He softly smiled. “A good morning indeed. Well, for most of us. It appears we have a casualty.”
Oreo had grown tired of his attack on the plant and lay beside the evidence of his crime. His chubby belly rose and fell with his languid breaths.
“He did that to the tomatoes at our cottage too,” I said, remembering a time not so long ago when Lake had come in from outside, wondering what type of animal had been rummaging around in his garden. “Guess he really likes them.”
“I’m afraid no amount of singing will help it now,” Lake muttered as he regarded the plant.
I patted his back.
As Lake joined Koga and walked with him to examine the carrots and potatoes and pull the ones ready to be harvested, I turned my attention to the castle looming behind us. The sun reflected off the windows. Some were made of stained glass, and the array of colors stood out against the dark stone surrounding them. Light bounced off the glass dome of the greenhouse as well.
Was Onyx in there right now, sitting within the trees as he read?
“He goes there to find peace,” Varys had once told me. “It’s home to many plants, trees, and flowers that are unable to naturally grow here in the Shadow Realm. I believe it makes him feel less isolated from the outside world.”
Isolated.
Lonely. Just like the expression he’d made last night while staring at the water basin after leaving me in bed. Strange how I could feel so connected to someone, yet know close to nothing about their personal life.
“Hey, Koga?” I turned to him. He and Lake both paused in their harvesting of carrots, their sleeves pushed up their forearms as they dug in the soil. “How long have you known Lord Onyx?”
“Ever since he was a child,” the demon answered, dusting his hands off on his trousers. “I’m the one who first taught him how to wield a sword, though he was far more interested in books. He used to skip his lessons to sneak off and read.”
I smiled at the detail. It fit Onyx’s regal and intellectual vibe perfectly. “So you were here when the human and demon war started?”
In the time I’d spent in the Shadow Realm, I hadn’t learned much about the war. What caused it? Which kingdom acted first? The answers might not matter now since centuries had passed, but learning more might help me understand Onyx better and why he preferred to seclude himself from everyone.
How had a boy who skipped sparring lessons to read grow into a feared demon lord?
“Aye. I commanded a unit of warriors during the war.” A shadow passed over Koga’s face. “Those were dark days. Ones I’d rather not speak of, if that’s all right with you.”
“Of course,” I said with an instant spike of guilt. “I’m sorry for mentioning it. I was just curious.”
“No apology necessary.” Koga nodded to me. “If our situations were reversed, I believe I’d be curious as well. However, I was a different demon back then and did many things I’m not… well, anyway. What’s in the past should stay there.”
Taking the hint, I let the subject drop. “Those carrots are huge. I bet they’d be good in a cake.”
“Carrot in… dessert?” Koga asked.
Lake’s ears perked up. “The cake with the cream cheese frosting?”
“Yep,” I answered. I’d made it for them a few times back home, and he’d loved it.
Dinner ideas then took over. Beef, potato, and carrot stew with a loaf of rosemary and thyme bread. Carrot cake for dessert. Hearty and delicious. Once they were done harvesting vegetables, we left the garden and made our way back to the castle.
“There you are, love.” Briar stood on the ground-level terrace beside the main courtyard. His smile screamed of mischief as he patted his pocket. “I have something for you.”
I looked at Lake, and he pressed his lips together. My gaze returned to Briar, whose smile had only sweetened. Suspiciously so. “Whatever you’re selling, I’m not interested. Especially if it has anything to do with flowers.”
Briar laughed. “Oh, come now. It’s not as horrible as you make it sound.”
“You’re right, Specs.” Rowan stepped out and joined him on the terrace, his auburn hair falling down his back. His smirk, however, was the same as always—that snaggle tooth on display and an impish look in his eyes. “It’s worse. Which is why we should wait for Captain Glutton and the rabbit to finish training before he drinks it. They’ll be sad if they miss it.”
“Do you hear that?” I cupped my hand beside my ear. “That’s the sound of the bread I planned to make you for dinner tonight fluttering away in the chilly morning breeze.”
“I take it back.”
I started laughing. A laugh that broke off abruptly as the scent of cedar and woodsmoke reached me. I whipped my head around in the direction it’d come from, seeing a few scattered trees and grass speckled with wild violets. Onyx was nowhere in sight. The scent had faded too.
