Chapter Fourteen #2
“I hope they found something to eat.” The mention of food had me glancing toward the table.
My appetite had returned, but eating could wait for another minute.
Cuddling with Lake felt too nice. “According to Onyx, I have a bounty on my head. A different one, unrelated to Nocturne. Which means our men might have to lay low for a while.”
“Aye. If they return to the castle, their loyalty may be questioned.” A pained sound left Lake’s throat.
Pressure filled my chest. “We’ll figure this out, okay?
” I lightly squeezed his fingers. “You’ll be playing chess with Duke again in no time, while Callum, Baden, and Quincy fight over the last sweet bun.
Rowan will be perched somewhere drinking rum and stealing spicy truffles when he thinks we aren’t looking. ”
A tear rolled down his cheek. “Maddox and Briar will be there too, one eating every muffin in sight while the other sips tea.”
“Just as long as it isn’t wine,” I said. “You know how Briar gets when he drinks too much.”
Lake tried for a smile, but it shook. “The cottage will take care of them until we can find our way home. A garden to keep them fed and plenty of blankets. There are plenty of deer and rabbits they can hunt as well.”
“Cal loves rabbit stew. It’s his favorite.”
“Aye.” He smoothed his thumb along the edge of my eye. “As you said, we’ll figure this out and find our way back to them. I know we will.”
I released an unsteady breath. “I’m glad you’re here with me, Lake. If you weren’t, I’d be out of my mind right now.”
“I’d be out of my mind as well.” He lightly bumped his head to mine. “As my fated mate, I need to know where you are and that you’re safe. Otherwise, I start to lose myself. You keep my inner wolf at bay.”
I recalled how he’d yanked the mercenary from the tree and ripped out her throat with his teeth. Remembered that wild look in his eyes as blood dripped from his mouth. I got the feeling it was a glimpse at what he’d become in one of those dark futures Lupin had warned me about.
Like hell I’d let that future come to pass.
“Did Lord Onyx say anything else to you?” Lake asked, pulling me from those dark thoughts.
“Not really. Only that knights are searching for me. Cedric’s evil plan worked. I’m officially a fugitive on the run.” Tightness formed at the base of my sternum.
He kissed my brow. “All that matters now is you’re safe.”
“Safe unless a demon wants me for an afternoon snack,” I mumbled. “Lord Onyx ever so kindly warned me about things hiding in shadows, waiting to sink their teeth into my soft flesh.”
Lake made a rough sound. His unique laugh. “The only one here who’ll be gobbling you up is me.”
Then, he tackled me on the mattress and attacked me with kisses. I giggled and squirmed beneath him, careful not to move too roughly and reopen his wounds. The skin of nearly his entire back had been hanging in bloody slivers last night.
“Keep moving around like this and you’ll incite the wrath of Fane,” I said between giggles. “He’ll come barging into the room and yell at us again. At me for not eating and you for not resting like a good boy.”
“The only wrath I fear is that of the great muffin lord.” Lake grazed his teeth along my neck, eliciting an excited flutter in my belly.
“Well.” I cleared my throat. Definitely not the time or place for Little Evan to perk up and want to play. “You best behave, then. Because if you reinjure yourself, you’ll be in trouble, mister wolf.”
He smiled down at me, flashing his pearly whites. “The healing elixirs have helped. My wounds appear as though they were made more than a week ago. No chance of reopening.”
“Mhm. If you say so.” I hooked my arms around him, keeping my hands low on his back to avoid the worst of the damaged areas. The lacerations had traveled all the way to his shoulder blades, one of them grazing his nape. “This muffin lord asks that you please rest anyway. Just in case.”
His expression softened. “Then I shall abide by that request.”
After dropping a kiss to my lips, he rolled off me but stayed close. Head on the pillow, he stared at me in silence. I stared right back, smiling when he lightly nipped at the tip of my nose.
His eyelids then weighed a little heavier.
“Take a nap,” I said. “The more you rest, the faster you’ll heal.”
“Demi-wolves heal faster…” His eyes closed. “… than you humans.”
“Even so, a nap sounds nice. We had a long night.”
Moments later, a soft snore left him. He crinkled his nose and slightly jerked his head before burrowing in closer to me. I brushed aside his bangs and kissed his jaw.
Life had thrown me another curveball, but being with Lake gave me hope. Not all was lost. Not yet.
***
The hinges eerily creaked as I pushed the door open and slowly stuck my head out into the hall. Sconces flickered on the walls, creating a haunting glow down the long corridor. No windows, only a long stretch in both directions with several closed doors stuck between.
Lake and I had been cooped up in our room all day. The woman I’d heard him arguing with earlier that morning—a demon with red horns—had rebandaged his wounds around lunch. Fane had brought him a change of clothes too.
Once the sun started to set, I’d grown restless and suggested we leave the room and have a look around. Which had led us to that moment—me opening the door and checking the hall for any signs of life. There wasn’t. We were alone.
“Coast is clear,” I whispered before stepping farther out into the hall.
Lake grabbed the back of my shirt. “We should stay here. I’m sure someone will come for us soon.”
“And do what? Feed us and then leave again?” I turned to him and pressed a finger to his chest. “I’ll go stir-crazy being in that room a minute longer.”
“Evan…”
“Aren’t you curious?” I asked with an exhilarated lift in my voice. “Exploring a dark, mysterious castle. Just like those adventure books we love to read together. Maybe we’ll find something cool.”
