Emotion welled in my throat. For so many years, Lake had been isolated from the world. Even after the others and I had come into his life, I still sensed a longing in him. Bonding with Varys—making a friend who understood him on a level none of us could—helped him not to feel so alone.
Yet another reason why leaving this realm would be upsetting. Lake would lose the only true safe place he’d had since his father was killed.
“Stay with our human and protect him,” Lake told Oreo, scratching his ears.
The puppy answered with a softwoof.The rainy weather was making him sleepy.
After putting away his whittling tools and cleaning up the small pile of wood shavings, Lake kissed me and left the parlor with Varys.
“Our pup’s made another friend,” Rowan said, staring after them with a warmth in his eyes he rarely showed. “Duke might get jealous. There goes his chess buddy.”
“He’ll survive.” I snorted. “I’d say you could play chess with him, but you cheat too much.”
“Not according to Lord Onyx.” Rowan grinned. “He thinks I’m clever to use my shadows to move the pieces across the board.”
Something occurred to me. “Why haven’t you asked him to help you yet?”
“Help me?”
“With your magic,” I said. “That’s the whole reason you Evan-napped me last summer, remember? So you could use me as a peace offering to come here, get in his good graces, and learn from him. We’ve been here for a week and you haven’t talked to him about it.”
Despite his dark complexion, I noticed the sudden flush in Rowan’s cheeks. It caused the tips of his ears to redden too. “Haven’t found the right time.”
I squinted at him. “You’re nervous, aren’t you?”
“What? No. Why would I be nervous?” He walked over to the tall window and rested his hip against the sill, crossing one arm over the other as he looked outside. “A lot’s happened since we got here. That’s all. I’ll talk to him when I feel like it.”
Yep. He’s totally nervous.
“Well.” I joined him by the window and wrapped my arms around him from behind, resting my chin on the top of his shoulder. “When you’re ready to talk to him, I can come with you for added moral support. Maybe we can bake him a honey cake to sweeten him up first.”
Rowan chuckled and pressed into me, tipping his head back to rest on mine. “Manipulating people with your sweets. Just as Draven once said.”
The mention of the spy brought a surge of guilt. “I’m sorry, Ro. You finally found your calling with the Secret Order and found men who became brothers, only to lose it all.”
“I’ve lost nothing.” He turned in my arms and took me in his instead. His spicy scent strengthened, holding an underlyingtrace of earth and musk. “Draven and Reign are my brothers no matter where I am. I’ll see them again someday.”
“I wish they would’ve come with you.” My gaze moved to the rain spattered windowpane. Storm clouds stretched as far as the eye could see.
“They nearly did. Draven has a soft spot for you, little treasure.” Rowan smiled from the corner of his mouth. “But he and Reign decided it was best for them to return to Bremloc and keep an eye on things.”
“As much as I miss them, it’s reassuring to know they’re keeping watch and protecting our friends.”
“You know…” My favorite tooth appeared. “I kinda thought… hoped, really, that either Reign or Draven would be next to join the harem.”
That caught meoff guard. “Really?”
He nodded. “I trust them with my life and would trust them with yours without a speck of doubt. Even better, if you fell for Reign, it would piss off Maddox. Nothing would make me happier.”
Rowan and Maddox were too stubborn for their own good. But despite their constant bickering, I knew they cared for each other more than either would admit.
“Reign is a huge flirt, but I don’t think he sees me in a romantic way,” I said, putting that theory to rest. “I don’t see him that way either.”
“And Draven?”
Thinking of the blond spy with his baby blue eyes and thick accent sent a flutter through my belly. But I had no idea if it was a fated mate flutter or just one that came from the dude being ridiculously hot.
“Who knows?” I said, answering both his question and my internal one. “Lupin said there would be seven of you. Onyx makes six, so one more is on the way. Anything’s possible.”
