Maddox grumbled something under his breath. The main reason for me bringing the basket. They were my emergency,‘calm down my grouchy captain’ stash of muffins and should be used sparingly.
Oreo, who had been padding along beside me, leapt toward the flower, his ears flopping, andwoofed at it. The monster flower swayed from side to side and chomped its creepy little teeth. The Fenrir puppy sniffed, then sneezed. When it tried to bite him, he jumped out of the way and growled.
“You know?” I grabbed Briar’s arm. “I think I prefer Herbert and Holly.”
He laughed and pressed a kiss to my temple. “Thane would be pleased to hear that.” The mention of his apprentice caused a shift in his expression. A sadness he tried to hide with a smile.
A cloud of guilt gathered in the pit of my stomach and weighed heavily, like a ship’s anchor. “I’m sorry.”
“What on earth for?” he asked, taken aback.
“You’re all here because of me.” A lump lodged in my throat, constricting my airway. “The knights should be with their Order. Ro should be with Draven and the other spies, and you should be in the clinic—”
“I’m right where I wish to be, love,” Briar softly interjected. The edges of his hazel eyes crinkled. “By your side. There’s no place better.”
A warm body pressed against my back, bringing the scent of warm spice and leather. “Our physician is right. This is all I need.” Maddox embraced me from behind and kissed my nape. “You safe and in my arms.”
Little growls filled the air as Oreo padded back over and sat at my feet. He bared his teeth at Maddox.
“Hush, furball.” Maddox hugged me closer. “He was mine first.”
The lump in my throat dislodged as a laugh broke through it.
Aclangrang out, echoing across the courtyard.
“Swords?” Callum asked, head turning to the left.
“Our warriors,” Seraphina told him. “Come. I’ll show you.”
Trees and a small stable shielded our view, but after our group moved several paces down the winding, stone path—leaving the monster flower behind—we came to a field. Demon warriors had gathered to do drills. Swords clashed, combined with the heavythudof bodies colliding against shields and each other.
Callum watched them train, hyper focused on their movements. His hand twitched at his side.
“You miss it, don’t you?” I asked, nearing him and looping my arm through his. “Training.”
“Aye.” He peered down with warm, chocolate eyes that still gave me butterflies. “Feel like my arm isn’t complete without a sword in my grip.”
“You’re a skilled swordsman, yes?” Seraphina asked Callum. Her serious expression matched his. A look shared by many soldiers I’d met. “Perhaps during your stay in our realm, you can show me just how skilled you are. It’s been ages since I’ve faced a worthy opponent.”
Interest flickered across Callum’s face. As did a competitive gleam in his eyes that was paired with a trace of a smile. “Challenge accepted. But do know that I treat all soldiers equally, regardless of whether they’re male or female.”
Seraphina grinned. “I’ll accept nothing less.”
Hope blossomed in my chest. That was almost friendly, right? Inching toward civil at least. Unless, of course, the competition got too heated and ended with one of them gutted like a fish.
Sigh.
Pressing two fingers to her lips, Seraphina whistled loud and sharp, then lowered her hand. A beat later, the rattle of a carriage sounded. Two carriages, actually. One was pulled byGhost and Ash, and the other by demon stallions I hadn’t had the chance to meet, pet, and name yet.
“Gods,” Quincy said under his breath. “Those nightmarish creatures again.”
“Not as nightmarish as your face,” Duke mumbled back at him.
“Says the ugliest redheaded bastard I’ve ever seen,” Baden chimed in.
“Your brother never has any complaints,” came Duke’s immediate reply. “Then again, his face is normally shoved into my pillow. Hard for him to complain when he’s too busy moaning my name.”
“I’ll kill you!” Baden dove at him. The two beefy knights playfully brawled, no actual anger or heat behind their punches and headlocks.
