“No, thanks,” I said, enjoying this relaxed side of Thane. The complete opposite of the stressed-as-hell apprentice I’d first met. “I’m heading to the knights’ quarters after this and will eat something there.”
“What business do you have with the knights?”
“Captain Maddox and his party should be returning soon.” If they hadn’t already. “I thought I’d make them dinner.”
“I want to eat your food again,” Thane said with a slight pout, unaware of the jam smeared in the crease of his lips. “Fish and potatoes. Mmm. The oats you made that one morning were delicious too. And that egg muffin thing with the peppers.”
“I’ll bring you a plate later,” I promised him before leaving the clinic and continuing down the path.
The winding trails of the castle grounds no longer confused me. The ones leading to the clinic and knights’ quarters, at least. I’d walked both several times to see the two men I couldn’t get out of my head. And now, out of my heart.
God, I’m a sap.Just a big pile of swoony goo that melted each time one of them tipped up my chin to kiss me or smiled at me.
“Just say what you’ve come to say, physician,” a familiar deep voice grumbled from up ahead. “I’ve just returned from a mission, and I’m tired.”
I halted in step, heart knocking in my chest.
“Very well,” Briar said. “The sooner we have this conversation, the better it will be for both of us.”
I slowly crept forward and peeked around the corner. Briar and Maddox stood behind the main gathering hall, partially concealed in the canopy of trees. Shadows fell in around them as the evening further welcomed twilight.
“Out with it, then,” Maddox demanded, his arms crossed over his wide chest.
Briar stood in front of him. “We need to discuss what happened last night.”
“There’s very little to discuss.” Maddox leaned against the tree. “We fucked and then went to bed. End of story.”
“What happened meant much more than fucking,” Briar said. “I believe it’s safe to assume we’re both enamored with Evan, far beyond sexual desire.”
My breath snagged in my throat, airway constricting. Eavesdropping was wrong, but my feet were planted in place.
“Enamored.” Maddox huffed. “The word seems too small to describe the feelings in my heart when I see him.”
“What we call it doesn’t matter. The truth remains that we both want him for our own.”
“I refuse to step aside,” the captain growled. “If that’s what you’ve come to suggest, then—”
“I’m well aware you won’t give him up,” Briar cut in. “I see the way you look at him. More so, I see the way he looks at you too.”
Guilt clawed at my chest.
“I see,” Maddox stated, losing some of his bite. “You’re the one who is stepping aside.”
The following silence seemed to stretch on for hours. Part of me wanted to run far away. A bigger part needed to stay and hear more.
“I don’t want to lose him either,” Briar said, his voice weaker than before. Brittle. “Evan makes me feel so alive. His warmth. His laugh. The way he fumbles around and blushes. How he rambles when excited or nervous. I…” He raised a hand to his chest and rubbed at the center. “I can’t imagine walking away from him. I don’t wantto.”
“I see how he looks at you too,” Maddox then said. “Just as we care for him, he cares just as deeply for us.” A short pause. “Bothof us.”
“Yes.” Briar’s gaze lifted back to his. “When we went to the market yesterday, he seemed happiest with us both at his side. It’s why I stopped trying to convince you to leave.”
“You could never have convinced me to leave him.”
“Nor you for me.” Briar released a shaky breath. “Where do we go from here? We’ve both fallen for the same man.”
“That we have.” Maddox dropped his arms back to his sides, relaxing his defensive stance. He looked exhausted. “As for what we should do about it? I don’t know. I’ve never been in this situation before.”
“Neither have I.”
