Page 36 of Maddox

She hummed again as if agreeing with herself, but she’d snagged my attention withevil king. It took no guesses to work out Blakeny was the sorcerer, but the king? Was that Rice? And what did Clare actually know?

Because at no time had we discussed Rice in front of her. Cautiously, because I didn’t want to burst this happy bubble she was in. “I will always save you,” I whispered. “My princess is always safe with me.

"Safe," she murmured, as if testing the word. "And you promise the sorcerer can’t get me?”

My arms tightened fractionally around her, my heart swelling with both pride and protectiveness. "I promise." I would protect her with my life. No one was going to hurt a hair on my princess’s head ever again.

We stayed like that for a while, nestled together in our blanket fort, the fairy lights casting a soft glow around us. Clare seemed content, occasionally tracing patterns on my arm with her fingertip.

"Are you hungry, sweetheart?" I asked eventually. "It's getting close to lunchtime."

Clare considered this, then nodded. "A little bit."

"How about some grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup? Would you like that?"

Her eyes lit up. "Yes, please! That's my favorite when it's rainy outside."

It was actually a beautiful sunny day, but I didn't comment on her association. "Grilled cheese sandwiches and soup it is, then. Do you want to help Daddy make lunch?"

Clare nodded eagerly, and we crawled out of our fort together. In the kitchen, I lifted her onto a counter stool and began gathering ingredients. I noticed how she watched my every move with fascination.

I glanced at her a couple of times and she seemed deep in thought. I set her to stirring the soup. I was going to have to ask her some questions and I was dreading it. But I knew how I wanted lunch to go, and that meant her actually eating, so I wasn’t asking anything until after that. I reached up into the cupboard I’d filled in the hope that one day I might have a Little girl of my own and plucked out a princess cup. “I don’t want my princess to burn herself if she accidentally spills, so I’m putting the lid on.” I didn’t wait for an answer, but her eyes grew round. I poured the soup in and went to fasten the lid when I noticed her adorable pout.

And the crossed arms.

I tilted my head in consideration and did my best not to laugh. “Why has my princess got a frowny face?”

She blew out such a long-suffering sigh it was all I could do to keep my face straight, but then she looked at the toasted cheese sandwich I’d cut up. I guessed what might be wrong, so I carried everything over the breakfast nook and went back to scoop Clareoff the stool, loving it when she whispered “Daddy,” and her arms came around my neck.

“Let’s try this. How about you sit on my lap where you’re safe and we leave the lid off so you can dunk your sandwich, because everyone knows that’s the best way to eat it?”

I grinned back at her giggle and gave myself a mental pat on the back. Progress. I just hoped it wouldn’t all be wasted when I had to ask her about the evil king.

Chapter Thirteen

CLARE

I felt safe sitting on Daddy's lap while we ate lunch. He kept one arm securely around my waist, making sure I didn't fall, while I happily opened my mouth to accept the dunked sandwich bites. Daddy wouldn’t let me dunk them myself in case I burned my fingers, but that didn’t spoil anything. Daddy’s care made them taste even better if that was possible. Delicious—exactly the way I remembered having it as a child, before everything got complicated.

"Is it good, princess?" Daddy asked, his voice warm against my ear.

I nodded enthusiastically. "Mmm! It's perfect, Daddy."

He smiled, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of my head. The gesture made me feel warm inside, protected.

As we finished eating, I felt Daddy's posture change slightly. There was a new tension in his shoulders that hadn't been there before.

"Clare," he said gently, his voice shifting to a more serious tone. "Can we talk about something important?"

I felt myself stiffen immediately, anxiety fluttering in my chest. Had I done something wrong? Was he already tired of taking care of me?

"You're not in trouble, princess," he assured me quickly, seeming to sense my distress. "I just need to ask you about something you mentioned earlier. About the evil king."

My stomach dropped, the warm, safe feeling evaporating instantly. I didn't want to think about that. Not now, when everything had been so nice. I shook my head fiercely.

“Princess, do you remember when I promised I would protect you from the sorcerer?”

I nodded cautiously. “Well, this is how Daddy keeps his promises. He can’t protect his princess properly if he doesn’t know who to protect her from.”

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