“You’re correct. Our kinds have been in conflict for centuries.” Onyx broke eye contact with him to look at me. “However, as a wise little bird once told me, many have fallen on both sides of this war. The violence will never end unless steps are taken in that direction.”
My belly fluttered.
Maddox stared at him in silence, suspicion ablaze in his eyes, before he breathed out and gave a sharp nod.
“Good. You’re all invited to dine with me this evening. Until then, you’re welcome to explore my realm.” Onyx turned fromthe doorway and stepped back into the corridor. Before leaving, he glanced at me over his shoulder. “Perhaps you’ll see it’s not what you feared it to be.”
Once he was out of sight, the tension in the air lifted, and the knights exhaled.
“So that was the mighty demon lord,” Duke said in a gruff tone. “He’s certainly prettier than I remember.”
“And scale free.” Quincy sighed.
“You sound disappointed,” Baden told him before a ghost of a smile crossed his face. “Seems our thorn prince is no longer the only sad toad in the realm.”
“I’m only disappointed he’s not part dragon,” Quincy said. “Imagine riding into battle on a dragon’s back. The enemy would shit themselves.”
“You’dshit yourself being so high up in the clouds,” Duke countered. “Heights aren’t your friend.”
Baden nodded. “And if the fear didn’t kill you, you’d end up falling off the dragon and dying anyway. Much like the time you fell from your horse and broke your ass.”
I choked on a laugh.
“I didn’t break my ass, you bastard.” Quincy snapped. “I was shot in the ass cheek with an arrow!ThenI fell from my horse.”
Oreo playfully nipped at my ankle before rushing over to the bed and jumping on, landing beside Callum.
“Er… hello,” Callum warily told the pup.
Oreo softlywoofed at him before burrowing under the covers.
“Yay.” I beamed. “We officially have a new puppy.”
“A menace is more like it,” Maddox grumbled, taking me into his arms. “Stealing your love and affection.”
The wiggling bundle under the blanket growled.
“Good thing I have enough love and affection to go around.” I rested my chin on Maddox’s chest, arms snug around his waist.“And you may or may not have a very special place in my heart all to yourself.”
Warmth touched his once icy eyes. Something else entwined with that warmth though—a glint of something darker. “I can’t help but wonder who else has a piece of your heart.”
“What do you mean?”
“The demon lord has an endearment for you,” he softly responded. “Little bird.”
Lake’s gaze met mine, and his brows pulled together. Rowan looked at me too. The only ones who knew the truth. The longer I waited to tell the rest of them, the harder it would be. The Band-Aid theory was best: just freaking rip it off and get it over with. And Maddox had provided an opening to do just that.
With my heart pounding like a war drum, I took a steadying breath. “There’s something I need to—”
“By the gods!” Quincy exclaimed from the window, his face pressed to the glass. “What’s that horrid creature?”
Aaaand, perfect moment gone.
Lake padded over to him and looked outside. “Oh. That’s Ghost.”
“Ghost?”
“Evan named him,” Lake said. “The one beside him is named Ash.”
