“Such a shame,” Maddox said in a deep tone that made my insides tremble in the best way. He glided his teeth down my neck. “I hoped to fill you even more.”
“I take it back,” I quickly said. “Hobbits have breakfast and second breakfast. Nothing says a muffin can’t have two desserts.”
With a low, rumbling chuckle, Maddox grabbed me by the jaw and slammed his mouth to mine, kissing me so deep my toes curled. Lake moved farther up my body, having been resting in his favorite place with his head on my lap, and licked up the middle of my rib cage. Briar lay to my right and found the weak spot beneath my ear, nibbling me there.
I sensed the others around me too, each of them closing in. Pulling me more into their orbit. They alternated kisses,caressing my chest and sides with each pass of their mouth. Peaches. Vanilla bean. Black cardamom.
Each set of lips came with their own taste, and I sought more of each of them. Love filled my heart. A heart that beat for the five men in my bed.
And the one not yet with us.
Chapter Fourteen
Beneath the Willow Tree
Birds sang their morning songs as I walked around the castle grounds. The late-night fuck-fest with my men had resulted in me feeling like a zombie, even after three mugs of coffee at breakfast. I hoped stretching my legs would release those energizing endorphins or whatever the gym people said when trying to convince people to work out.
Pretty sure they were full of crap. Walking made me sluggish. Physically and mentally exhausted.
The sex wasn’t the only reason for my lack of energy. Once they’d fallen asleep, I had lain in bed wide awake. Obsessing over the future, mostly, and wondering when my destiny as the Hallowed Saint would sweep me away. Briar had said people like me rose in times of great conflict. That we helped turn the tide in wars.
When would that war reach us?
An adorable bark drew my attention to Oreo. He stood on his hind legs at the foot of an oak tree, his front paws up on the trunk and his tongue sticking from the corner of his mouth. A squirrel with a huge bushy tail sat on the branch above him and cheeped.
“I don’t think they want to play with you, buddy,” I said, half laughing. Those cheeps sounded like a warning. “Come on.”
Woof.The puppy padded back over to me.
We continued our morning stroll: trekking through the garden, passing a small pond, and, much to my horror, spotting more monster flowers with teeth.
“You won’t bite me, you evil things.” I inched past them. “Muffin isn’t on the menu.”
Oreo lunged at one. Like the last time, it did a creepy swaying thing before opening its little mouth, revealing sharp points. The puppywoofed at it before returning to my side. Smart boy. Those flowers meant business—of the chomping variety.
As we walked, I had no direction in mind. Just went wherever my legs took me. A feeling drew me to the left, and I went with it, not second-guessing anything. Maybe a bad idea considering my directionally challenged ass. The castle grounds weren’t small, and we’d made quite a few turns down winding paths and through sections of trees. I might not be able to find my way back.
“If we get lost, you’ll have to save us,” I told Oreo.
He looked up at me, and that one ear flopped.
“I’m counting on you.”
The path ended a few paces later, leading to an overgrown courtyard. Dead grass crunched under my feet, not yet having shaken off the winter cold, and thin vines snaked up the trees. A stone bench sat weathered and cracked in places. Weeds took over the flowerbeds and sprang up around a small wooden shed.
Though beautiful, much of the castle was desolate like this. Forgotten with the passing of time. Rooms left unoccupied and hearths that hadn’t been lit in what looked like years. Lord Onyx once said that a dwelling reflected the soul who inhabited it.
If that were true, what did his castle say about him?
Honeysuckle tickled my nose, growing stronger with the breeze sweeping through the trees. I sneezed so loud it echoed. Freaking allergies.
“I’m sure there’s a tonic that can help with that.”
I froze.
Oreo wiggled his butt in excitement and darted toward a nearby willow tree. The long branches swallowed him a moment later, but I caught blurs of his dark fur through them. Also saw the shape of a man resting against the trunk. Black hair and pale skin. Red eyes.
“Are you stalking me?” I asked.
