Chapter Two #3
Heat shot to my groin and caused my dick to twitch.
I swallowed hard, willing the excited appendage to calm the fuck down.
The things this freaking man did to me should’ve been criminal.
Punishable by a night tied to a bed where I could kiss and ride him until my heart’s content.
Or until he broke free of those restraints and turned the tables on me, fucking me to within an inch of my life.
I’d die happy.
Briar opened the door, and the three knights entered the room, Quincy leading the charge, followed by Duke. A slightly exasperated Baden trailed in last.
“About time,” Quincy said, snapping his attention to the door as Baden shut it. “I feared another second out there and we’d be the main course for tonight’s feast.”
“Flame roasted and served on a platter with an apple in your mouth?” I asked. “Mashed taters as a side?”
Quincy’s eyes widened. “How did ya know?”
Lake coughed, no doubt remembering our conversation where I’d said the exact same thing.
“No one in their right mind would eat you,” Duke told the goofy but loveable knight. “You’d taste rotten.”
Quincy looked offended. “And you think a brute like you’d taste better?”
“Better than you at least,” Duke shot back.
“Okay, okay, calm down,” I said, trying my hardest not to laugh. I had missed them so damn much. “No one’s getting eaten tonight.”
Rowan grinned. “I wouldn’t be so sure of that, little treasure. You look mighty tasty to me.” He took a swig from his flask, eyes not leaving mine.
Warmth pooled low in my belly.
A knock at the door had Quincy whirling around and slamming into Duke. Baden cleared his throat, the edges of his lips so close to breaking into a smile.
“Evan?” Fane asked from the other side. “Might we speak in the hall for a moment?”
The nerves in his voice hurt my heart. The knights might’ve been on edge being in a realm full of demons, but the demons were just as uneasy having them there.
“Coming!” I bounded forward, only to be caught by the bicep a beat later.
“Allow me.” Maddox stepped past and opened the door. His tone instantly hardened. “What do you want, demon?”
“I believe I asked for Evan.” Fane squared his shoulders and met Maddox’s icy glare with one of his own.
“You got me instead,” Maddox told him. “Say what you’ve come to say and leave.”
“Very well,” Fane said in a clipped tone. “Lord Onyx has requested that you join him in the parlor for a drink. He wishes to formally welcome you to his realm.”
“He does, does he?” Maddox’s grip tightened on the door.
Anxiety swirling like a chaotic storm in my belly, I forced my way forward and around his bulky frame. Fane’s expression lightened a tad as I appeared in the doorway.
“Thank you, Fane,” I said with an apologetic smile. The tension was thick in the air, weighing on my chest—and on my heart. “We’ll be there.”
“We will?” Maddox dropped his gaze to me.
“Yes. We will.” I fought the urge to throttle him. My silly, overprotective, and stubborn captain. “And we will behave or so help me god, I’ll never bake you another muffin for as long as I live.”
The threat had him losing some of his animosity. Definitely found its mark, hitting him in his weak spot. His stomach.
Fane’s gaze roamed past me to the room full of humans. His defensive walls were sky-high. “Let me remind you that you’re all guests here, under Lord Onyx’s protection. However, harm him or anyone else in this castle, and that will surely change.”
“You threatening us?” Duke asked, hand going to his side as though to place it on the hilt of his sword. Muscle memory. Luckily, that sword had been confiscated.
I dreaded to think what would’ve happened if my group of protective and snarly men were armed. They were the definition of ‘attack first and ask questions later.’
“I assure you, knight…” Fane’s nostrils flared. “If I were threatening you, you wouldn’t need to ask. You’d be too busy spitting up blood.”
“Oh no.” I flipped around to Maddox and placed my palms against his chest as he snarled and stepped forward. “Nope. Back in the room. Now.”
Murder danced in his blue eyes. “But he—”
“I won’t tell you again.” I pushed against him. God, he was an unmovable boulder, stacked with muscle and powered by an unfortunately short fuse—at least when it came to the safety of those he loved. “Come on. Move it.”
“Stop this,” he said, grabbing my shoulders. He seemed less angry now. A good sign. “You’re too adorable I can barely stand it.”
“Adorable?” I huffed.
“Thinking you’re strong enough to move me.” Maddox caressed my jaw, then aimed a hard glare at Fane, his ocean blue eyes turning as cold as the Atlantic. “Is that all you came to say?”
“It is,” Fane answered. “I’ll return within the hour to—”
“Understood.” Maddox slammed the door in his face.
“Was that necessary?” I asked in exasperation, hands flying to my hips. Better than making fists and throwing punches. These men were testing my patience and blood pressure.
“Yes,” was all Maddox said before guiding me away from the door and back to the bed.
I closed my eyes and took a deep, calming breath. “How, pray tell, was slamming a door in his face necessary?”
“Well, it made me feel better,” he answered, then smirked. A layer of danger lurked beneath the surface of that smirk though.
“That demon better mind his head before he loses it,” Duke growled. The other knights nodded.
“Fane is no threat to you or anyone else,” Lake said softly.
His fluffy wolf ears were drooped, and his tail fanned out behind him on the bed, unmoving.
Not even a twitch. “He only said that because you instigated it. You can’t lunge at a lion and then fault it for snapping its jaws at you in response. ”
“Now, you’re defending the demons too?” Duke asked with a shake of his head.
Lake slowly exhaled. “Demon, human, demi-human. All deserve the same respect until their actions say otherwise. Fane has been good to me and Evan.”
I felt torn. On one hand, I understood why Maddox and the others were on their guard being in the Shadow Realm. I also understood where Fane was coming from. Trust needed to be earned. But that couldn’t happen until both sides were willing to try.
My throat burned.
“Love?” Briar sat beside me on the edge of the bed and lightly rubbed my back. “Are you all right?”
I nodded. “Just frustrated. I get why everyone’s so tense, but I…” Bringing both knees up, I hugged them and hid my face in the crease of my elbow. “Didn’t think it’d be this hard.”
“Enough of the pouting, little treasure.” Rowan hopped on the bed and sat behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. “You look pitiful. My heart can’t take it.”
I snorted a laugh. It came out sadder than intended.
“Forgive me, sweetheart.” Maddox knelt in front of me at the foot of the bed and reached forward, gently smoothing his hand along my shin. “I don’t mean to make this harder on you. I only wish to protect you.”
“From what?” I asked, placing my hand over his. He might’ve been a big, stubborn grump, but he was my big, stubborn grump, and I’d missed him like crazy.
“From yourself, mostly.” A smile teased his lips before fading again. “You want so badly to see the good in everyone that you’re blinded to their true nature. As Callum mentioned, you are far too trusting with that big heart of yours.”
“Or maybe you’re too suspicious and untrusting.” I lightly squeezed his hand. “Everyone deserves a chance, Maddox.”
Our gazes held for several quiet moments.
“What’s the plan, Captain?” Baden asked. He and the other knights stood along the wall, close to the door, their heads on a swivel. Searching for threats, as though demons would come shooting out of the walls and floor at any moment.
“The demon lord wishes to welcome us to his realm.” Maddox gave my leg another light pat before standing and rising back to his full height. He looked at his knights. “I say we accept his invitation.”