“Rabbit,” Rowan shot back, lowering his cup. “I thought I smelled you coming. Might want to bathe before bed, though I’m afraid nothing can take away that stench.”
“Oh? Perhaps it’s your upper lip you smell.”
Rowan smirked.
Maddox stepped in behind Callum and nodded to Draven. The spy returned the gesture. Fitting that the two grumps would form a connection. And just like my captain, who had a gentle and sweet side, I suspected Draven was exactly the same. He just had a lot of defensive layers concealing that side.
The other knights appeared in the doorway, Baden in the middle.
“Full house tonight,” Reign said, glancing at everyone. His gaze then shifted to me. “You really are quite special. So many are devoted to you. Perhaps you’re not so ordinary after all.”
The look in his eyes gave me pause. Almost as though he knew something the rest of us didn’t. Or maybe, like usual, I was just overthinking it.
“Let me fix you something to eat before you go back to work,” I said, stepping over to the stove.
“Brownies?” Reign asked, mismatched eyes twinkling.
Maddox scowled at him, no doubt remembering Rowan’s remark about Reign replacing him in bed and kicking him to the floor. Silly captain. As if that’d ever happen.
“You’re in luck,” I told the spy. “I made three platters tonight.”
“We ate two and a half of those platters,” Quincy said. “Perfect timing on your part. I was about to help myself to another.”
Duke scoffed. “It’d be wise to ease up on the sweets. I pity your poor horse should you pack on more weight. Forcing the creature to haul your fat arse around is cruel.”
“Well, I never.” Quincy blinked at him. The blank stare that then passed between them had me giggle-snorting.
“I care not for sweets,” Draven said.
“What about steak and potatoes?”
His baby blue eyes flickered to me.
“Is that interest I see?” I asked, fighting a smile. “Have I finally found something you like?”
“No,” he said dryly before looking at the other two spies. “We should take our leave. Captain Remy will be expecting us in the Tower.”
Their secret base. One I’d have to find a way to sneak into one day. If only I had access to my vast collection of e-books in this world. There was a spy novel that gave all sorts of awesome “sneaking into places you shouldn’t” tips.
“The captain can wait a minute or so longer,” Reign said, eyeing the platter of brownies. “At least until I can grab a few of these.”
“Not that one though.” Quincy pointed to the top corner piece. “That’s mine.”
“It is?” Reign teasingly glided his fingertip over the brownie in question. “What will you give me for it?”
“What I won’t give ya is a bloody nose.”
“Hear that?” Baden grinned. “It’s all fun and games with him until food is on the line. Then his violent side emerges.”
Lake suddenly snapped his head toward the doorway. Draven followed suit, both of them having sensed something.
“Good evening,” Briar said as he entered the kitchen, voice ringing with his exhaustion.
“You’re home!” I padded over and caught him around the waist. When he returned my embrace, I burrowed into his chest and breathed in his magnolia scent. “I thought you were at the castle.”
“I was dismissed for the night.” He kissed my temple.
“Why? What happened with the mercenary?”
