That’s when I heard the thump of hooves and distant voices.
Stryder yelled before a commotion rang out. I turned, struggling to see through the various leaves and tree trunks. Flashes burst in the air, followed by grunts and shouts.
My throat clamped shut. Stryder was casting spells. How many were fighting him? Maddox and Callum? If a strong protection stone hadn’t been enough to defend against his attacks, a shield sure as hell wouldn’t.
“We have to help!” I squirmed on his back. “He’s going to—”
“Calm down, little treasure.” Rowan leapt to another branch and paused in place, head cocked as though listening. He then nodded and gently slid me off his back. “Should be safe now. The mercenary evaded us once, but Reign was prepared this time.”
“Reign’s here?” I settled on the branch, straddling it like a saddle. Best way to keep my balance. Not that he’d let me fall.
His gaze softened. “Everyone’s here, little treasure. Reign, Draven, and all your knights. Hell, I even got the pup out of the house.”
I wiped at my eyes.
“There you go cryin’ again.”
“Not crying,” I lied, the burning in my throat matching the one in my not-teary-at-all eyes. “It’s just dust.”
“Shadow,” a voice said from below us. “The mercenary’s been seized.”
“Good to hear.” Rowan wrapped his arms around me and jumped from the tree, landing on the ground with a soft thud.
My landing wasn’t nearly as graceful. Seemed I’d used up all my agile points during my daring escape earlier. As I put weight on my legs, I swayed and nearly toppled over. What stopped me?
Draven’s pecs.
“Oops,” I said, falling into his chest.
A mask covered everything apart from his eyes. Which were narrowed slightly as they held my gaze.
“Still wobbling like a newborn boar.” Rowan shook his head, gently pulling me away from Draven and his pillowy pecs. “Some things never change.”
A scatter of leaves brought a familiar scent. Like peaches and springtime. Arms then came around me from behind. Breath tickled my nape.
“Lake.” I tipped my head back against his.
“Are you hurt?” he asked in a tone that told of his barely repressed anger. “I should’ve ripped his head from his shoulders.”
“He didn’t hurt me.” I turned in his arms and lifted my hand to his cheek. “My sweet wolf.”
“My human.” Lake nuzzled the side of my hair and held me tighter, a whine tearing through his throat. He held me like that for another moment or two before slowly lifting his head and looking at something over my shoulder.
“Sweetheart?” Maddox stood several feet away, chest heaving and sword lowered at his side. There was a wild look in his eyes. Fury and desperation laced together, like a warrior who’d just stepped off the battlefield and was having trouble realizing the danger had passed.
“Hey, big guy.” I approached him.
Two steps were as far as I got. He strode forward, closing the gap between us before I could take my next breath. Warm spice and the scent of worn leather wrapped around me, familiar and comforting, just like his arms.
Maddox pushed his face into my hair. “If anything ever happened to you, I don’t know what I’d…”
“I’m okay.” I rubbed up and down his spine. His back muscles slightly quaked beneath my palm. “I’m safe and right here in your arms.”
A rough sound left him. “You’re not allowed to be anywhere else.”
“Ev?” Steps pounded against the ground before I was wrapped up in vanilla bean and sunshine. Callum kissed me everywhere his lips could touch: my neck, jaw, cheek, and finally, my mouth.
Maddox kept his face in my hair, holding me with one arm now to allow Callum to squeeze in. When traces of magnolia blossoms tickled my nose, my soul eased even further.
