Maddox couldn’t take his eyes off the stage… and I couldn’t take my eyes off him. He appeared so much younger as he allowed himself a moment to enjoy the show. The hard lines of his face smoothed and a spark of wonder shone in his deep blue eyes. Afterward, he tossed a few coins into the hat the performers passed around.
“My favorite part was the knife juggler,” I said, holding his arm. “She was badass.”
“Badass?” Briar asked from my other side. “Another of your strange words.”
“Thank you both,” Maddox softly said, his gaze on the ground. “I enjoyed the performance.”
“I knew you would,” Briar said. “Stubborn captain.” Warmth filled his voice though. A warmth that reflected in the small smile Maddox gave him in response.
I pressed closer, resting my cheek on Maddox’s bicep. He smoothed his hand down the back of my hair while Briar threaded our fingers together.
We continued through the market, stopping every so often to browse a booth or watch a street performer. Bards strummed lutes and sang about distant lands and the beautiful women they had to leave behind. Others sang of adventure.
“Kuya likes this song!”
I snapped my head in the direction the voice had come from, a smile instantly blooming across my face. Through the crowd, I spotted a familiar pair of reddish-brown cat ears and a swishing tail. Prince Sawyer walked by Kuya’s side, with Sir Noah and three guards keeping a close distance behind them.
Maddox steered us that way and bowed his head once we reached them. “Prince Sawyer.”
“Captain Maddox,” Sawyer greeted him, then nodded to Briar. His green eyes then fell to me, a smile not far behind. “It’s good to see you again, my friend.”
“You too.” I tipped my head to him.
“Evan!” Kuya lunged forward, arms coming around my torso. Purrs rumbled in his throat as he nuzzled my shoulder. “Kuya missed you.”
“I missed you too,” I said, although it had only been two days since I’d last seen him. I had met with him and Sawyer again for lunch in the palace garden, where I’d also mentioned my interest in the abandoned cottage. The prince had seemed excited by the thought of the café and said he’d speak to his father about it on my behalf.
Kuya pulled away and scampered back to Sawyer’s side. Sir Noah glanced at him, expression serious apart from the slight twitching of his lips. The adorable cat boy charmed everyone.
Well, almost everyone.
“Make way!” a man roared above the noise, and the crowd of people moved aside.
Prince Cedric strolled down the lane with a force of guards at his back. I counted six of them, but more probably followed from a distance. “Baby brother,” he said once at Sawyer’s side. His gaze then moved along the rest of us.
“Your Highness.” Briar bowed his head. His tone was polite but lacked his usual warmth.
Maddox didn’t speak, but he bowed as well.
Cedric, however, was too intently focused on me to pay them any mind. “Evan. Rumor has it you plan to open some sort of dining establishment here in the kingdom.”
“The rumor is correct, Your Highness,” I said, choosing not to expand upon my answer. The less this dickwad knew, the better. I didn’t trust him one bit.
“Interesting.” Cedric’s gaze roamed my body in a way that made me uncomfortable. “Well, I do hope it works in your favor.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
His smile turned cunning. “I see our lessons didn’t go to waste. Your uncouth mouth learned to behave. If only the same could be said about that indignant stare. Progress is progress, I suppose. Though, for your sake, you should improve upon this and soon. I may not always be in such a forgiving mood.”
Maddox tensed at my side. Briar did too. Neither of them liked how the crown prince spoke to me but couldn’t say a word without risking being thrown into shackles or, worse, beheaded. Because this sleazy, cocky prick wouldn’t think twice before executing someone for simply looking at him in the wrong way.
Cedric turned to Sawyer. “Enjoy the rest of the festival, baby brother.” His gaze hardened when landing on Kuya. “And do try to keep that beast under control. We don’t need it biting anyone or thieving.”
Kuya’s ears went all the way back. One of his hands curled, his nails digging into his palm so hard it drew blood.
“He is no harm to anyone.” Sawyer placed a hand on Kuya’s shoulder, and he instantly relaxed.
“See to it that it stays that way.” The royal pain in the ass then continued forward, his guards falling into step behind him.
