“Tell me what’s wrong,” Maddox said, taking hold of my chin. “If someone upset you, I’ll kill them.”
“No one upset me. I think I’m just tired. It’s been a long day.”
“Stop lying to me. You’re not any good at it.” He then looked at Lake. “Do you know what’s wrong with him?”
“The man in the dining room.”
“What man?” Maddox asked.
“A powerful one,” Briar said as he rounded the corner from the same doorway Maddox had entered from. “I can sense his life force. His magic is strong.”
“Who is he?” Maddox asked me.
“A customer who’s waiting for his coffee.” I tried to step past him.
He yanked me right back. “Goddammit, Evan.Talk to me.”
“I promise I’ll tell you everything,” I responded, my tone weaker than before. I sounded as defeated as I felt. “Later.”
“Like hell you will. You’ll tell me now.”
“Remember during the Festival of Lights when I went into the woods and asked you and Briar to stay in the park? To let me go alone?”
Maddox’s eyes narrowed. “Yes.”
“It was to speak with him.”
“Why?”
“I…” My chest cinched. “I can’t tell you. Not yet.”
I didn’t know how to. But I was out of time trying to figure it out. Keeping it from them had slowly been eating me alive. Finally telling them the truth would be a relief.
Unless, they reacted horribly.
“Then I’ll go out there and ask him myself.” Maddox released his hold on me.
“Wait.” I grabbed his bicep to stop him. It was so big my hand barely even fit around half of it. “Look. I’ll tell you everything. I swear. But I need to talk to him first. Alone.”
“Why? Why must you do it alone?”
“Because I don’t know why he’s here yet. Please, Maddox.”
“Come on, Captain.” Briar stepped up on Maddox’s other side. He then looked at Lake. “You too. We’re going upstairs to give them privacy.”
“Speak for yourself, physician,” Maddox snapped. “If that man intends to harm Evan in any way, I will rip out his throat. I don’t care how powerful you say he is.”
“He won’t hurt me,” I said. Physically, anyway. If he was at the café to send me back to my old world, it would shatter my fucking heart. “It’s hard to explain, but I need you to trust me.”
Maddox’s nostrils flared. “Fine. You can speak to him alone.” He closed the small gap between our bodies and gripped the side of my neck, bending his head down to mine. “But I’ll be waiting for an explanation once you’re finished.”
The three of them then walked toward the doorway leading into the hall near the stairs. Lake seemed hesitant—either from following them or from leaving me alone, I wasn’t sure. Once they were out of sight, I grabbed another cup and filled it with coffee before plating a muffin and returning to the main dining room.
“Sorry for the delay.” I placed the dishes in front of Lupin at the bar. My hands shook. “Had an accident in the kitchen.”
“I heard,” Lupin said before lifting his cup and taking a sip. His brows shot up. “You really do have a talent for this line of work. This is delicious. Perfectly balanced and rich.”
“Stop with the small talk.” Was my voice a bit snappy? Strained? “Put me out of my misery and just tell me why you’re here, Lupin.”
