“The bread was my favorite part,” Rowan said. “I could’ve eaten the entire loaf.”
My chest warmed with the compliment. “Carbs are clearly the way to your heart.”
“Unless it’s sweet. Then Captain Glutton can have it.”
I snorted. Rowan didn’t care for sweets, but I’d learned he had a weakness for carbs and anything spicy. Buttery biscuits were his favorite.
“I enjoy everything you make.” Lake rubbed my arm as a light breeze brought another chill. “Sweet or savory.”
“Pfft.” Rowan hopped down from this perch and sheathed his dagger. “You’d eat anything he made and say it was delicious, even if it tasted like cow dung.”
I grinned. “Nah, I save the cow dung for you.”
“You little shit.” Rowan barked out a laugh. “And you sayI’mrude. You’re on a whole other level of…” His attention snapped to the woods behind the cottage. “Pup?”
“Yes?” Lake became more alert.
“Take Evan inside and lock the door.”
“Huh?” I tensed at the sudden seriousness of his tone. “What’s wrong?”
But whatever Rowan sensed, Lake did now too. His wolf ears shot straight back, and he bared his teeth before grabbing my hand and leading me to the door. He pushed me inside the cottage and stepped in after me, turning the bolt behind us.
Briar sat at the kitchen table and glanced up from the stack of papers in front of him. Work he’d brought home. “Is everything all right?”
Lake’s eyes were wild, pupils blown. “Someone’s outside. I caught their scent just as Rowan detected them. They were hiding in the trees.”
“What?” I squeaked. “And we left him out there alone? It could be someone bad. Like a bandit or, hell, a freaking demon.”
“Not a demon.” Lake shook his head. “They’re human.”
A different kind of fear then sank into me. “Do you think they saw you?”
Lake averted his eyes from mine. “More than likely.”
“Who saw you?” Maddox entered the kitchen with his black hair damp from his bath and dressed in a dark blue tunic, the strings unfastened and showing a peek of his muscled chest.
Usually, one look at his muscles turned my brain to mush and overrode any other thoughts, but I was too worried. For Lake. For Rowan, who’d stayed behind to confront the stranger.
A grunt came from outside.
“Ro!” I made a dash for the door and flung it open. What could a clumsy weakling like myself do to help? Bat my eyes at the bad guy? I was useless in a fight. But rational thinking went out the window when fear for the man I loved came into play.
“Gods be damned. Evan, wait!” Maddox rushed after me and caught me just as I reached the porch steps.
“Let me go!” I thrashed in his arms. “Rowan could be hurt.”
“Take a breath, sweetheart,” Maddox murmured softly in my ear. “Your thief is safe. Look.”
Ahead, near the tree line, Rowan stood over a dark figure. He’d unsheathed the long dagger from his hip and aimed the tip of the blade at the trespasser's throat.
“Briar?” Maddox called out. “Hold Evan.”
“Come here, love.” Briar wrapped his arms around me as Maddox passed me over to him.
Maddox then left the porch and strode across the grass. Rowan exchanged words with him and motioned to the cloaked figure at his feet. More words were spoken. At least punches weren’t being thrown.
My lungs refused to work as I slumped against Briar. He pressed kisses into my hair.
