“That’s good news,” I said. At least, it should have been, but he didn’t look too excited about it. “Right?”
Briar offered me a thin smile.
“You’re worried what he’ll say when questioned,” Callum said, one arm beneath my pillow and the other draped over my stomach.
“Yes.” Expelling a sigh, Briar adjusted his glasses—a nervous tic. “While I want answers, such as who hired him, I’m concerned he’ll reveal much more.”
A chill danced down my spine. “Like me being of royal blood?”
He nodded. “If our theory is correct and King Silas hired Nocturne to capture you, King Eidolon will learn the truth. That you’re his nephew and also, perhaps, the key to avoiding a war with Haran.”
Maddox tensed again. Was that the true root of his fear? He and Briar must’ve talked about it on the way home. Shared their concerns.
“Of course, this is only speculation,” Briar added quickly. “We aren’t certain the mercenary knows of Evan’s parentage, nor are we sure King Silas is the one who hired him.”
“True.” I dropped one hand to Lake’s silky hair. “What we do know? The ball is in two days. I hope I don’t trip and fall while carrying the cake, causing it to go all over Prince Cedric. I’d be a dead muffin walking.”
The change of topic worked. Maddox breathed out a laugh, and Callum grinned.
“He’s quite vile toward you,” Briar said. “Always has been.”
“Cedric’s vile toward everyone,” I pointed out. “Even cookies. He shattered one into dust once and then flicked the crumbs all over the floor. A total monster.”
Lake made a gruff sound. His unique laugh.
“Glad you find this so amusing. That cookie never even got a proper funeral.”
Another laugh from my grump of a captain, this one deeper. “Gods, I love you, sweetheart.”
“I love you too.” Being the little spoon allowed me to press my backside more into Maddox and nuzzle Callum’s bicep, my fingers still in Lake’s hair. I stuck my foot between Maddox’s calves and found Briar, nudging his ankle. “All of you mean the world to me.”
“Including the snake?”
“Yes. Even Rowan.” I lightly punched Callum’s chest. “Meanie.”
His toothy grin and downturned brown eyes said the exact opposite. The man was too adorable for his own good.
“Speaking of the thief…” Maddox lifted his head from the pillow and caught hold of my chin, turning my face to his. “He told me about the macaron incident.”
“What incident?”
“How you became short of breath earlier just from removing the platter from the oven.”
“Oh. That.” I cringed. “They were big macarons. And I’m so small, you see.”
“Mhm.” Maddox scrutinized me. “The café is closed tomorrow, yes? I order you to rest.”
“What? No. It’s the day before the ball. I need to—”
“One day of rest won’t kill you, Evan.” His raised eyebrow said he’d be the one to kill me if I didn’t listen. “It will ensure you’re strong enough for the ball.”
“Fine.”
His lips twitched. “You’re pouting.”
“Am not. Insufferable man.”
“An unsufferable, stubborn man who belongs to you.” Maddox kissed the edge of my brow. “And one who will strike down anyone who dares take you from me.”
