“Oh man.” I rubbed my hands together, eyeing the platters of food. “Look at all this deliciousness. Rose is a gem. I’m gonna eat so much you’ll have to wheel me away from the table by the time I’m done.”
Sawyer laughed. “Or ask one of your men to carry you. Rumor has it you’ve claimed another heart. Lieutenant Callum of the Second Order.”
The mention of my cinnamon roll brought an instant flutter of butterflies. “He’s claimed mine too.”
As he cut into the apple tart, I set my sights on the quiche. And the cookies. All of it, really. Callum and Maddox might need to come carry me away after all. Birds splashed in the outside basin, and Kuya hopped up from his seat and went over to the window to watch them.
“I’m told the man who attacked us will be interrogated later this afternoon.” Sawyer moved a piece of tart crust around his plate with a fork, his brow creased. “My father suspects King Silas hired him, but it’s merely speculation at the moment.”
“What will happen if the mercenary confirms Haran’s involvement?”
“It will be viewed as a direct attack on the crown.” He gently pushed his plate away. “An act of war.”
“Oh. That’s… really scary, actually.”
“I agree,” he said, looking toward the window. “Which is why the alliance with Voltas is so important. Lord Norwood’s naval fleet is strong, and with control over the canal many trading ships use, we will have the advantage.”
But at what cost? Maddox, Callum, and my band of knights would be forced to fight in that war.
For some reason, my thoughts turned to the red spider lily. Many believed it to be an omen of death. Not long ago, I’d had a dream where I’d been standing in a field full of them, the red petals detaching and painting the grass like smears of blood.
Bodies facedown. Fallen shields. And a distant rumble of thunder.
Throat suddenly dry, I reached for my tea. Big mistake. My hand shook so much that some sloshed over the rim. I grabbed my napkin and started to quickly wipe up the spill, only to bump and knock over the container of cream, causing an even bigger mess. “Crap! I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m so—”
“Evan?” Sawyer touched my wrist. “Take a breath. It’s all right. Accidents happen.”
Tears welled in my eyes. “Do you think we’ll really go to war?”
Understanding bled through his concern. “You worry over your men.”
Unable to speak past the tightness in my throat, I could only nod.
Sawyer placed his hand over mine. “We can never predict what the future holds. We can only make the necessary preparations and hope for the best. So for now, let’s finish our tea and enjoy the beautiful day, yes?”
I shakily exhaled. “Y-Yeah. A shame to let this quiche go to waste.”
“Kuya is sleepy.” The demi-cat rubbed his belly. He’d eaten three crab cakes and at least four more cookies. “Kuya needs a nap.”
“Sir Noah?” Sawyer turned to him. “Will you please escort Kuya to my chamber?”
“Right away, my prince.” The knight gathered Kuya in his arms, bowed to Sawyer, then me, and took his leave. Soft snores reached my ears before they even left the room. Kuya was already asleep.
Sawyer stared after them with a pained expression. “I’m in no position to request a favor from you, especially after you saved my life… but were you serious about taking care of Kuya once I leave?”
We’d had the conversation right before the mercenary attacked us. When Sawyer left Bremloc, Kuya wouldn’t be able to live in the castle anymore. He had no family or anyone to take care of him.
“He can live at the cottage,” I said. “Lake’s been working on designs to expand the café and add another room upstairs. Kuya can have the guest room until it’s done.”
Rowan hopefully wouldn’t mind. His work hours had him going to bed once everyone else had already woken anyway, so he could sleep in our room.
“Lake is skilled in carpentry?” Sawyer asked, his interest piqued. “He gardens and whittles too, yes?”
“Mhm.” I smiled at the thought of my wolf. “He’s a male of many trades.”
“I hope to meet him someday.” His gaze dropped to the apple tart. “And by then, perhaps things will be different. Better.”
Sawyer worded everything carefully. Only one guard and a serving boy remained in the room, but it was too risky to divulge Lake’s identity.
