Chapter Eleven #2
Several minutes later, after another round of puffing smoke from the cauldron and a sizzle that didn’t fill me with the warm fuzzies whatsoever, Phantasia filled a vial and corked it, handing it to Briar.
“Administer this to him before bed tonight, along with a spoonful of honey afterward. It will help rid any lingering bitterness from his tongue. The elixir will take effect while he sleeps.”
“You have my gratitude.” Briar pocketed the vial.
“Mine too,” I told her, hopping down from the stool. “For me and for Lake.”
She nodded to me, then focused on Briar. “Am I correct in believing you’ll be staying in our realm for a while longer? If so, I wouldn’t be opposed to you joining me in the clinic. The assistance, as well as the company, would be nice.”
“It would be my pleasure.” He beamed with a smile that revealed how much he missed being in his clinic.
“Excellent,” she said. “I expect you here on the morrow.”
Briar agreed, still smiling, and guided me from the room. The outer hallway was narrow and dark, but light flooded from the far end, coming from the entrance to the greenhouse. He had a newfound pep in his step—a cheerfulness I hadn’t seen in a while.
“Why do you stare?” he asked, peering down at me. Light brown bangs touched the edge of his glasses and flipped up at the ends.
“Because you’re handsome.” I looped my arm through his. “And you seem happy. It’s a nice change.”
“I suppose I am happy.” He patted my fingers and let his hand linger on mine as we walked, arms still linked. “As much as our situation allows for me to be, anyway. We may have lost our home, but there’s still joy to be found. For as long as we’re here, we might as well make the most of it.”
The pang of sadness I’d felt earlier that day when thinking of the life we’d left behind returned. “Maddox seems to have reached the same conclusion. Forming a truce with Lord Onyx. Unless I’m still asleep and this whole day has all been a weird fever dream.”
“Not even in dreams would that stubborn man be so agreeable,” he responded, and I laughed.
However, his playfulness was short-lived.
The middle of his brow creased and his eyes grew taut.
“The news of King Eidolon’s hand in your father’s death shook our captain’s confidence.
Made him question all that he believed to be true.
Then when learning that Lord Onyx was bound to you by fate?
Well, I suppose Maddox did what he knows best. Strategized the best course of action.
Allying with the demon lord will grant you greater protection. ”
Unless Onyx is the fated mate Lupin warned might kill me someday.
Logic pointed to him. Hello, mighty demon lord who’d admitted to having a temper and at one time wishing he could burn the world.
But I remembered the childlike eagerness he’d shown in the kitchen when wanting to help me with the muffins.
Recalled the gentle caress to my jaw and how his scent warmed me from the inside out.
I sighed and faced ahead. More light bled into the corridor the farther we walked, coming from an outer doorway that led into a side courtyard.
“That was a big sigh.”
I offered him a smile. My best attempt at one anyway. “Just a lot on my mind. Specifically, how gross that viper potion will taste later.”
Lightly laughing, Briar gently squeezed my hand. “A small price to pay for your health, love.”
Reaching the end of the hall, the path veered in two directions. One to the outer courtyard and the other to the greenhouse. Glass panels showed a peek of trees and vibrant plants and flowers.
Was Lord Onyx in there right now?
“We should find our captain and the others.” Briar squeezed my palm again, pulling me once more from my head. “I’m sure they’re wondering where we are.”
We found them at the training field.
Maddox greeted me with a kiss before continuing his conversation with Baden and Quincy.
He kept his hand on my lower back though, a small touch to remind him I was there.
The three of them spoke of their own training as they watched the warriors in the field.
Most notable was their bittersweet expressions.
I searched for the rest of my men.
Duke sat beside Lake under the nearest tree, both of them whittling small pieces of wood. A hobby they shared on top of their love for chess. My wolf caught my eye and smiled. And no, my heart did not almost explode when I caught the flop of his poofy tail against the grass upon seeing me.
Movement from the branch above them snagged my attention. Rowan perched in the tree, one leg dangling down and both arms behind his head, eyes closed. Oreo sat below him and wagged his tail, tongue poking from the side of his mouth.
“Looks like I’m not the only one he’s bonded with,” I said with a smile.
Maddox followed my gaze, curious at first, then he sneered. “Fitting. A furball and a thief.”
I snorted.
