Briar dabbed at his mouth with a napkin. “Preparations have already been made, and it would be too short of notice for the invited guests.”
“Most of the bandits have fled the kingdom,” Maddox said. “The ones who weren’t captured anyway. I’m sure the ones hired to capture the prince are still lurking, but security around him has more than doubled. They won’t be able to get anywhere near him.”
“Good.” I worried my bottom lip. “But still. A ball will bring in a lot of people. One of the mercenaries could sneak in.”
“None will get past me or my knights,” Maddox said. “Every knight will be on duty during the ball, covering the castle perimeter, inside and out. I assure you Prince Sawyer will be safe.”
“You’ll be working during the ball?” I asked, a bit let down.
“Frowning is unbecoming of muffins,” Maddox said. “You’ll get wrinkles.”
“Says the one who’s always sneering,” Briar muttered before sipping his tea.
“I was hoping I’d get to dance with you. With all of you.” I shook my head. “But now that I think about it, I probably won’t be able to dance anyway. I’ll be too busy in the kitchen.” Nerves swarmed my belly as I thought of all the nobles and royalty who’d be eating my food.
Maddox arched a brow. “You can dance with those short and clumsy legs of yours?”
“Rude.” I jabbed a tomato with my fork and popped it into my mouth.
“I, for one, would love to see you dance,” Lake said, his eyes gentle as they met mine. Gentle and sad too. “I’m sure you’d be breathtaking.”
That’s right.He wouldn’t be able to attend the ball. I’d had this fantasy of my three men dressed up, looking handsome as hell, and me dancing with each of them, spinning around the ballroom floor as an orchestra played.
“I wish you could be there,” I said, moving my foot to rest against his under the table. He pressed his to mine in response.
“I’ll see you before you go,” Lake responded. “And I’ll be here when you return.”
“Yeah.” I smiled and knocked my foot against his again, causing him to smile too. I then looked at Maddox. “What are we going to do about Haran? Rowan said they’re the ones behind all of this. Are we going to armor up and march for war? Or, I guess it would be, get on a ship and sail to their kingdom, but whatever. We have to—”
“What is thisweyou keep mentioning?” Maddox asked. “Last I checked, you’re no knight.”
“Hey, I wielded a pointy object and didn’t poke my eye out.” I tipped my chin up. “I’m one step closer to being a knight.”
He choked on a laugh and squeezed my hand.
Maddox had known the kingdom of Haran was behind the attacks before the captured bandit had spilled the beans. He just hadn’t knownwhy. During the long journey home from the dark wood, he’d finally revealed details about his meeting at the Guild. No sense in keeping it confidential with all that had happened to me.
Maddox had met with a man who said Haran sent the bandits in an effort to weaken Bremloc’s defenses. Maddox had then conversed with Captain Vander of the First Order on how they should proceed. A plan had been in the works to send a small force to Haran—as scouts—when they learned about Prince Sawyer being the real target.
Now, even though he hadn’t told me yet, I was sure war plans were being set in motion instead.
After breakfast, Maddox and Briar kissed me before putting on their shoes and heading for the door.
“Wait!” I snatched the basket off the counter and hurried after them. “You forgot the muffins!”
I had baked them for the knights. Quincy and Hudson were feeling a lot better, but Briar had kept them in the medical ward under observation, just to make sure their wounds were healing as they should. Baden had finally been discharged from the clinic and, according to Maddox, upon hearing about me being kidnapped, had said he was sad he’d missed all the action during the ‘gallant rescue of the Thorn Prince.’
I was glad he hadn’t been there, though. It had been nerve-wracking enough having the other knights there. I didn’t want anything bad happening to any of them. They were my family.
“How could I have forgotten?” Maddox took the basket from me and planted another kiss on my lips.
“Make sure those get to your knights.” I lightly poked his chest. “Meaning, don’t eat them on the way.”
His brows pulled together. “Not even one?”
“Are… are you pouting?” I asked. Maddox made his eyes bigger. More pitiful. I giggled. Damn him. “Fine. You can have one. But no more than that.”
He winked before exiting the cottage, his boots stomping down the porch stairs.
