We found them at the training field.
Maddox greeted me with a kiss before continuing his conversation with Baden and Quincy. He kept his hand on my lower back though, a small touch to remind him I was there. The three of them spoke of their own training as they watchedthe warriors in the field. Most notable was their bittersweet expressions.
I searched for the rest of my men.
Duke sat beside Lake under the nearest tree, both of them whittling small pieces of wood. A hobby they shared on top of their love for chess. My wolf caught my eye and smiled. And no, my heart didnotalmost explode when I caught the flop of his poofy tail against the grass upon seeing me.
Movement from the branch above them snagged my attention. Rowan perched in the tree, one leg dangling down and both arms behind his head, eyes closed. Oreo sat below him and wagged his tail, tongue poking from the side of his mouth.
“Looks like I’m not the only one he’s bonded with,” I said with a smile.
Maddox followed my gaze, curious at first, then he sneered. “Fitting. A furball and a thief.”
I snorted.
Briar greeted Maddox with a kiss on the cheek before looking at the training warriors. “Any news on when you can join them?”
“Not yet,” our captain answered. “Seraphina told us to come watch their drills. I believe it’s to allow the warriors to get accustomed to seeing us here.”
“It also allows you to familiarize yourself with their technique,” Briar added, eyes on the field.
The demons fought more violently than what I’d seen of the knights, using their whole bodies to inflict blows, deflect, and dodge. There was something barbaric, but also mesmerizing, about how they moved.
If that was how they were during training, I couldn’t imagine them on a real battlefield.
Awoofcame from the right. Oreo had left his spot under the tree and joined Callum near the fence several feet away. Lookedlike the puppy was making his rounds, checking on all his new humans.
Fenrir had a reputation for being aggressive toward people, but Oreo was different. Part of it may have come from his imprint with me. I loved my men, so maybe he felt that affection too.
“What say you, pup?” Callum glanced down at him. “Should we hop over this fence and offer to show these demons how it’s done?”
Oreo wagged his tail and rose up, placing one paw on the lowest wooden plank.
I nearly died from the cuteness. After kissing Maddox on the cheek, I stepped closer to my cinnamon roll and his new fluffy buddy. Oreo nuzzled my leg, and I reached down to scratch his ears.
“Are you keeping Cal company?” I gave him more pets. “You’re such a good boy. Yes, you are.”
Callum smiled over at me before returning his attention to the field. He rested his arms against the fence and watched two demons spar, one with a sword and the other with a medium-sized battle axe. He expelled a breath and slouched even more.
“Don’t be sad.” I rubbed the middle of his back. “You’ll get to train again soon.”
“Not soon enough.” He turned to me, that endearing dimple in his cheek not far behind. My heart soared when he ruffled my hair. “The sight of you soothes my wounded soul though.”
“Such a charmer you are, dear knight.”
“Only for you, milord.” He pushed his fingers through my hair before trailing them down my cheek and to my jaw, his touch soft but his brown eyes softer. “Now and always.”
A lump rose in my throat. “I was afraid you hated me. Last night, after I told you about… well, you know. You were so angry.”
“Worried,” he gently said. “I was worried, not angry.”
“Because Onyx is a demon?”
“Part of it, yes. You once told us that Lupin warned you of various tragic directions your future could take you. More bad than good. A part of me feared… and still does, really… that the demon lord will set one of those dark futures into motion.”
Leave it to Callum and his keen sense of perception to see right through me. I hadn’t told any of them about my possible doomed romance with one of my fated seven, but a part of him sensed it.
“So you don’t agree with Maddox’s decision?”
