Chapter Five #2
His mouth was then pressing to mine. The unexpected kiss made me emit a little groan, and he smiled against my lips before lightly biting at them.
The guards at the gate allowed us to pass, and moments later, the carriage came to a stop in the main courtyard. Rowan fully sank back into the darkness, but I knew he was still somewhere close, listening in. Keeping me safe.
Hershel, the coachman, opened the door for me. “Here we are, sir.”
“Thank you.” I stepped from the carriage, and a breeze jostled the ends of my hair.
“And what do you think you’re doing?”
I froze. Excited tingles shot down the back of my neck as I slowly turned.
Maddox stared down at me, jaw set and brow furrowed. He wasn’t nearly as intimidating as he tried to seem. I saw right through him. Saw the softness in his expression—one meant for me.
“Didn’t you hear?” I said, adjusting the basket over my arm. “I’m a royal guest. Evan the Small but Mighty, First of His Name and Lord of the Muffins. I hail from a kingdom far, far away.”
“I see.” Humor lit his blue eyes. “I believe I did hear that a muffin would be visiting the castle this afternoon.”
That explained his casual demeanor. A nice change. I hated when he worried about me. The man had enough on his shoulders without me adding to that stress.
“Is that why the handsome and swoonworthy Captain Maddox came to greet me? I’m honored.”
His composure broke, revealing a genuine smile that caressed my heart like fingertips brushing across harp strings. Gentle and melodic.
“Afternoon, Ev.” Callum appeared beside Maddox, smile blinding. The sun brought out the caramel swirls in his brown eyes. “We’ve been expecting you.”
“Stalking me, you mean.”
Maddox arched a brow. “Well, someone must keep an eye on you. Without your protection stone, anything could happen. Such as those small legs of yours sending you toppling into a deep chasm. Or someone snatching you away.”
“Briar gave me a protection charm,” I said. “I’m as safe as can be.”
“A charm that will only repel a single attack,” he countered, his good mood faltering. Probably because the weight of the situation settled more over him. “And you, muffin, are quite the walking disaster.”
“Rude.” I huffed. “I guess you don’t want the special treat in this basket.”
His blue-eyed gaze dropped to it. When I slowly moved the basket away, he pouted, making me laugh.
“Young Evan!”
Two guards approached from the castle steps, wearing leather armor with thin chainmail mixed in and red cloaks adorned with the royal crest. Swords were sheathed at their sides. Only one wore a helmet, but his massive size alone told me who he was: the big but oh-so-gentle Ban.
“I’m happy to see you made it safely,” Finnian said, stopping in front of us. With wavy brown hair and a chiseled face, he was a total Prince Charming type. He tipped his head to Maddox and Callum. “Captain. Lieutenant. A pleasure to see you both.”
“And you,” Maddox responded.
“How do you fare?” Finnian asked me. “You’re up and moving around seemingly well. That’s a blessing in and of itself.”
“I’m great. Feeling stronger with each passing day.”
“Good to hear.”
Ban removed his helmet, revealing buzz-cut brown hair and gray eyes. His gaze flickered to mine before lowering.
“Guess what I have for you,” I said. “Your favorite cookie.”
His eyes lifted again. The color reminded me of a rain shower in summertime.
A memory then prodded at my brain—a deep voice calling out for me and begging for me to open my eyes. One with a stutter. But that couldn’t have been Ban. Right? He’d never said a word for as long as I’d known him. He only grunted and gestured to things.
Maybe I’d just hallucinated the voice.
Shoving the thought aside, I handed Ban a snickerdoodle cookie. He accepted it and tossed Finnian a quick glance before taking a bite. Something about it made my heart swell. Was it weird to say a mountain like him was cute? Because he kind of was.
“He gets a treat?” Callum stared at Ban’s cookie, then glanced at the basket.
Maddox eyed it too.
“Oh my god.” I laughed. “You two are worse than children.”
Unable to resist their pleading stares—because I was a total sucker—I gave them each a muffin, loving how their eyes lit up. My gluttonous captain and my ooey, gooey cinnamon roll of a knight.
“The prince awaits you,” Finnian told me with a small bow. “Shall we be on our way?”
“Yep. Ready when you are.” I closed the basket, excited about seeing Sawyer. He had visited me at Briar’s clinic shortly after my attack, but I’d been a bit loopy from Herbert’s pain medicine and hadn’t been much company.
“Enjoy your tea with the prince.” Maddox moved like he meant to embrace me but stopped himself, reverting to the serious captain.
Like I’d let him.
