“A small blessing.” I shuddered as Herbert crawled across Thane’s palm.
The clinic door swung open.
“Pardon the intrusion,” an older woman said. A younger woman leaned against her, extremely pale and shaking. Her hand was wrapped with a blood-soiled cloth. “A bit of a mishap in the castle kitchen. The poor dear nearly cut off her finger chopping potatoes.”
“Potatoes, huh?” I looked at Callum.
“Wicked little bastards, aren’t they?” he responded with a knowing smile. “I told you so.”
“Allow me to help,” Thane told the two women. He placed Herbert back in his jar and rushed over to the basin of water to wash his hands. “Please show her into the medical wing. I’ll be right with you.”
The women did as he’d instructed.
“I should return to work.” Briar sighed and pulled me in for a hug. “And you, my handsome and restless boy, need to return home and not overly exert yourself.”
“Can’t.” I nuzzled him. “I have a group of hungry knights to visit first. If I don’t, they might start a mutiny against their captain.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Tingles ran rampant over my skin as his lips gently pressed to mine. “But if I hear of you pushing yourself too hard, I’ll have Callum take you home and keep you there for the foreseeable future.”
“Yes, sir.” I gently poked his chest. “But only if you promise to eat the rest of that sandwich. Don’t think I didn’t notice you only ate half.”
That made him smile. “What would I do without you?”
“Live off tea, probably. The only thing you remember to make on your own.”
“A correct assessment.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “I will more than likely be home late tonight.”
“Because of the mercenary?”
“Yes. The potion should be ready later this evening, and I’ll need to be here to administer it to him.”
Nerves rippled through my belly as I recalled my attack, the surge of power in the air as the mercenary summoned a ball of magical fire and sent it hurtling toward me and my friends.
“Be careful,” I said, dreading the thought of Briar anywhere near him. “Please.”
“I will.” He kissed me again. “The same goes for you and those lungs.”
After hugging him once more, Callum and I left the clinic and found the path toward the knights’ encampment. The air smelled of spring, but a chill lingered in the air. Winter wasn’t quite ready to throw in the towel yet. The longer we walked, the harder it was to keep pace with him. A slight pressure filled my chest, and my breaths shortened, becoming unsteady.
Damn weak lungs.
“Are you all right?” Callum asked, missing nothing.
“Y-Yeah.” I exhaled, inwardly cursing the shake in it, and gave him my best smile. “My short legs are just having trouble keeping up today.”
“Unacceptable.” He dropped down in front of me and offered me his back. “Allow me the honor of carrying you, milord.”
I smiled and latched on, hooking my legs around him. Much like when he ruffled my hair, this had become our thing too. I hugged his neck and stared at the passing trees, loving the whiff of vanilla bean coming off his brown hair. Buildings soon came into view—the mess hall, officers’ quarters, and the barracks.
“I think I can walk now,” I said as my breathing returned to normal.
“I prefer you riding me.”
“Don’t get me wrong. I love riding you, Cal. But I’d rather it be in a different way. Like last night in the tub.”
He stumbled in step, and I laughed.
Two men rounded the corner, both blond and broad-shouldered. One of them I knew well. Baden smiled and hastened his steps to reach us. Captain Braun walked with him. He commanded the Third Order and was handsome in a rugged way, sporting a finely trimmed goatee and dressed in a dark gray officer’s uniform.
