“It’s too soon to say,” Maddox answered, retaking my hand. “But if there’s one thing I do know, it’s that we’ll need a strong ally in the days to come. Bremloc has turned its back on Evan, and I’m sure word has spread to neighboring kingdoms. Staying for now is our best option.”
“And the demon lord has an army,” Duke added. “Quite the strong ally indeed.”
“Hopefully we won’t need an army,” I said, nerves swishing in my gut like the deep-cleaning cycle on a washing machine.“I mean, if I never leave this realm there’s no need to fight. Nocturne can’t get to me and neither can Cedric.”
“If only that were true, love.” Briar patted my thigh, his smile tight. “As I said before, the saint rises in times of great conflict. It’s unlikely that you can stay hidden in this realm forever. Destiny will come calling one day, whether it be tomorrow, next week, or years from now.”
“All the more reason for this alliance.” Maddox cupped the back of my head and kissed my brow. “For when that day comes, you’ll have all of us by your side. The demon included.”
Protecting me mattered more to him than his pride. The revelation had me pushing my face against his neck, eyes stinging.
Another scent tickled my nose and strengthened in intensity, joining Maddox’s scent of warm spice. Like vanilla bean and sunshine.
“Milord.” Callum knelt beside my chair, flashing his dimple. He offered me his back. “Hop on.”
“Where are we going?” I didn’t hesitate before wrapping my arms around his neck and climbing on.
“It’s a beautiful day. Would be a shame to waste it inside.” He smiled back at me and lightly bumped his head to mine, further proof that we were okay. That my cinnamon roll hadn’t gone anywhere. “We’ll take our food and eat in the garden. All of us.”
Oreo was all for that idea. He sprang toward the patio doors and pawed at them, tail wagging.
After we’d taken our dishes outside and made a pallet on the grass with their cloaks, we sat together beneath a clear blue sky and enjoyed the spring afternoon. Lake and Duke mentioned playing chess later, while Briar talked about meeting with Phantasia at the clinic. Callum and Maddox spoke of how they couldn’t wait to be back on the field training and working theirbodies, though no one knew when they’d actually be allowed to do so.
Movement from an upstairs window caught my eye. A glimpse of dark hair and a red robe before I blinked and it was gone.
A pang hit my chest.
The demon lord mostly kept to himself. Preferred solitude. Like the beast from my favorite fairy tale, he stayed in his lonely tower and watched the world pass him by.
Chapter Eleven
Is This a Torture Chamber?
Bright blue liquid bubbled in a cauldron on a table near the wall. The oval shaped window above it let in the sun, lighting one half of the clinic while leaving the other cast in shadow. Jars covered various shelves, some filled with herbs I recognized but many with types I didn’t.
Not only herbs either. Some of those jars had… questionable contents. A kind of gooey substance in one. Another had what looked like chicken feet. I shuddered when spotting one filled with sharp teeth.
“Sit, sit.” Phantasia ushered me on to a wooden stool. Red horns rose from her brown hair, and she wore a pink, flowy dress with a tan corset that sinched on the sides. Her voice was soft but assertive. “Tunic off.”
“Um, what?” A hand went to the front of my shirt on impulse. “Why?”
With a hint of exasperation, she looked at Briar. “He is your male, yes? Undress him so I can see his wound.”
“Of course.” Briar pressed his lips together to refrain from smiling and helped loosen the strings on my tunic, pulling it up and over my head. He folded it over his arm. “Before coming to this realm, I gave him a daily tonic that helped the worst of his symptoms. I fear he’s regressed in his healing, however.”
Phantasia examined my chest, gently probing the scar tissue in the center where the fire spell had burned through me. Her fingers were cool to the touch but not unpleasant. “You are quite the skilled healer. The magic used for this spell held greatpower, but you’ve managed to combat it well and mend the more problematic areas.”
“I had help,” Briar responded, never one to boast of his talents. “The Fenrir pup saved his life by giving Evan some of his mana. I merely mended the damage leftover and helped in his recovery.”
“You’re too modest,” I told him.
Color touched his cheeks, and he adjusted his glasses. “If I were more knowledgeable in medicinal magic, I could’ve healed you completely.”
“It is not knowledge or skill you lack but ingredients.” Phantasia went over to a large black cabinet and scrounged around inside. “Give me a moment to look. You may get dressed in the meantime. I’m finished with the examination.”
Briar handed me my tunic, and I shrugged it on, thankful for the extra layer to block out the chill in the air.
Once dressed, I hopped down from the stool and walked with Briar to have a look around. With the lone window giving off just enough light for the potted plants hanging beside it to soak in sunshine, the rest of the clinic gave dungeon vibes.
