“Stop this,” he said, grabbing my shoulders. He seemed less angry now. A good sign. “You’re too adorable I can barely stand it.”
“Adorable?” I huffed.
“Thinking you’re strong enough to move me.” Maddox caressed my jaw, then aimed a hard glare at Fane, his ocean blue eyes turning as cold as the Atlantic. “Is that all you came to say?”
“It is,” Fane answered. “I’ll return within the hour to—”
“Understood.” Maddox slammed the door in his face.
“Was that necessary?” I asked in exasperation, hands flying to my hips. Better than making fists and throwing punches. These men were testing my patience and blood pressure.
“Yes,” was all Maddox said before guiding me away from the door and back to the bed.
I closed my eyes and took a deep, calming breath. “How, pray tell, was slamming a door in his face necessary?”
“Well, it mademefeel better,” he answered, then smirked. A layer of danger lurked beneath the surface of that smirk though.
“That demon better mind his head before he loses it,” Duke growled. The other knights nodded.
“Fane is no threat to you or anyone else,” Lake said softly. His fluffy wolf ears were drooped, and his tail fanned out behind him on the bed, unmoving. Not even a twitch. “He only said that because you instigated it. You can’t lunge at a lion and then fault it for snapping its jaws at you in response.”
“Now, you’re defending the demons too?” Duke asked with a shake of his head.
Lake slowly exhaled. “Demon, human, demi-human. All deserve the same respect until their actions say otherwise. Fane has been good to me and Evan.”
I felt torn. On one hand, I understood why Maddox and the others were on their guard being in the Shadow Realm. I also understood where Fane was coming from. Trust needed to be earned. But that couldn’t happen until both sides were willing to try.
My throat burned.
“Love?” Briar sat beside me on the edge of the bed and lightly rubbed my back. “Are you all right?”
I nodded. “Just frustrated. I get why everyone’s so tense, but I…” Bringing both knees up, I hugged them and hid my face in the crease of my elbow. “Didn’t think it’d be this hard.”
“Enough of the pouting, little treasure.” Rowan hopped on the bed and sat behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. “You look pitiful. My heart can’t take it.”
I snorted a laugh. It came out sadder than intended.
“Forgive me, sweetheart.” Maddox knelt in front of me at the foot of the bed and reached forward, gently smoothing his hand along my shin. “I don’t mean to make this harder on you. I only wish to protect you.”
“From what?” I asked, placing my hand over his. He might’ve been a big, stubborn grump, but he wasmybig, stubborn grump, and I’d missed him like crazy.
“From yourself, mostly.” A smile teased his lips before fading again. “You want so badly to see the good in everyone that you’re blinded to their true nature. As Callum mentioned, you are far too trusting with that big heart of yours.”
“Or maybe you’re too suspicious anduntrusting.” I lightly squeezed his hand. “Everyone deserves a chance, Maddox.”
Our gazes held for several quiet moments.
“What’s the plan, Captain?” Baden asked. He and the other knights stood along the wall, close to the door, their heads on a swivel. Searching for threats, as though demons would come shooting out of the walls and floor at any moment.
“The demon lord wishes to welcome us to his realm.” Maddox gave my leg another light pat before standing and rising back to his full height. He looked at his knights. “I say we accept his invitation.”
Chapter Three
Drinks, Demons, and a… Doom Flag?
Candlelight flickered from the room at the end of the long corridor. The faint glow did little to chase away the impenetrable darkness of night, however. And man, was it dark. Eerie. There weren’t even windows to let in moonlight.
A chill crept up from the stone floor and seeped out from the surrounding walls, adding to the unease churning in my belly as we neared the parlor where Lord Onyx waited.
