“Enjoy your time with him now, rabbit.” Rowan slouched on the window bench, eyes slanted. “That treasure’s all mine come sundown.”
I perked up. Rowan could use shadows to help him sail through the air. They wrapped around his legs and made him feel weightless. He liked to toss me on his back and take me with him.
Maddox glared at him. “If you think you’re going to take him soaring through the trees, think again, thief. This is not the time nor the place.”
And I perked down. Or whatever.
“Look what you did, you gluttonous, grumpy bastard.” Rowan flicked his hand toward me. “Turned him into a sad toad.”
“I’m not sad,” I grumbled before pulling away from Callum and hopping off the bed. I gathered the dishes from breakfast and stacked them on the tray, trying not to let my disappointment show. “Not like I wanted to go or anything. Nope.”
Maddox sighed.
Tray in hand, I shuffled toward the door, intending to set it outside in the hall so I could carry it to the kitchen later. Right before reaching it, a hardthudcame from the other side. Standing so close to it, I nearly jumped out of my skin.
Maddox bolted off the bed and reached me in record time. I was trying to right my balance and not drop the damn tray of dishes when he grabbed my arm and steadied me. He pulled me farther away from the door just as anotherthudsounded.
And with that thud? The softest of puppy whines.
“Oreo?” I called out.
Woof!Followed by scratches on the door.
Smile bursting across my face, I weaseled out of Maddox’s hold, set the tray back on the table, and padded over to let the puppy in.
Much to my captain’s irritation. He growled and followed close behind me, one hand resting on my hip. Probably so he could yank me away in case of an attack. But the only attack I’d get from Oreo was one of excited licks and tail wags.
A point proven when I opened the door and saw a flash of black fur before being pounced on. Oreo gave me kisses and swished his poofy tail ninety-to-nothing, yipping in that adorable puppy way.
“I’m happy to see you too,” I said through my laughs, dropping to both knees and giving him all the pets and scratchesbehind his furry ears. One of them flopped like usual, and the cuteness was too much. “Are you hungry? We have yummy food you can eat.”
“He can’t have the muffins.” Maddox grumbled. “That’s where I draw the line. The beast is already testing my patience as it is, licking all over you like that.”
I snorted. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous.”
He sneered and looked the other way.
“He’s so grumpy, huh?” I told Oreo in a high-pitched, cutesy voice, ruffling the fur on his back. “Yes, he is. I think he needs another muffin.”
That earned me another sneer. I saw the amusement in Maddox’s blue eyes though. He could try to play tough all he wanted, but not even he could resist the cuteness of the Fenrir pup.
Lake came over and knelt beside me. He extended his hand toward the puppy but didn’t go far enough to touch him. “Hello again.”
Oreo stopped licking my face and tilted his little head, that one ear flopping with the action. Slowly, he inched forward and nudged Lake’s hand. It was the one Oreo had bit the night he’d come to see us at the cottage.
“I’m all healed,” Lake said, carefully upturning his palm. “See? Not even a scar.”
More gently than he’d done with me, Oreo licked his fingers.
“Apology accepted.” Lake smiled and patted the top of his head. Maybe it was their shared wolf traits, but he could understand Oreo. He had said he didn’thearOreo’s words; it was more of a feeling. Regardless, I found it cool as hell.
“Here.” Maddox offered me his hand. “Let me help you from the floor.”
Right as I placed my palm on his, Oreo growled. His tail stopped wagging and straightened out, and his ears angled back.
“No, you can’t bite him,” Lake softly said, still petting the pup.
Grr.
