“He’s my captain.” Callum glanced over at him, brow heavy. “I respect his decision and trust that he knows what’s best.”
“But?” I pressed.
He looked down at me. The sun hit his brown eyes, bringing out shades of orange and hints of gold. “I can’t help but feel another storm is on the horizon, one much greater than what transpired the night of the ball. Maddox senses it too. I suspect it’s why he decided to take the risk and call a truce with Lord Onyx, trusting in your fated connection with him to keep you safe. Yet, I feel differently.”
“How so?” I asked, turning my whole body to face him. He had several inches over me, causing me to tilt my head up to meet his gaze.
“I fear that the demon lord is the one who’ll bring that storm.” Callum cupped my cheek. “And it terrifies me, Ev. The thought of losing you.”
I reached up and placed my hand over his. “Then I guess it’s a good thing I don’t plan on going anywhere.”
“That’s the thing about plans.” His brow scrunched as he traced my bottom lip with his thumb. “They don’t always go as expected.”
“Mine will,” I vowed, refusing to consider the alternative.
I’d do everything in my power to make it true. There was always a way through the dark. I had to trust my gut, and my love for each of them, to guide me in the right direction.
***
Stars danced in the moonlit sky. A moon that appeared much larger that night as I stood at the open window in our room and peered out.
Far in the distance, a lake glistened with soft blue and green glows along the bank. More of the fluorescent plants and trees like the ones I’d seen when Rowan took me to the pond. They were scattered throughout the landscape but mainly gathered near bodies of water.
“The hour is late.” Maddox wound his arms around me from behind. “You should ready yourself for bed.”
“I’m not tired. Besides, everyone else is still awake.”
“Did you just stomp your foot?” His chuckle tickled the shell of my ear. “Our physician told me of the potion you must drink before bed. Is that what keeps you at this window instead of between the sheets with me?”
I turned in his arms, body warming beneath the force of his heated gaze. “You strike a tough bargain. Sexy time with Captain Smolder for the price of one nasty gulp of viper venom. Or standing here staring at the stars until all of you have passed out to avoid such a fate.”
The muscle jumped in his cheek. “Why must you always whine about taking your medicine? Reminds me of your aversion to a certain sex tonic.”
“Don’t remind me.” I shuddered at the memory. “I still believe flowers don’t belong in anything meant for consumption. It’s just wrong.”
“At least Specs sweetened your tonic with honey,” Rowan chimed in from his place on the love seat. He slouched on the cushions, boots off and legs stretched toward the lit hearth. “He didn’t try to make mine taste good.”
Briar sat at the small table and smiled to himself as he sipped from his teacup. Fane had brought it up, along with a few books on plants Phantasia had suggested he look over. One book sat open in front of him.
“I enjoyed the flavor of the tonic,” Lake said without looking up from his whittling tool. He sat on the floor beside Rowan’s chair, working on the project he’d started earlier that afternoon with Duke. It looked like a charm of some sort. “Then again, I used to tear up flowers and eat them as a young pup.”
“Those poor flowers,” Rowan said. “How could you?”
Lake swatted Rowan’s foot with his tail.
The door opened, and Callum stepped into the room with an adorable demon puppy at his heels. When I’d first met Oreo in the forest, Callum had tried killing him, thinking me to be in danger. Cute how my cinnamon roll now took that puppy for his evening walk.
“I ran into Borus while outside,” he said, shutting the door and locking it behind him. “He told us to meet him and Seraphina at the barracks at first light. I just relayed the message to Duke and the others.”
“See?” I smiled. “I said you’d get to train again soon.”
“Unless training isn’t their intention.” Callum bent down to untie his boot laces. Oreo grabbed at one lace and flung it from side to side, still full of playful energy. “Perhaps they wish to chop us up for their morning stew.”
I rolled my eyes. “No one will be eating anyone else.”
“I wouldn’t sound so confident about that, sweetheart.” Maddox tugged me closer and dipped his face to my neck,grazing his teeth along my flesh. “Or have you forgotten my insatiable hunger for muffins?”
Lust spiked in my bloodstream, and I quickly swallowed to wet my throat. “Pretty sure your love of muffins has spread to kingdoms far and wide. Even across the sea to Haran.”
