I lowered my gaze, finding a tiny scar on the pad of his thumb. How did he get it? From training? Fighting demons?
“Chopping potatoes,” he said.
“Huh?” As our eyes met, something knocked in my chest—tugged. Begging to break free.
“The scar.” He smiled. “Got it when I was a boy of eight. I was helping my ma cook supper and nearly sliced it off.”
“How’d you know I was looking at your scar? Are you a mind reading cinnamon roll?”
Another smile, this one a bit lopsided. “You were tracing it.”
“Oh. Sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Callum turned his hand palm up, and mine slid against it on impulse. Our fingers linked. “I don’t mind being touched. If it’s you.”
That tug in my chest intensified.
The door to the mess hall burst open.
“Orders from the captain.” A knight strolled in. Dark curly hair fell past his ears, and he had a stocky build. Nikolai, if Iremembered correctly. “Three units are needed. One to patrol the perimeter of the king’s forest, another at the coast, and the last along the outer fields.”
The knights snapped their attention toward Callum.
I’d known he was second in command but actually seeing it was different. To me, he was a cinnamon roll with brown eyes that crinkled when he smiled and a dimple too cute to be real. But to them, he was a respected knight of high rank.
Callum rattled off names and sorted the knights into three units. The named men abandoned their meals and left the mess hall, dispersing toward their assigned positions.
“Why did Maddox order the patrols?” I asked, anxiety building.
“Worry not.” Quincy patted the hilt of his sword, as though to ensure it was still sheathed at his side. “I’m sure the patrols are only a precaution.”
“Aye.” Baden clapped me on the back. His dirty-blond hair reminded me of a Marine’s high and tight; buzzed on the sides and a bit longer on top. “Remain one step ahead of the enemy. Whatever Lord Onyx is planning next, we’ll be ready.”
Hearing the demon lord’s name caused a memory to surge forward. Porcelain skin and dark red eyes. Midnight black hair that fell to the middle of his back. A few pieces had been braided and pinned back, reminding me of a regal warrior.
He’d said we’d meet again soon. That had been four or so months ago and no sighting of him since then.
“Do you think Lord Onyxisplanning something?” A sickening thought hit me. “What if Haran tries to ally with him? Then we’d be fighting two armies at the same time.”
“An alliance between them is highly unlikely,” Callum said. “Lord Onyx is loyal to no one but himself. Always has been. And King Silas is too proud a man to ally with a demon, no matter how powerful.”
Duke scratched at the stubble on his jaw. “At least with an evil bastard like Lord Onyx, we know his intentions. King Silas isn’t nearly as bold. He relies on underhanded tactics to advance. He showed that when he murdered King Eidolon’s brother.”
My gut tightened.
“You’re speaking of Prince Elias.” Baden nodded. “I was a lad when that happened, but I remember the outrage and years of war that followed as a direct result of it.”
“As do I,” Quincy said. “My Ma cried for a whole fortnight after hearing the news of the prince’s death.”
“He was well-loved by the people?” I asked, trying to keep a neutral expression.
“Very.” Duke grabbed a sweet bun from the basket and tore into it, washing it down with a generous gulp from his mug. “I’m told Prince Elias often fled the castle in disguise in order to drink and be merry with the common folk in local taverns. Drove his guards mad. He wasn’t one for fancy balls or extravagant feasts. Had a good heart from what I hear too. Fought for demi-human rights and paid for the orphanage with his own coin when the king cut the funding to put that money into the military instead.”
The backs of my eyes prickled. I had learned about my mom while in Exalos but hadn’t known much about my dad. Turned out, he’d been pretty damn amazing too.
Callum rested a hand on my lower back. “I’ll escort you home.”
“We’ll all take the little prince home,” Duke said. His phrasing made my gut tighten, even though none of them knew the truth. “We can’t be too careful.”
