I hope you’re well. Apologies for not seeing you in person. I’ve been confined to my room for the past week. You’d think it would be utterly dreadful, however, it’s given me time to catch up on my studies and even read several books in leisure, which I haven’t done in ages.
Is that strange? I would imagine so. The quiet is nice though.
Lady Alina was sent home. I regret to say I’m pleased by that fact. Does that make me horrible? She’s a lovely woman, don’t get me wrong, yet her absence is a relief. How strange that I should feel so free while locked inside my chambers. A true contradiction.
But anyway. I suppose I should stop babbling. I don’t write many personal letters, you see. I never have reason to. Well, until now. You’re a dear friend, Evan, and it breaks my heart to know you were harmed because of me.
I’m told the one who abducted you slipped away. I hope you aren’t frightened. I will assemble a unit of knights to guard you if you wish for it, all you need to do is ask.
I look forward to seeing you at the ball. And eating your desserts, of course.
Warmest regards,
S.
“He feels guilty.” I set the letter on the table. “If he wasn’t a prince, I’d kick his butt for being so silly. I don’t blame him at all.”
Briar offered me a tender smile. “He cares for you, just as we all do. I’m sure you’ll get the opportunity to speak to him at the ball and ease his worries.”
“Miles will be here early in the morning, right?” Maddox asked, glaring at his hand of cards. He was either trying to bullshit Briar by pretending he had a bad hand… or he had a horrible poker face and it wasn’t a trick at all.
“Yep,” I answered. “We’re gonna do a practice run of all the things we’re baking for the ball, just to make sure no recipes need to be tweaked or anything.”
Miles had helped me finalize the menu, and I was getting more and more excited about executing it. I only hoped the fancy people at the castle liked it as much as I did.
“So you’ll make the pumpkin muffins again?” Eagerness gleamed in Maddox’s deep blue eyes.
I grinned. “If you’re good, you might even be able to eat one when we’re done.”
“I’m always good.”
Briar huffed at that, then jolted. “Ow. You ass. Don’t kick me.”
“My foot slipped,” Maddox said before focusing back on his cards. “What do you say, wolf? Want to play a hand with us?”
Lake’s ears perked. “I’ve never played before. I don’t know the rules.”
“We’ll teach you,” Briar said.
Damn if that didn’t almost make me cry.
I watched the three of them play and laughed when Maddox, bless his heart, kept losing. Lake was a quick learner and picked it up easily, winning two games in a row. Briar won another.
“This is horseshit.” Maddox threw his cards on the table. “I’m going to bed.”
I laughed so hard I snorted.
“Ah, so this amuses you?” Maddox came over and picked me up from my chair, throwing me over his shoulder. He swatted my ass, and I giggled harder.
And when he ran from the dining room, taking me with him, Briar and Lake threw down their cards and followed us up the stairs.
Life was unpredictable. There were good days and bad days. Scary ones too. I had been taken from them and feared I’d never see them again. Hell, we’d all nearly died in the dark wood. But there we were now, laughing and falling deeper in love. Building a life together.
Whatever life threw at us next, I knew we’d be able to handle it.
“Prepare yourself, muffin,” Maddox said as we reached the master bedroom. He tossed me on the bed before unfastening his shirt and pulling it over his head. “I don’t plan on going easy on you.”
“Oh yeah?” I grinned up at him, so happy I could burst. “Wait, what’s that I hear? Your pumpkin muffins fluttering away in the wind? I think I hear them saying something too.” I made my voice higher. “Maddox, you’ve been bad and can’t eat us.”