“Be careful doing knight stuff.” I rose up and kissed him on the jaw. His stubble tickled my lips. “I love you.”
He made a soft sound before cupping the back of my head. “Not as much as I love you, sweetheart.”
When Maddox pulled away, Callum snatched hold of me and planted a kiss on my mouth. “Don’t trip going up the stairs.”
“That’s it,” I mumbled against his lips. “You’re no longer my ooey, gooey cinnamon roll. You’re stale bread.”
With an adorable laugh, he pulled away and lightly tweaked my cheek before leaving with Maddox.
The two of them joined Captain Vander at the edge of the courtyard and motioned to the castle grounds.
Probably discussing security. The captain of the Royal Order had salt-and-pepper-colored hair and looked like he hadn’t smiled in decades, expression pulled tight and shoulders rigid.
Ban stared after them before moving his gray eyes to me. Questions swam in them.
“My relationship with Cal is kind of new,” I said, somehow knowing what he wanted to ask. “Turns out he was more than my best friend.”
The big guard glanced at Maddox and grunted.
“He’s okay with it,” I told him. “He loves Cal too. Just in a different way. More like brothers, I think.”
Finnian moved a curious stare between the two of us.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Oh, nothing, really.” His smile warmed. “It’s just… I’ve never met anyone else who could understand Ban’s special way of communicating.”
The tops of Ban’s ears darkened, and he put his helmet back on. His bashfulness made him even more endearing. How had I ever been intimidated by him? The guy was a total marshmallow.
“Prince Sawyer isn’t having tea in the gazebo today?” I asked as they escorted me through the heavy doors of the main entrance. “The weather’s perfect for sitting outside.”
“He wished to remain in his study this afternoon.” Finnian rested a hand on the hilt of his sword and nodded to another guard in the corridor. “He’s in quite the somber state. Seeing you will hopefully lift his spirits.”
Did the engagement ball have anything to do with his depressed mood? Poor guy.
The walk was quiet after that. Quiet but nice. Finnian hummed and strolled a step or so in front of me, while Ban kept pace on my other side, keeping his strides short to match mine.
And for some reason, even while in the middle of the castle corridor, I caught the faint scent of rain. Maybe there was a leak somewhere from the storm the other night.
“Here we are.” Finnian stopped in front of a door with two guards posted on each side and knocked once. The door opened. “Our favorite little pastry chef has arrived.”
Sir Noah nodded and allowed me to step across the threshold.
“Thank you, my good sir,” I told him, then turned back to Ban and Finnian, who remained in the hall. “I appreciate the royal escort.”
“Anytime.” Finnian winked. “We’ll be outside the door should you need anything.”
Only Ban’s gray eyes and a peek of his mouth showed through his helmet, but I caught a tenderness in his expression that kick-started my heart.
I didn’t have time to process that feeling before something slammed into my back.
“Evan is here!” Kuya nuzzled the back of my hair and squeezed me tight. “Kuya missed his Evan so, so much.”
“Be gentle with him, Kuya,” Sawyer said. “He’s still recovering.”
“Kuya is being very gentle and sweet.” The cat boy nuzzled me once more before loosening his hold but didn’t let go completely. “He’s showering his Evan with love.”
I glanced at the prince over my shoulder. He offered me an apologetic smile that transitioned to a chuckle as Kuya started rocking me from side to side.
“I missed you too,” I told Kuya.
The door was still open, allowing the guards to witness me being attacked by the cutest demi-cat to ever walk the earth. What they also saw? Kuya licking my cheek, snatching the basket from my arm, and scurrying away.
“Hey! You little thief.”
He flashed a toothy smile. “These are Kuya’s yummies now.”
“Yeah, yeah. It’s a good thing you’re cute.”
Ban made a rough sound.
“Was that a laugh?” I asked, amazed. It reminded me of Lake’s laugh—when he was trying hard to hide it anyway, not quite letting it free.
The guard averted his gaze and quickly turned, facing in the other direction. Finnian nodded to me before taking position beside Ban.
I stepped farther into the room. Sir Noah shut the door and returned to his place against the wall, hands behind his back and gaze forward.
A wall of windows let in natural light and showed a small pond on the other side, a field of wildflowers, and trees with newly sprouted leaves.
Birds played and splashed in a decorative water bath.
Kuya carried the basket to the table and wasted no time before prying open the lid, his rainbow eyes big and eager. “Evan brought Kuya Berry Delights?”
Strawberry cupcakes that I’d named in his honor.
“Not today,” I said regrettably. “A certain overprotective male of mine would only let me bake some cookies before shooing me out of the kitchen. There should be some muffins in there though.”