“I see,” a familiar husky voice said. “I leave for half a day and you already have a new favorite wolf.”
My insides wobbled. “Lake?”
He stood beside the nearest tree, smile warm and not a scratch on him. And he wasn’t alone.
Oreo barked and bit at my tunic sleeve, tugging at it and trying to drag me across the grass. Toward the men I hadn’t stopped thinking about since the moment I had to leave them behind in the forest, unsure when, or if, I’d see them again.
Legs shaky, I got to my feet.
“Gods, you’re a sight for sore eyes.” Maddox stepped forward, his gaze locking on mine. The deep voice caused a responding shiver in my bones. There was a desperation in his eyes as he rushed toward me, pulling me against him in seconds.
“Hey, big guy,” I rasped.
“I’m so happy you’re safe, sweetheart.” His scent hit me hard. Leather and warm spice.
Of home.
A sob tore through my throat as I wrapped my arms around his thick waist and clung to him. It felt like my lungs had been deprived of oxygen for days, ever since the night we’d said goodbye. In his arms, I could finally breathe again.
Maddox pressed kisses to my hair and kept me in a strong hold. Saying little, but he didn’t need to use his words. His heart thumped hard beneath my ear, and his muscles quaked. My bigguy hid emotions well, but I sensed his relief. Felt it in every brush of his lips and unsteady exhale.
“Hello, love.” Briar stood beside us, smile shaky and a glassy sheen to his hazel eyes.
“Briar,” I whimpered and reached for him too. Magnolia blossoms tickled my nose, closely followed by the spicy and earthy notes of black cardamom. “Ro.”
“Hey, little treasure.” Rowan hooked an arm around my waist, and his lips trembled as he tried for a smirk. “The pup’s lucky you’re all right. If you’d had even a nick on you, I would’ve had to spank him.”
Lake huffed. “I’d like to see you try.”
Something warm and sweet wafted toward me, like vanilla bean and freshly baked bread.
“Cal.” My voice broke.
“At your service, milord.” Callum lightly ruffled my hair, ushering in another round of tears. His crinkly-eyed stare was paired with an adorable dimple in his cheek. “Now and always.”
The anxiety that’d swirled in my chest all day finally lifted. My men had returned to me. All of them. Bursting with happiness and relief, I buried my face into Maddox’s chest—he’d refused to fully release his hold on me—and then grabbed at the others, taking turns nuzzling and kissing each of them.
“Where’s my kiss?” a gruff voice called out, drawing my attention to a group standing behind my men. Duke’s red hair fell past his ears, free of the leather strap he normally tied it back with. A smile broke across the knight’s rugged face. “Though I’d settle for a muffin or two.”
“What he said,” Quincy chimed in, the scar cutting across his left cheek crinkling with a wide grin. “Haven’t had one of your treats in ages. Think I’m going through withdrawals.”
“You’re all here.” My vision blurred as more tears surged forward.
“Of course, we are.” Baden, the more serious of the knight trio, kept a stern expression as he spoke. With cropped blond hair, a chiseled jaw, and large muscles, he could seem intimidating to those who didn’t know him. He dropped to one knee and lowered his head. “You’re our prince. Where you go, we’ll follow. My sword and shield belong to you.”
The three of them knew the truth about me. Maddox had told them the night of the ball before the fight went down with the mercenaries. They knew I was the son of Prince Elias and that I’d been targeted because of it. Knew the truth about Cedric’s plan to poison the king and frame me for it.
“Aye.” Quincy followed suit, kneeling before me. That shit-eating grin remained on his lips though. “I vow to guard you with my life and protect you with my much sharper sword and bigger shield than Baden’s.”
“And with your plumper arse,” Duke told him, dropping to one knee as well. “A thing of unmatched fortitude.”
“Wait.” I scanned the group, finding two spies missing. “Reign and Draven aren’t with you?”
Rowan shook his head. “They returned to the Tower.”
Unease prickled at my chest. “Will they be safe there? I heard there’s a bounty on my head and anyone close to me might be seen as suspicious and taken in for questioning.”
“They’ll be fine,” Maddox said. “No one outside the Secret Order knows of your friendship. Draven said to tell you to worry about your own neck instead of theirs.”
