13. Chapter 13 #3
Rowan snarled, the sound much like an aggrieved wolf.
He kept gripping his sword hilt, too, like some part of him just wanted to stab Andrew and get it over with.
Really, the whole family looked that way.
With all of them astride warhorses, armed to the teeth, it was like being surrounded by barbaric warriors.
Sent a shiver right up Milo’s spine, but in a good way.
After all, he knew they would run to his rescue, as they had done tonight.
It was interesting, too, how they moved without even really conferring with each other.
Ruben and Riley were planted the opposite way from everyone else, clearly keeping an eye out for bandits or Drachifel.
Considering Andrew the Dumbass had mage lights up on a dark forest road, he likely had attracted all the wrong attention.
As usual, it was Raina who assumed the role of leader. She simply sighed and got everyone else organized. “Let’s go back. No reason to stand here all night. Milo, Rowan brought your medicine kit if you want something for your head?”
“Ohhhh, splendid!” He would dearly love a pain-relieving potion right then. The throb in his temples wasn’t really subsiding. He bent down to kiss Rowan’s cheek. “You’re so thoughtful, sweetheart. I’m glad you brought it, my head’s killing me.”
Seeing to Milo’s needs seemed to distract Rowan from his murderous thoughts. He shot Andrew one more glare before retreating to Stan and getting not only the black satchel but—oh, that was Milo’s cloak! Aww, he really had come prepared. Damn, his man was so thoughtful.
Milo accepted both items with relief. “How did you even guess I’d be cold?”
Rowan gave him quite the look. “You’re always cold.”
“Ha, got me there.” Milo put the cloak on first, then found the right bottle in the satchel and downed it. Ahh, so much better already. He could feel the potion flowing through him and taking effect, numbing the pain.
Rowan ended up tying Stan to the back of the cart before climbing onto the bench with Milo and taking the reins. Milo had no problem with that. He’d much prefer to cuddle against Rowan’s side while the potion fully kicked in.
Riley rode on the other side of the cart, a sharp eye on Andrew. “Don’t worry, Milo. I’ll keep him under guard until he leaves for Goldguard. Advocate Nottle, will you need witnesses for the trial?”
“Yes and no. Milo alone can testify. Written statements from the rest of you will suffice.”
“I want to go into Goldguard anyway to buy the girls’ supplies,” Troy stated as he turned his horse to also fall in with the cart. “Why don’t I go down with you? I can help Milo pack up and return.”
As much as Milo loved traveling with Rowan alone, he did like Troy, and he made a kind offer. “I’d love that, honestly. Rowan?”
Rowan simply nodded at his best friend and said, “Thanks.”
So that was settled, then. Oooh, Milo couldn’t wait for Andrew’s trial.
He’d make sure Andrew got into so much trouble for this.
How much prison time was he facing? Five years?
Ten? Milo didn’t know the laws well enough to guess.
Hopefully more than ten years, though. The man deserved it anyway for being a general blight on humanity, but with his actions of the past twelve hours, he’d definitely set himself up for a long sentence.
They were surrounded by friends and family on all sides, but Milo still leaned in to whisper into Rowan’s ear, “Thank you for coming. I knew you’d figure out what happened.”
Rowan still looked pissed but managed a taut smile. “It was too strange when you didn’t show up for dinner.”
Oh, yeah, that would be a very obvious sign of something having gone wrong. Milo had to be on his deathbed to not want food.
“You didn’t need me, though.” Rowan’s smile grew more relaxed, and was that pride in his expression? “You fought him off without any help.”
“Doesn’t matter. You coming for me, that’s what matters.”
“I always will.” Rowan tilted his head to steal a kiss. The kiss was ethereal, so soft and warm that Milo melted under it. “I’m just glad you’re formidable enough to defend yourself.”
Yeah, it would have been harder getting Milo back otherwise. Andrew would have absolutely held him hostage in a last-ditch effort. Milo didn’t even need to be a seer to predict that.
He sighed happily. Milo looked around at each person, studying them in turn.
They were even now discussing the best way to keep Andrew under lock and key, with Raina threatening to leave Andrew in the deepest, darkest, dampest part of the dungeon until Bennet was ready to haul him back down to Goldguard.
Ruben suggested no food, only water, and maybe some flogging.
Riley actually volunteered for the flogging.
Look at them, all so protective and upset on his behalf.
He really had found the best place to be.
A family who cared about him was all Milo had ever wanted, and now?
He had that in spades. Look at how many people had come to his rescue.
It might have taken years, but Milo had finally found home.