Briar greeted Maddox with a kiss on the cheek before looking at the training warriors. “Any news on when you can join them?”
“Not yet,” our captain answered. “Seraphina told us to come watch their drills. I believe it’s to allow the warriors to get accustomed to seeing us here.”
“It also allows you to familiarize yourself with their technique,” Briar added, eyes on the field.
The demons fought more violently than what I’d seen of the knights, using their whole bodies to inflict blows, deflect, and dodge. There was something barbaric, but also mesmerizing, about how they moved.
If that was how they were during training, I couldn’t imagine them on a real battlefield.
A woof came from the right. Oreo had left his spot under the tree and joined Callum near the fence several feet away. Looked like the puppy was making his rounds, checking on all his new humans.
Fenrir had a reputation for being aggressive toward people, but Oreo was different. Part of it may have come from his imprint with me. I loved my men, so maybe he felt that affection too.
“What say you, pup?” Callum glanced down at him. “Should we hop over this fence and offer to show these demons how it’s done?”
Oreo wagged his tail and rose up, placing one paw on the lowest wooden plank.
I nearly died from the cuteness. After kissing Maddox on the cheek, I stepped closer to my cinnamon roll and his new fluffy buddy. Oreo nuzzled my leg, and I reached down to scratch his ears.
“Are you keeping Cal company?” I gave him more pets. “You’re such a good boy. Yes, you are.”
Callum smiled over at me before returning his attention to the field. He rested his arms against the fence and watched two demons spar, one with a sword and the other with a medium-sized battle axe. He expelled a breath and slouched even more.
“Don’t be sad.” I rubbed the middle of his back. “You’ll get to train again soon.”
“Not soon enough.” He turned to me, that endearing dimple in his cheek not far behind. My heart soared when he ruffled my hair. “The sight of you soothes my wounded soul though.”
“Such a charmer you are, dear knight.”
“Only for you, milord.” He pushed his fingers through my hair before trailing them down my cheek and to my jaw, his touch soft but his brown eyes softer. “Now and always.”
A lump rose in my throat. “I was afraid you hated me. Last night, after I told you about… well, you know. You were so angry.”
“Worried,” he gently said. “I was worried, not angry.”
“Because Onyx is a demon?”
“Part of it, yes. You once told us that Lupin warned you of various tragic directions your future could take you. More bad than good. A part of me feared… and still does, really… that the demon lord will set one of those dark futures into motion.”
Leave it to Callum and his keen sense of perception to see right through me. I hadn’t told any of them about my possible doomed romance with one of my fated seven, but a part of him sensed it.
“So you don’t agree with Maddox’s decision?”
“He’s my captain.” Callum glanced over at him, brow heavy. “I respect his decision and trust that he knows what’s best.”
“But?” I pressed.
He looked down at me. The sun hit his brown eyes, bringing out shades of orange and hints of gold.
“I can’t help but feel another storm is on the horizon, one much greater than what transpired the night of the ball.
Maddox senses it too. I suspect it’s why he decided to take the risk and call a truce with Lord Onyx, trusting in your fated connection with him to keep you safe. Yet, I feel differently.”
“How so?” I asked, turning my whole body to face him. He had several inches over me, causing me to tilt my head up to meet his gaze.
“I fear that the demon lord is the one who’ll bring that storm.” Callum cupped my cheek. “And it terrifies me, Ev. The thought of losing you.”
I reached up and placed my hand over his. “Then I guess it’s a good thing I don’t plan on going anywhere.”
“That’s the thing about plans.” His brow scrunched as he traced my bottom lip with his thumb. “They don’t always go as expected.”
“Mine will,” I vowed, refusing to consider the alternative.
I’d do everything in my power to make it true. There was always a way through the dark. I had to trust my gut, and my love for each of them, to guide me in the right direction.
***
Stars danced in the moonlit sky. A moon that appeared much larger that night as I stood at the open window in our room and peered out.
Far in the distance, a lake glistened with soft blue and green glows along the bank. More of the fluorescent plants and trees like the ones I’d seen when Rowan took me to the pond. They were scattered throughout the landscape but mainly gathered near bodies of water.
“The hour is late.” Maddox wound his arms around me from behind. “You should ready yourself for bed.”
“I’m not tired. Besides, everyone else is still awake.”