“Yes.” The female demon looked at me. A red ring circled her light-brown iris, in place of the black normally present in people’s eyes. “The Fenrir pup’s mana combated the spell and brought you back from the brink of death. Traces of that mana remain in your heart, little human. Even now, he protects you.”
Briar leaned in and kissed my temple. I reveled in his closeness. He had a way of calming any tendrils of anxiety and soothing me with a touch.
“The love you share is special.” Phantasia petted Salem once more before returning to the cauldron and stirring the bubbling contents. “Reminds me of the love I have for my mate.”
“What’s their name?” I asked.
“Armin. He’s a warrior in milord’s army.” She glanced toward the oval window. “Quite the clumsy oaf as well, always coming home with cuts and bruises. Just the other day, he took a shield to the face and broke his nose. He’s fortunate to have a healer for his wife.”
“Oh, the joys of having a clumsy soul as your beloved,” Briar said, tossing me a smile. “Enemies aside, you worry over his own two feet and if they’ll keep him upright instead of send him tumbling down the nearest cliff.”
Phantasia laughed.
I, however, cut my eyes at Briar. “You’re supposed to be the nice one.”
“How odd.” His smile widened, reflecting in his hazel eyes. “I don’t recall making such an arrangement.”
Several minutes later, after another round of puffing smoke from the cauldron and a sizzle that didn’t fill me with the warm fuzzies whatsoever, Phantasia filled a vial and corked it, handing it to Briar. “Administer this to him before bed tonight, along with a spoonful of honey afterward. It will help rid any lingering bitterness from his tongue. The elixir will take effect while he sleeps.”
“You have my gratitude.” Briar pocketed the vial.
“Mine too,” I told her, hopping down from the stool. “For me and for Lake.”
She nodded to me, then focused on Briar. “Am I correct in believing you’ll be staying in our realm for a while longer? Ifso, I wouldn’t be opposed to you joining me in the clinic. The assistance, as well as the company, would be nice.”
“It would be my pleasure.” He beamed with a smile that revealed how much he missed being in his clinic.
“Excellent,” she said. “I expect you here on the morrow.”
Briar agreed, still smiling, and guided me from the room. The outer hallway was narrow and dark, but light flooded from the far end, coming from the entrance to the greenhouse. He had a newfound pep in his step—a cheerfulness I hadn’t seen in a while.
“Why do you stare?” he asked, peering down at me. Light brown bangs touched the edge of his glasses and flipped up at the ends.
“Because you’re handsome.” I looped my arm through his. “And you seem happy. It’s a nice change.”
“I suppose I am happy.” He patted my fingers and let his hand linger on mine as we walked, arms still linked. “As much as our situation allows for me to be, anyway. We may have lost our home, but there’s still joy to be found. For as long as we’re here, we might as well make the most of it.”
The pang of sadness I’d felt earlier that day when thinking of the life we’d left behind returned. “Maddox seems to have reached the same conclusion. Forming a truce with Lord Onyx. Unless I’m still asleep and this whole day has all been a weird fever dream.”
“Not even in dreams would that stubborn man be so agreeable,” he responded, and I laughed. However, his playfulness was short-lived. The middle of his brow creased and his eyes grew taut. “The news of King Eidolon’s hand in your father’s death shook our captain’s confidence. Made him question all that he believed to be true. Then when learning that Lord Onyx was bound to you by fate? Well, I suppose Maddoxdid what he knows best. Strategized the best course of action. Allying with the demon lord will grant you greater protection.”
Unless Onyx is the fated mate Lupin warned might kill me someday.
Logic pointed to him. Hello, mighty demon lord who’d admitted to having a temper and at one time wishing he could burn the world. But I remembered the childlike eagerness he’d shown in the kitchen when wanting to help me with the muffins. Recalled the gentle caress to my jaw and how his scent warmed me from the inside out.
I sighed and faced ahead. More light bled into the corridor the farther we walked, coming from an outer doorway that led into a side courtyard.
“That was a big sigh.”
I offered him a smile. My best attempt at one anyway. “Just a lot on my mind. Specifically, how gross that viper potion will taste later.”
Lightly laughing, Briar gently squeezed my hand. “A small price to pay for your health, love.”
Reaching the end of the hall, the path veered in two directions. One to the outer courtyard and the other to the greenhouse. Glass panels showed a peek of trees and vibrant plants and flowers.
Was Lord Onyx in there right now?
“We should find our captain and the others.” Briar squeezed my palm again, pulling me once more from my head. “I’m sure they’re wondering where we are.”