“Or we’ll find a demon who really will try to sink their teeth into you.” Lake sighed. “It’s too dangerous. Guests also shouldn’t wander around without permission. It’s rude.”
I echoed his sigh. “You have a point. Don’t want to press our luck and piss off the demon lord.” My gaze longingly roamed the long corridor. “But what if his plan is to eat us?”
“What?”
“Eat us,” I repeated, looking at Lake. “Keep us confined to one room to restrict our movements and bring us meals to fatten us up. Then, after days or weeks of this, bam. We’re roasted over an open fire and used as the centerpiece for his next feast, apple in our mouths and everything.
Probably served with a side of mashed taters and gravy. ”
“I…” He cocked his head. The confusion creasing his brow, combined with his perked-up, fluffy ears, was too damn cute. “I find that unlikely.”
“But not impossible.” I lightly patted his shoulder.
“It’s a good idea to get a feel for our surroundings just in case we need to make a quick getaway.
Locate the exits and map out the best escape route.
I’ll call this mission, ‘Operation: How Not to Become a Demon Lord’s Dinner. ’ Has a nice ring to it.”
Lake glanced in each direction before rubbing at his eyes.
“You’re considering it, aren’t you?” I gave a light tickle to his ribs.
He exhaled through his nostrils and regarded me with an exasperated look that reminded me so much of Maddox it caused a hard thud in my heart. Whatever he’d been about to say fled as he took me in his arms. “I sense your sadness.”
“Sorry.” I burrowed deeper into his chest. “I just miss them.”
“I miss them too.” He rested his head on mine. “Maddox, Briar, Callum. And… Rowan.” The last name came with a small whine. “Even if he cheats at chess.”
My wolf needed comforting just as much as I did.
“Come on.” I slid my hand into his. “Let’s go back inside. Our great escape strategy can wait until tomorrow.”
“Escape?” a voice rumbled. We whirled around to see Fane approaching. “Don’t make me regret leaving your door unlocked.”
“Did I say escape?” I slapped my palm with my closed fist. “I meant to say… um… our great skate strategy. You know. To get in some exercise while we’re cooped up in our room. We don’t have actual skates though, so we’ll just have to use our imagination and pretend.”
Fane stared at me like I had three heads. An expression I knew very well. My rambles were a weapon all on their own. They always disarmed an opponent. No dagger, stirring spoon, or burnt muffin needed.
Lake quietly coughed.
“Anyway.” I clapped my hands together. “Did you bring dinner? I’m starving. We’re so skinny, you know. Definitely not enough meat on our bones. It will take at least three months to fatten us up. Maybe longer.”
Another cough, this one sounding on the verge of laughter.
“Are all humans so strange?” Fane asked Lake. “Or is your human a rare breed?”
“Hey,” I interjected. “I’m not—”
“I have little experience in dealing with most humans,” Lake responded. The softness in his voice matched the one in his purple eyes. “But Evan is special. The most exceptional person I’ve ever met.”
Warmth pooled in my belly. Not sure I deserved the praise. He was the special one. Brave, strong, and always watching over me. “Exceptionally clumsy, maybe.”
Lake snorted. “That too.”
“Clumsy and with a mouth that never stops,” Fane said. “And I’ve only known you for one day. I dread to think what more I’ll learn in your time here.”
I stifled a laugh. His aversion to me seemed half-hearted, like he was trying hard not to like me.
A loud grumble then filled the space between the three of us.
“Your belly wants food.” Lake rubbed small circles on my stomach, the edge of his mouth hitching up.
“Ah, yes. The reason I’ve come.” Fane bowed his head to me, placing one arm behind his back. So formal and polite, the complete opposite of his earlier demeanor. “Lord Onyx humbly requests that you and your wolf dine with him this evening.”
“A dinner invitation?” I asked.
“Yes.” He straightened back up, and his green eyes raked over me. “Do try to make yourself presentable. You’re to dine with the lord of this castle, after all.”
“Got it.” I ran a hand over my mop of messy blond hair. One strand flopped upward, no matter how much I tried to pat it down.
Lake’s hand softly landed on top of the strand to keep me from fiddling with it. “We accept.”
I got the feeling it wasn’t exactly a request. More like a disguised demand. No good would’ve come from refusing the invitation.
Fane nodded. “I’ll fetch you in one hour’s time.”
We stared at the back of his head as he walked down the corridor. His purple hair faded into the shadows.
“He really doesn’t like me.” I sighed. “But at least we get food soon.”
“Aye. Your grumbling belly must be appeased.” He brushed his fingers through my bangs. “Shall I fix your hair?”
My heart wobbled. “Yes, please.”
The two of us returned to the room and began getting ready for dinner. He tamed my messy hair before helping me into my suit from the ball. That was presentable enough, right? I then helped Lake dress. His movements were a bit stiff because of the wounds he claimed didn’t hurt.
“Remind me to kick your butt later,” I told him.
He turned his face away, but not before I caught a trace of his smile. The lying butthead. He was stubborn, just like our captain.
A while later, Fane came to retrieve us. Nerves bounced around in my rib cage as we followed him from the room and down the hall. Soon, we’d be with Lord Onyx. I only hoped we didn’t end the night flame roasted and with apples in our mouths.