“Happened during morning drills,” the temple bleeder said with a wince.
“Come with me.” Briar motioned for them to follow him into the medical ward.
Callum came to sit with me by the fire as I relaxed and let the elixir work its magic. Gradually, the clogged feeling in my lungs lifted. My eyes got heavy too.
“Take a nap.” Callum smoothed his hand over my hair, patting once.
Didn’t have to tell me twice. I was out within minutes.
When I woke again, the clinic bustled with activity. My poor, overworked Briar had his hands full. A serving boy with a nasty cut on his head. A castle maid with a stomachache. More knights who’d taken injuries during drills—shields to the face, mostly. One had fallen from his horse.
“Many thanks for your help, Master Briar.” A woman clutched her wrapped hand. “I should learn to be more careful when tending to the hearth.”
“Accidents happen.” He offered her a polite smile. “The salve should take effect soon. Keep the wound wrapped for the remainder of the evening and ensure it doesn’t get wet. By tomorrow morning, the burn should be gone. If you have any trouble or concerns, please come see me.”
“Will do.” She bowed her head to him and continued toward the front door, smiling at me on her way out.
Callum helped me stand from the chair, and I walked into the small kitchen.
“You should still be resting, love,” Briar said, approaching me at the counter.
“I napped and feel fine.” I opened the lid on the basket. “Have you eaten lunch yet?”
“Not yet.” He sounded just as tired as he looked. “I haven’t much of an appetite at the moment.”
I could take one guess as to why: the still-slumbering mercenary. The potion to wake him was currently bubbling in the cauldron. Reign had delivered the nocturnal flower first thing that morning. It was a waiting game now.
“All you had for breakfast was tea and a slice of toast with jam.” I slid my hands to his back and pressed my fingers into the tight muscles of his shoulders. He made a soft sound. Yep. He was wound tight. Even his knots had knots. “Don’t make me strap you to a chair and force-feed you.”
Briar caught a strand of my hair between his fingers and tucked it behind my ear. “Our captain gives me orders, and now you too?”
“Yep.” I massaged more into his shoulders, and he rested his head on mine, emitting another soft groan. My workaholic. “Sit your handsome butt down and eat.”
Callum softly smiled at us and helped himself to a muffin.
Me having multiple lovers had the potential to create hurt feelings and stir up jealousy, but all five of my men not only accepted our relationship but welcomed it. They cared for each other too.
“I’d rather nibble on you.” Briar gently pushed me against the counter and kissed me.
Was he using his charm to distract me from making him eat? Sure. But I was powerless against said charm.
“Not in front of Herbert,” Thane said.
I broke from Briar’s lips with a laugh and looked at the young apprentice. His shaggy hair had grown longer, falling past his ears and nearly brushing his shoulders. “How is Herbert these days? Have he and Holly made any babies yet?”
Thane collected insects, both because he loved them and also because he studied them for medical purposes. Holly was the same type of beetle as Herbert.
“No, but I remain hopeful.” Thane retrieved Herbert from his jar and petted his back with his index finger. “Holly seems to like him. She let him sit on her leaf yesterday.”
“That’s actually kind of sweet,” I said, surprisingly invested in their love story. “First comes the shared leaf. Then comes the offspring. Even if the thought will give me nightmares.”
“Nightmares?” Callum asked mid-chew.
Briar stood beside him, having helped himself to a croissant sandwich. Good boy. It had grilled chicken, lettuce, and tomato with a light raspberry vinaigrette.
“Yep. Nightmares.” I nodded. “Usually involving me running away from a giant Herbert with his pinchers chomping ever closer to my head.”
“He’s so silly, isn’t he?” Thane told the little terror. “You’d never hurt Evan. You love his muffins too much.”
