Maddox chuckled, and Briar shot him a look.
Lake rose from the armchair and went over to the window. Moonlight shone on the tree branches heavy with snow.
“Lake?”
His wolf ears twitched, but he didn’t look at me.
“Do you hate me now?” I whispered. He held a deep distrust of those in power; especially the royal family.
“I could never hate you.” His purple eyes shifted to me. “You’re my home.”
“Then why are you upset?”
Lake stepped from the window and neared me, taking my hands in his. “Because I’m afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Your father’s identity reaching the wrong ears. Of someone even thinking of harming you because of it.” A soft whine escaped his lips. “You once said I was like a shooting star. Beautiful and bright. But you, Evan, are the night sky that allows me to soar. Without you, I’m nothing.”
“I’m not going anywhere. It’s been decades. Haran might not even care about me.”
“Let’s not test that theory,” Lake said.
“Oh, enough with this melodramatic drivel,” Rowan muttered with a flick of his fingers. “Besides, he’smyhome, pup. Find your own.”
“He was mine first.” Lake’s upper lip curved into a snarl.
The banter was a good sign. Things almost felt normal. But could it really be that simple?
“What happens now?” I asked.
“As you reminded our captain, you’re still you.” Briar softly smiled. “You’re still the man I fell madly in love with.”
My bottom lip trembled.
“This does change things,” Maddox told me.
A spark of worry ignited in my ribs. “It does?”
“Yes.” A slow smile curved his lips. “You thought I was overprotective before? Just wait, muffin. Knowing the danger you face, you’ll be fortunate to even bathe by yourself from this moment on.”
When I laughed, the worry fizzled and died away. “That’s fine with me. I like when we take baths together.”
Hunger darkened his blue eyes. Was he remembering the time I rode him in the tub? Water sloshed and groans bounced off the walls as I fucked him like it was our last night on this earth.
Without a word, Maddox scooped me up into his arms and carried me from the parlor.
“Still treating me like a sack of potatoes, I see,” I said. “Picking me up and throwing me around whenever you want.”
He lightly swatted my butt. “Ssh.”
I laughed.
Once in the room, he tossed me on the bed and claimed my mouth in a toe-curling kiss. The floorboards creaked as footsteps neared us, the scent of magnolia close behind. The mattress dipped before Briar kissed my temple.
Another pair of lips brushed my collar bone, the smell of peaches tickling my nose. My wolf. I caught traces of black cardamom too but didn’t feel Rowan on the bed. He wasn’t far though. Probably finding solace in the shadowy corner of the room and watching us.
Things couldn’t stay the same forever. I didn’t know how or when, but everything would change. Eventually.
