Chapter Five
A Story Told… And Cookies Devoured
“You’ve been summoned to the castle.”
Words I didn’t expect to hear that morning when answering the door in an apron covered in soapy suds and wearing a headscarf to keep the hair out of my eyes while mopping the floors.
Rest? Never heard of her.
“Um. Like right now?” I asked, spotting the boy’s horse grazing in the front yard.
“For this afternoon,” the boy answered. “A carriage will come to fetch you in two hours’ time.”
“May I ask what the summons is for?” My mind had a habit of jumping to conclusions. In recent weeks, all those worst-case scenarios revolved around someone learning my secret, telling the king, and then my twink ass being shackled and hauled to the castle.
“A request from Prince Sawyer, sir. I believe it’s an invitation for tea.”
Oh, thank god.
“Great. Thank you.”
The boy tipped his head before returning to his horse. I waved at him and shut the door, then slumped against it, expelling a breath of relief.
Lake stepped into the foyer, also in an apron. He’d been cleaning the kitchen while I’d tackled the main dining room. “A summons from the prince?”
“Yep. He invited me to tea.” I removed the scarf from my head. “I can’t go empty-handed. Kuya would never forgive me if I showed up without treats. Looks like I’ll be baking today. Don’t tell Maddox.”
“Your secret is safe with me.” He made a face. “Though, there’s no fooling him, I’m afraid.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” I snorted. “That man can smell muffins from a mile away.”
“Two miles, at least.” He grabbed my hand and led me toward the kitchen. There wasn’t even a mark where Oreo had bitten him the other night. Demi-humans really did heal fast.
I lifted our joined hands to my lips and kissed the spot anyway. “For an extra healing boost.”
He smiled. “I visited the garden earlier this morning. Another tomato met its fate.”
“A worthy end. Feeding our little hero.”
My wolf’s eyes softened. “A hero indeed.” Reaching the kitchen, he guided me to a barstool at the island and helped me into it. “You should eat a snack. It’s been a while since breakfast.”
As he stepped over to the counter, I eyed his ass. “Pretty sure there’s a snack right there in your pants. I’d love to take a nibble.”
He paused in step and cocked his head, one fluffy ear raised while the other flopped forward. “A snack in my… oh. I see.”
God. The cuteness was too much.
I grabbed a cookie from the platter in front of me, leftover from the day before.
Lake plucked it from my hand with a shake of his head. “You need a proper snack. Not sweets.”
“You sound like Briar.”
Color swarmed his cheeks as he cut off thin slices from the bread loaf. No doubt he took that as a compliment. After making turkey and tomato sandwiches, he sat beside me and looked out the window. “It’s a beautiful day.”
“Yeah, it is.” Birds chirped and chased each other through the air, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the large oak tree. “I wish you could come with me to the castle.”
“As do I.” Lake’s leg pressed to mine; a touch that ignited a tender glow in his purple eyes. “I’ll still be with you though. Watching from a distance.”
“It’s not fair. You shouldn’t have to watch me from a distance.” My throat clogged. “Why are demi-wolves treated like criminals? You’ve done nothing wrong and should be allowed to walk around as free as the rest of us.”
“The conflict goes back many years,” he said. “My father told me the story once. Do you wish to hear it?”
I nodded.
“Very well. The story goes… a demi-wolf named Varys started an uprising. He and his followers turned their backs on the kingdom to ally with the demon lord. Varys was the king’s advisor.”
A vague memory resurfaced. Sawyer had told me King Eidolon’s advisor betrayed him to ally with Onyx.
“Why did he betray the king?”
“I asked my father that very question.” Lake picked at his sandwich. “One day, we were allowed to go into town. And the next, we weren’t. I was a pup at the time. Just celebrated my fifth name day. I didn’t understand.”
“What did he say?” I asked.
“People claim Varys was a traitor from the very beginning. However, my father felt differently. He said Varys was devoted to the royal family and wouldn’t have turned his back on them unless something forced his hand.”
“Like what?”
Lake shrugged. “The reason is of little consequence now. Many demi-wolves followed Varys and took refuge in the dark wood. The demon lord welcomed them with open arms, which only supported the claims of Varys’ deception.
Ever since then, we wolves have been associated with demons.
Or more so, as their ally. Any found within the kingdom are accused of being Onyx’s spies. ”
“If the demi-wolves were cast out, why did your dad stay?”
“Bremloc was his home. It’s where he met and fell in love with my mother.”
“Your mom?” I asked around a mouthful. “You haven’t mentioned her before.”
“Because I never knew her,” he said softly. “Sickness took her when I was very young.”
