“Muffin lord,” Baden corrected. “Show some respect.”
“Evan the Small but Mighty,” Duke said, raising his mug. “Lord of the Muffins and Prince of Thorns.”
“And Tamer of Demons,” Quincy added. “Ow!”
Duke had kicked him in the shin.
“What was that about demons?” I asked, turning from Maddox.
“Put it from your mind,” Duke told me. “This fool has clearly had too much sun and doesn’t know what nonsense he’s spouting.”
A strange pressure settled over my sternum. They were definitely keeping something from me.
“Let’s get you home,” Maddox murmured in my hair.
“But I’m still visiting,” I whined.
He looked at the knights gathered around the firepit. “You’re all invited to dinner this evening. And by invited, I mean it’s an order.” Then, to me, he said, “There. You will see them again later. Now you have no excuse but to do as I say.”
“Meanie.” My brow furrowed.
A faint smile touched his lips. “Only because I love you.”
“I love you too, big guy. Even if you’re bossy. To me and your knights.”
“Ordering us to eat your cooking is no bother, I assure you,” Quincy said with his mouth full. He’d helped himself to the last few cookies in the basket. “Especially if there’s dessert.”
“I’m sure Ev will make you something tasty.” Callum grinned. “You’re his oh-so-cute Quincy.”
Duke spat the drink he’d just taken from his mug. “Come again? If that bastard’s cute, then I’m a one-legged brothel wench.”
“A one-legged brothel wench?” Baden tilted his head in interest. “Very specific. Speaking from experience? A long-lost love, perhaps?”
“Aye. Fairly sure it was your mother.”
With a roar, Baden dove forward and tackled Duke. The two then rolled around in the grass, pummeling each other.
Maddox watched them with a subtle smile before scooping me up into his arms.
“Hey!” I wiggled against him. “Let me go.”
“Never.” He spoke directly in my ear, using that deep, gravelly voice I loved. “You have a hold over me that nothing will ever break.”
Heat filled my veins, spreading from my toes to the top of my head. He had a hold over me too. And always would. “I think I’m ready to go home now.”
“Home will have to wait a while longer.” He kissed my earlobe. “There’s somewhere else I wish to take you first.”
“Where?”
Answering with only a smirk, he carried me from the courtyard and found the path toward the barracks. It was a path I’d walked countless times. Trees I’d passed beneath and stopped to stare up at, admiring the rays of sun peeking through the branches. Familiar smells of honeysuckle, pinecones, and timber.
So many memories within those castle grounds. Falling in love. Cooking for my knights in the mess hall. Being pounced on by Kuya and forging a strong friendship with him and Prince Sawyer.
“It’s hard to believe I’ve only been here a year,” I said, resting my head against his. “I can barely remember my life before Bremloc. Before meeting you.”
“I recall mine all too well.” Maddox slowly exhaled. “Endless days where I merely existed. Bleak and hollow. Then, you stumbled into my life and brought color to my world. Loving you changed everything. You…” He swallowed hard, and his voice held a slight tremor. “You gave me a family, sweetheart. Briar. Lake. Even Rowan. Callum and I are closer than we’ve ever been. I wake each morning excited for what the day may bring. And it’s all because of you.”
Happiness filled my chest. With it came the fear of losing it. But that’s how you knew it was real. “You sap.”
