He flicked his hand. “I have my ways.”
“You spied, didn’t you?”
My favorite tooth made its appearance again. “Had to entertain myself somehow since you left me here all alone to spend time with the rabbit.”
“Oh, stop. You weren’t alone. Lake was here.”
“The pup abuses me when you’re gone.”
Lake huffed and whacked him with his tail.
“See?”
I laughed. And triedveryhard not to tear up. Because the bantering was more proof that they’d grown closer.
The sound of hooves came from outside.
Lake’s ears perked up, and he darted toward the front door, pulling it open. I would never, in any way, shape, or form, tell him how it reminded me of a cute puppy rushing off to greet one of his favorite humans.
“Good evening,” Briar said, stepping through moments later. Cold air swept in behind him, ruffling his red scarf. He patted Lake’s head. “I hope you ate supper without us.”
“Yep. Just as you instructed.” I tried to get off the couch, but Rowan kept hold of me. When I tossed him a look, he smirked. “Have to be honest. I ate some cookies too. Before dinner and after.”
Briar softly laughed. “I’d expect nothing less.”
“Why did you work late?”
“Nothing to concern yourself with, love,” Briar answered. He’d taken lessons from Maddox on how to dodge my questions.
Heavy steps came from the porch before Maddox appeared in the doorway. When I wiggled again, Rowan finally releasedme, and I bounded over to the door. My captain caught me around the waist and pressed his face into my hair.
“Hey, you,” I said.
“Evening, sweetheart.”
Damn him and that endearment. It still gave me butterflies.
“Cal and Duke told me about the fight in the market. And Ro said you worked late to organize more patrols.”
Maddox cut his eyes at Rowan. “You were sneaking around the castle again?”
“What will you do about it, oh mighty captain?” Rowan examined his nails, seemingly bored.
“Briar wouldn’t tell me why he worked late though,” I said, too impatient for their bantering. “Is everything okay?”
“He wouldn’t tell you? How horrible of him.” Maddox glanced at Briar with a curve to his lips, then aimed that half-smile at me. “Allow me to satiate your curiosity,love.”
Briar scoffed and adjusted his glasses.
Maddox, still smiling, slid a hand to the middle of my back, keeping the other at my waist, and dipped me. Our lips met, and electric heat swarmed my veins. Nearly a year together, and he still made me feel like a school girl with a crush.
“You wish to know why we returned home at this hour?” he asked against my lips. The soft vibration tickled. “I regret to inform you it’s not nearly as exciting as that beautiful mind of yours believes. As the thief told you, the other knight captains and I strategized new patrol schedules and organized units to cover them. As for the physician, he stayed to craft more protection stones for us knights. Merely as a precaution.”
“That’s all? Really?”
Maddox glided the tip of his nose along mine. “Would I lie to you?”
“No.” And he wouldn’t. Delay telling me something in an attempt to keep me from worrying, sure, but he had never lied to me.
