They turned to look at me. Maddox and Briar stood side by side in front of the bar while Lake was several feet away from them. Lake’s muscles were coiled tight, his defensive walls sky high. Maddox’s hard glare softened, if only a little, as it moved to me.
“Everything okay in here?” I asked. Silly question. Everything wasnotokay. Not when Maddox and Lake appeared to be moments from attacking each other. And Briar, bless him, looked ready to jump between them if necessary.
“Go back upstairs,” Maddox told me.
“So you can kill each other down here? No.” I stepped farther into the dining room. “Let’s all be civil.”
“Tell that to him,” Lake snarled, his stare burning into Maddox. “He came barging in and drew his sword on me without even giving me the chance to speak.”
“Because I don’t trust you, wolf,” Maddox retorted. The sword in question was still in one hand, though it was lowered at his side. “I know you’ve been hovering around lately. I shouldn’t have left him alone.”
“Yet you did so anyway.” Lake stood the closest to me, his eyes a bright, glowing purple. “Your loyalty and devotion to the knights comes first. It always will. Someone has to watch over him.”
“Don’teverquestion my devotion to Evan. He is what I cherish most in this life.” Maddox strode forward.
A menacing growl rumbled in Lake’s chest, and he took more of a defensive stance. When I shifted in place, he snarled at me.
I froze, the top of my scalp tingling.
“Evan?” Maddox stopped his advance but didn’t take his eyes off Lake. “Step away from him.”
“Iwon’t hurt him,” Lake snapped. His teeth elongated. Sharpened.
“I suggest you calm the fuck down while my male is standing so close to you.” Maddox’s gaze shifted back to me. He looked scared. “Evan. Sweetheart. Come here.”
Sweetheart.He’d never called me that before. I moved toward him. The movement was sudden.
Too sudden.
Lake grabbed my bicep, a snarl tearing through his throat. In his defensive, animal-like state, his nails had turned to claws. They dug into my skin.
“Lake?” I whimpered.
My small cry of pain snapped him out of it. He released me, losing some of his ire. “I… I didn’t mean to…” He glanced at my arm. Blood had beaded to the surface from his clawed nails. Agony laced in his purple eyes. “I’m so sorry, Evan.” The words came out rough and broken.
Maddox lunged forward and caught me around the waist, pulling me out of Lake’s reach.
“I’m okay,” I said as he crushed me to his chest. My heart thumped heavy and fast, the beats sounding in my ears. “It’s just a scratch. Doesn’t even h-hurt.”
Briar rushed over, and Maddox passed me over to him.
“Let me see, love.” Briar quickly examined my bicep and nodded to himself before using a minor healing spell to stop the bleeding. The tiny puncture marks sealed. He then lowered his face and kissed the area. “There. All better.”
Maddox faced off with Lake, standing between him and us. “Leave, wolf, before I drive my sword through your heart.”
“There will be no killing in my café,” I said, then lifted my arm. “I’m all healed. See? So can we stop this and talk like adults?”
Lake bared his teeth at Maddox, though his ears drooped when he glanced at me. That agonized look resurfaced in his eyes. He then took a step back, toward the archway.
“Don’t leave,” I said in a rush. “Please.”
“Stay out of this, Evan,” Maddox said. “If you would’ve obeyed my order to stay inside last night and not open the door, he wouldn’t even be here.”
“Obey your order?” I said with a snap. “I’m not one of your knights, Maddox. You can’t control me.”
His irritation died down. “I don’t wish to control you, sweetheart.” His voice was raspy, filled with the emotion he tried so hard to hold at bay. “I just want you to be safe.”
“He was safe with me,” Lake growled.
