“Aye. It’s all I have of my father.” A breeze came through the open window, and Rowan caught a strand of my flyaway hair, tucking it behind my ear. “Don’t remember anything about him. Not what he looked like or the sound of his voice. I just recall that dagger. It served me well throughout my years living on the streets.”
“Are you sure you want me to have it?”
“I’ll be offended if you refuse it.” He tipped my face up and ghosted his mouth over mine. “You don’t want to hurt my feelings, do you, little treasure?”
My eyes narrowed. “I see you’ve mastered the art of the guilt trip.”
His composure broke, and he released a raspy laugh.
A short while later, we descended the long, winding steps and met the others downstairs. The twins had worked all night and were asleep, as was Captain Remy, but Reign and Draven would be escorting me to the castle, along with my men.
Lake was the only one who wouldn’t be accompanying us.
“Be safe,” he whispered in my ear, arms snug around me.
“I will. If anything happens, Ro gave me a dagger.”
“He did what?” Maddox asked.
“Oh, stop glaring.” Rowan flicked his hand at him. “Would you rather he carry a spatula and whack people over the head?”
“Neither.” Maddox squared his shoulders. “He’ll have us to protect him.”
“Not only us.” Briar took off his glasses and wiped at the lenses. “Ban and Finnian both adore Evan and will be watching over him too. I’m sure of it.”
The mention of Ban brought to mind stormy gray eyes that softened more and more each time we met. I recalled the way he’d thrown himself in front of me when the mercenary first attacked us, how he’d wrapped his big body around mine and took the blasts upon himself.
A soft whine tore through Lake’s throat before he kissed me, soft and sweet. “I’ll see you later this evening. After the ball.”
“I hate that you can’t come with us.”
“As do I.” Lake nuzzled my cheek. “So, I ask that you have fun in my place. Dance the night away. And then return home to me.”
With that, we exited the Tower and neared the horses grazing in the small field. Lake dashed toward the trees and faded from sight within seconds. But I still felt him with me as Maddox helped me into the saddle and steered the stallion toward the castle. He ran alongside us all the way to the castle gates before veering off in the other direction.
Hopefully, one day, things would change for demi-wolves. Lake and others like him deserved to be free, not forced to hide away.
Miles arrived minutes after we did. He exited the carriage and rushed over to me beside the castle steps, eyes tired but smile wide. “Today’s the big day, Mister Evan. I was so exhausted I barely slept.”
“Nothing a good cup of coffee can’t fix.” I grabbed his arm. “The royal kitchen awaits.”
As the two of us joined Rose and the other cooks in the kitchen to begin a long day of baking, I tried to toss aside thoughts of mercenaries and magic and focus only on the task at hand. Baking the five large tiers for the cake and letting them cool. Making different flavors of batter for cupcakes and cookies. Whipping up frostings and glazes.
My mind wandered as the morning progressed though. Reign’s theory made no sense. There’s no way I could have powers.
Where was Lupin when I needed him? He was forbidden from directly interfering with my fate, but maybe he could tell me something. Anything. Because I felt like I’d been thrown out into open water without a life vest and told to swim for shore. But I didn’t know which direction to swim or if I’d get eaten by a shark before I got there.
I’d never felt more lost.
Chapter Eight
Bubbles and Butthole Wizards
“Good work today.” I stuck out my fist. “We crushed it.”
“Yes.” Miles grinned and bumped it with his. “We did well.”
After hours of baking and sweating up a storm in the kitchen, we’d finally finished. The five-tiered lemon and blueberry cake was frosted and decorated. A variety of cookies and pastries covered the counters, waiting to be sorted on the dessert displays in the main ballroom. Coffee beans had been freshly ground and infused with warm notes of bourbon and brown sugar.
