the stove.
“Brownies?” Reign asked, mismatched eyes twinkling.
Maddox scowled at him, no doubt remembering Rowan’s remark about Reign replacing him in bed and kicking him to the floor. Silly captain. As if that’d ever happen.
“You’re in luck,” I told the spy. “I made three platters tonight.”
“We ate two and a half of those platters,” Quincy said. “Perfect timing on your part. I was about to help myself to another.”
Duke scoffed. “It’d be wise to ease up on the sweets. I pity your poor horse should you pack on more weight. Forcing the creature to haul your fat arse around is cruel.”
“Well, I never.” Quincy blinked at him. The blank stare that then passed between them had me giggle-snorting.
“I care not for sweets,” Draven said.
“What about steak and potatoes?”
His baby blue eyes flickered to me.
“Is that interest I see?” I asked, fighting a smile. “Have I finally found something you like?”
“No,” he said dryly before looking at the other two spies. “We should take our leave. Captain Remy will be expecting us in the Tower.”
Their secret base. One I’d have to find a way to sneak into one day. If only I had access to my vast collection of e-books in this world. There was a spy novel that gave all sorts of awesome “sneaking into places you shouldn’t” tips.
“The captain can wait a minute or so longer,” Reign said, eyeing the platter of brownies. “At least until I can grab a few of these.”
“Not that one though.” Quincy pointed to the top corner piece. “That’s mine.”
“It is?” Reign teasingly glided his fingertip over the brownie in question. “What will you give me for it?”
“What I won’t give ya is a bloody nose.”
“Hear that?” Baden grinned. “It’s all fun and games with him until food is on the line. Then his violent side emerges.”
Lake suddenly snapped his head toward the doorway. Draven followed suit, both of them having sensed something.
“Good evening,” Briar said as he entered the kitchen, voice ringing with his exhaustion.
“You’re home!” I padded over and caught him around the waist. When he returned my embrace, I burrowed into his chest and breathed in his magnolia scent. “I thought you were at the castle.”
“I was dismissed for the night.” He kissed my temple.
“Why? What happened with the mercenary?”
Briar drew back with a tired smile. “Nothing happened with him as of now.”
“Has he said anything?” Maddox asked, arms crossing over his broad chest.
“Not yet,” Briar responded. “I woke him, but his lethargy will take some time to fade. An effect of the sleeping spell he used. Any questioning will have to wait until his mind’s had the chance to clear.”
“How long will that take?” Rowan asked before drinking more of his tea.
“Anywhere from hours to a day or two. It varies from person to person. I’m to examine his condition again in the morning.”
My tension eased even further. Things were okay. For tonight, at least. I found my coffee mug and took a drink.
“Your hand.” Briar neared Lake and gently took hold of his wrist, upturning his palm. “What happened?”
“An accident is all,” Lake responded. The bite marks had faded significantly, but it was still pink and slightly swollen. “Nothing to worry over. It’ll be healed come morning.”
“The Fenrir was here earlier,” Maddox announced. “Yoyo.”
Coffee almost shot from my nose.
“Oreo,” Briar said, adjusting his glasses. “Will you ever remember the name our Evan gave to the creature?”
Maddox sneered. “Yoyo. Oreo. The name matters not. He’s still a demon and should be treated with caution. Not as a pet.”
“Ah.” Duke nodded. “That must be the reason for the ruckus we heard earlier between you and the wolf. The demon returned.”
“A demon who bit Lake,” Maddox said, jaw tensing.
It occurred to me then that while he’d been worried about me being around a demon, some of Maddox’s anger had also been because Lake got hurt. Further proof that they loved each other. The realization brought warmth to my chest.
“I think Oreo was checking on me,” I said. “Once seeing I was okay, he left.”
“I see.” Duke shifted his gaze toward the window. Baden looked at him, then did the same, both suddenly interested in the occasional flickers beyond the glass.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. “The two of you are acting weird.”
“There are rumors,” Quincy said before being shoulder checked by Baden. “Ow.”
“Rumors?” I set my coffee down on the counter. “About what?”
Baden examined the contents of his mug, while Quincy shot him another look and rubbed at his arm.
“Put it out of your mind.” Duke’s face became grim. “The rumors hold no merit. Merely fools speaking out of their asses.”
“Are they the same ones Roth mentioned?” I pressed. “I heard him say there might be someone else in the kingdom using magic to control demons. Not that I was eavesdropping or anything.”
“You’re a rotten liar, Ev.” Callum shook his head, a slight curve to his lips. His eyes, however, were apprehensive. “Captain Braun filled me in on the rumors on the way to meet with Maddox. He believes them to be rubbish as well.”
“Because they are,” Maddox said in that snarly tone I knew well.
“I’m still clueless.” I glanced between all of them. “Someone mind telling me what’s going on?”
“They’re about you, little treasure,” Rowan said, having switched out his tea for the flask of rum instead. “The guards who captured the mercenary won’t stop yapping about what they saw. Which was you, being saved by a demon.”
The hair prickled on my nape. “Okay. So?”
“So.” Maddox exhaled through his nostrils. “Word of it has spread throughout the castle and among the ranks of knights. In our experience, demons are bloodthirsty and violent beasts who kill without thought. They would never come to the aid of a human.”
“Unless it were being controlled,” Baden added.
“Wait.” I blew out a heavy, disbelieving breath. “They think I’m controlling demons? Me? Someone who doesn’t have a magical bone in his body?”
I didn’t know whether I should laugh or cry. It was freaking ridiculous.
“Many find the rumors absurd,” Duke said. “Only two of the guards actually saw the Fenrir, and one claims he thought it was a mere wolf pup instead. Nearly the entire Second Order spoke in your defense. Sir Noah and other Royal Knights did as well. And of course, Prince Sawyer and his guards.”