“Piss off.”
Duke laughed. “The day Baden falls in love and settles down with one person is the day I shave my luscious locks.”
“Says the one always itching to wet his prick with any hole that’ll have him,” Baden countered.
“Enough of that,” a deep voice came from the archway. Maddox then stepped through, already dressed. His black hair had been swept back, and his armor was fastened in place, all apart from his cloak and the belt that held his sword. He always added them before leaving the cottage.
“Morning, Captain.” Duke nodded. The others followed his lead, rising from their chairs to greet him.
“At ease,” he said. “Such formality isn’t necessary.”
“Yes, sir.” Duke returned to his seat, but not before snatching a pancake from the top of the stack.
Baden swatted at him with the back of his hand. “Learn some manners, you redheaded bastard.”
“Make me.” Duke took a bite.
Maddox sighed in their direction before joining me at the stove. “Morning, sweetheart. When did you wake?”
“About an hour ago.” As his arms came around me, I inwardly melted. My big guy gave the best hugs.
“You should’ve woken me.”
“I wanted to let you sleep.” I laid my head on his chest, hearing his heartbeat. A steady thud. It was how I read his emotions. He hid so much behind that brooding face of his, but his heartbeat always gave him away. “The knights have a lot on their plate right now. You need as much rest as you can get.”
“I always have time for you.” Maddox nuzzled my hair. “Sleep be damned.”
“I’ll remember that for next time.”
He took hold of my chin. “I’ll hold you to that.”
Maddox brushed our lips together before grabbing the platter of pancakes and carrying it into the dining room. Badengrabbed the eggs and did the same. Duke, Quincy, and Lake set the table.
“Good morning,” Briar said, freshly washed and dressed in a crisp white shirt that fell open in the front. The peek of his collar bone was hot as hell.
“Morning, handsome.” I hugged him. “How do you feel?”
“Like a fool.” He sighed. “Remind me to never drink again. My head is pounding.”
“Bacon and pancakes will help with that.” I grabbed his hand. “We should get in there before Quincy eats it all.”
Hand in hand, we walked into the dining room just as the knights sat with their overflowing plates. Breakfast passed quickly. As conversation flowed, plates were scraped clean of second and third helpings. Mugs were drained and refilled.
“Wash up and prepare to leave,” Maddox then told his men. “We are relieving a unit from the Third Order near the king’s forest. They’ve been keeping watch overnight.”
The knights carried their plates to the kitchen before dispersing.
Maddox fastened his cloak, then added his belt. Pressure built in my chest as I watched him. He hid it well, but tension rolled off him in waves.
Or maybe the tension came from me. Ever since I’d learned about the red spider lily, my anxiety had been through the roof.
“Be careful today.” I smoothed my hand over his cloak. “Make sure you remember to eat. I’m packing muffins and turkey sandwiches into your saddlebag. Apples too. They’re from Lake’s orchard and are really yummy. Think it will be enough? I can—”
“Sweetheart?” Maddox caught my hand and lifted it to his lips. “You’re making it sound like I’m marching off to war. I’m merely going to work.”
“Don’t make fun of me. Oreo is nice, but other demons aren’t. Then there’s all the tension in town. People fighting and attacking each other. Everything’s just so… scary.” I pushed my face against the front of his armor. “I don’t want anything bad to happen.”
Maddox cupped the back of my head. “Nothing bad will happen. And if it does, you and the physician are protecting me, remember?”