I paused in my chewing. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s hard to mourn someone you never knew.
” A faraway look touched his eyes. “After the uprising, my father said the tension would eventually pass. That one day, we’d finally be able to walk among the people, feeling the sun on our skin.
To live freely.” His ears drooped. “I’m still waiting for that day. ”
My heart hurt. Lake had the most beautiful soul. He believed all living things had value and should be respected. He deserved that too. Deserved more than a life in the shadows, hidden from the world.
We continued eating in silence. After, Lake cleared our plates and stepped over to the sink. His tail drooped just like his ears. He was still lost in a memory, dreaming of that future his dad had mentioned.
I padded over and hugged his waist. “Wanna help me make cookies?”
He dropped a plate into the soapy water and faced me, brow furrowed. “You already broke Maddox’s rule by sweeping and mopping the floors. You’re supposed to be resting today.”
“This is how I rest. Making cookies is relaxing. Besides.” I rubbed his chest. “If you help me, I’m compromising. Half resting. So our grumpy captain can’t gripe at me for it.”
That amused him.
Whipping up chocolate chip cookie dough didn’t take long at all.
My recipe was delicious but super simple, just a quick mix, form into balls, and toss in the oven.
Muffins were left over from breakfast, so I would pack them too, along with the few cookies that hadn’t sold yesterday.
We’d just pulled the platter out and set it on the counter to cool when an adorable raspy voice came from the archway.
“What’s for breakfast?” Rowan asked with a yawn, stepping into the kitchen.
“It’s almost lunch now, sleepyhead.” I approached him. “Go sit. I’ll make you something to eat.”
“One of those egg things with peppers?”
I grinned. “Yes. I’ll make you an omelet.”
He and Lake were a lot more alike than they cared to admit. That was our wolf’s favorite food. His fluffy tail always wagged at the mention of them.
“Or I could just eat you.” Rowan grazed his teeth up my neck.
A rush of heat shot to my groin. “I’m not food, you fiend.”
“You sure about that?” He licked along my pulse point. “You taste mighty good to me.”
“Evan is leaving soon,” Lake said, joining us at the counter. His tail brushed Rowan but didn’t whack him. Progress. “I’ll make your omelet.”
“Fine.” Rowan sighed. “But you better not burn it.”
“I won’t.” Lake smiled at me. “I had a great teacher.”
“Oh, stop.” I flicked my hand. “You’ll make me blush.”
“Better than making you cry.” Rowan popped a tomato slice into his mouth, then scavenged the rest of the ingredients Lake had used for our sandwiches. “Who was here earlier? I heard voices.”
“A messenger from the castle,” I answered. “Prince Sawyer invited me for afternoon tea.”
Rowan paused in his chewing. “Need me to come with you?”
“I have a feeling you’ll follow me no matter what I say.”
“And there’s not a thing you can do to stop me.” He found the stash of bread and broke into it, biting off a large wedge from the end of the loaf. “The pup and I’ll keep you safe.”
Lake averted his gaze, but not before I saw his smile. “Aye. We will.”
I could’ve cried. The two of them had become so close.
“Don’t think this means I like you or anything, pup,” Rowan then added, averting his eyes. “But I reckon you’re better than a certain stinky rabbit.”
“Cal doesn’t stink.” I rolled my eyes.
Rowan shrugged. “All I know is the cottage smells a lot better with him gone. Coincidence? I think not.”
Callum had gone to the castle with Maddox, the knights, and Briar earlier that morning. His first full day back to work since my attack. I loved having him with me, but he couldn’t put his life on hold forever.
“You should go wash up,” Lake told me. “The carriage will be here for you soon.”
***
As the carriage bounced its way to the castle, I ate a chocolate chip cookie, then tried to resist the temptation of eating another. A lost cause. My hand was already in the basket and grabbing one before I could stop it.
The shadows in the corner of the compartment swirled.
“I know you’re there, Ro.”
“Of course I am,” he said. “Like I’d let you out of my sight.”
I heard him but couldn’t see him. He had rare dark magic that allowed him to control shadows. Use them to hide and teleport to places. He even used them to fly. Well, sort of. They wrapped around his legs and helped lift him through the air, making him almost weightless.
“Want a cookie?”
He scoffed. “I’d rather starve.”
“You’re so mean to me.”
A glimmer of topaz showed in the dark corner. “But you love me.”
“I do.”
More of his form appeared: a glimpse of bronze skin and then his red hair. The shadows stretched toward the seat across from me before he materialized on top of it. “I reckon I love you too.”