“No, I said, hemightkill you.”
“Oh, thanks. That’s so much more reassuring.” My stomach was in knots.
“Does this knowledge change your decision to stay?”
“No,” I answered without a second’s thought. “I mean, I could just as easily be hit by a truck crossing the road in my old world. It still doesn’t make me feel all warm and toasty though.”
“There’s a chance you may not even meet him. As I said—”
“Yeah, yeah, no certainties, blah, blah.” I inhaled and sharply released the breath. Then did it again to try to calm my racing heart.
There was a one out of three chance it could be Lake. But beneath his distrust of others and bouts of defensiveness, he had a gentle soul. I felt it. That left two others. Maybe my wish for the lantern should be to never meet my maybe-murderer.
“Try not to dwell on it,” Lupin said, pulling me from my whirling thoughts. He glanced at the pocket watch again. “Go enjoy the festival with those you love. You have two men eagerly awaiting your return.”
Okay, nowthatthought made me all warm and toasty. And as Lupin said, I might not even meet the dude who may or may not turn me into worm food.
It was a worry for another day.
I walked toward the path but turned back as I reached the trees. Lupin was already gone. Had the watch zapped him to a different realm? Or maybe it had taken him back to Saint, where they’d spend the night wrapped in each other’s arms.
Just like I planned to do with the menIloved.
I continued down the short pathway, not surprised in the least to find two familiar faces on the other side. Maddox leaned against a magnolia tree, his arms crossed over his wide chest, and Briar fiddled with a lantern.
“Good to see you in one piece,” Maddox muttered.
“He’s salty you wouldn’t let us come with you,” Briar said. “I told him you’d be fine.”
“Yet you kept looking at the trees and fiddling with—” Maddox motioned to the lantern. More were at Briar’s feet. “—all of those.”
“They needed to be set up so we can write our messages and light them.” Briar pushed his glasses up his nose. “You could’ve made yourself useful and helped, Captain.”
“My very presence is useful.”
“Okay, you two,” I said with a laugh. “Let’s go light these babies up.”
Briar reached for me, and I slipped my hand inside his. “I know the perfect place.” He distributed the paper lanterns, handing one to each of us.
“What’s it made of?” I asked, petting the crinkly outside.
“Rice paper with a bamboo frame,” Briar said, leading us from the park and toward a small hill. As we went up it, my shoe slipped on the grass.
Maddox barked out a laugh as he grabbed me. He then pulled me closer and put his mouth at my ear. “My clumsy muffin.”
“Half of that muffin is mine.” Briar rested a hand on my waist.
“But a bigger half is mine,” Maddox whispered.
Briar scoffed. “It’s unwise to anger me, Captain. I’m incredibly knowledgeable of poisons and deadly plants. It would be a shame if one happened to find its way into your breakfast.”
“You’d miss me too much,” Maddox said, letting go of me with one arm and placing it around Briar instead. “Just admit it.”
Briar swallowed hard, his eyes dropping to Maddox’s lips. “You wish.”
I smiled and snuggled between the two of them. “Speaking of wishes, what will you guys wish for tonight?”
“You’re not supposed to tell.” Briar winked at me. “Or else it won’t come true.”
