I felt him smile. “I reckon there could be worse arms to stumble into. At least it’s not another stinky rabbit.”
I breathed out a laugh. “Cal doesn’t stink. He smells like vanilla bean and warm bread. To me, anyway.”
“What’s Lord Onyx smell like?” Rowan grazed his lips over my cheek.
My stomach flip-flopped. A deeper question lingered beneath the one he’d asked. He knew only my fated mates had their own unique scent. By answering him, I’d be confirming his suspicions about Onyx.
“Cedar and woodsmoke,” I said, answering the unasked question. “Like a fire on a wintery night.”
“Fire suits him.” Rowan softly exhaled, his breath tickling my neck. “Gods. That vein in Maddox’s temple really will blow once he figures it out.”
“Ugh, don’t say that.” I groaned. “Isn’t it possible he’ll see it as an opportunity to make peace with Lord Onyx and be overjoyed?”
I felt him smile. “You really want me to answer that?”
“No,” I said with a stomp of my foot. “There won’t be peace, only snarls and threats. Which means I need to make more muffins. Lots more.”
“Maybe one of those egg things while you’re at it?” he asked, hope in his voice. He and Lake loved omelets.
“I’ll see what I can do.” I kissed him lightly on the lips before checking on the baking muffins. They were done, so I pulled the tins from the oven and set them aside to cool.
“Oh, pardon me,” a voice came from the doorway. Fane stopped in place. “I didn’t know anyone else had woken.”
“I started breakfast,” I said, motioning to the muffin platters. “I hope that’s okay.”
“Of course.” He tipped his head. “The muffins you made yesterday were quite delicious. I must admit you aren’t as incompetent in the kitchen as I initially assumed.”
“Thank you.” I smiled, not sure if I should take that as a compliment or not. “I think.”
Fane looked toward the window with a curve to his lips.
“Nice horns,” Rowan told him.
“I…” Fane’s hand lifted to them as if on impulse. His long, thin tail flicked back and forth twice before stilling. “I just had them polished.”
Rowan hopped up on the counter and brought one knee up, letting the other leg dangle off the edge. “Bet they’d fetch a pretty penny to the right buyer.”
“Pardon me?” Various emotions flickered across Fane’s face. But the one front and center? Apprehension.
“He’s joking,” I said, shooting a glare at my redhead. “Don’t listen to a word he says.”
Leave it to Rowan to take the little progress I’d made with getting Fane to trust me and throw it out the window.
“I never said Iwouldsell them,” Rowan responded. “Only that they’d earn a nice chunk of coin. It was a compliment.”
“Coin has no value in this realm.” Fane’s expression remained hard. “Unless you intend to leave soon?”
“Don’t sound so hopeful,” Roman answered. “You won’t get rid of me that easy. I go where Evan goes.”
“Then I suggest making yourself at home.” Fane retrieved a kettle and filled it with water. “Because word around the castle is Evan will be staying with us for quite some time.”
The reminder caused a flutter of nerves in my belly. I couldn’t figure out if they were bad nerves or ones stirred from excitement. My body tingled from where Lord Onyx had pressed against me earlier.
“Wonder why that is.” Rowan glanced at me before focusing on Fane. “The demon lord is mighty interested in the well-being of a human. Kinda strange, wouldn’t you say?”
“Uncommon, yes,” Fane answered. “But far from strange. Milord, despite his unsavory reputation outside this realm, has a good heart. The problem is humans like you never give him the chance to prove it before trying to strike him down.”
A good heart. Somehow, I got the same feeling about Onyx. There was more to him than his fierce reputation. A lightheartedness, like when he’d been eager to help me with the muffins.
