A tear rolled down my cheek. Emotion clogged my throat, squeezing it tight. And then I felt it. Something wet dropped onto my neck. “M-Maddox?”
He lifted his head, revealing his misty blue eyes and the furrow in his brow. The quiver in his chin. Silently, he moved his hand to my cheek, and the flat band of his ring brushed over my skin. The ring he hadn’t taken off since the night I’d given it to him, with a green stone in the center he said reminded him of my eyes. He stared at me like he was mapping my face, storing every detail to memory.
Maddox had joked earlier and claimed he was my favorite. And while I didn’t exactly have a favorite, because I loved him and Briar for different reasons and choosing the best was like comparing apples and oranges, Maddox had been my first. My first crush in this fantasy world. The first one I’d kissed and felt that soul-deep connection to.
“You’re my knight in shining armor,” I said, voice shaking. Maybe it was corny, but I didn’t care. Because he was. He had saved me in all the ways that mattered.
“And you’re my handsome damsel in distress,” Maddox responded, a touch of humor back in his eyes. He grabbed my hand and pressed my knuckles to his lips. “My heart. My life. My everything belongs to you.”
“That almost sounds like a marriage proposal.”
He smiled. And damn if it didn’t give me butterflies. “There would be no greater honor than binding myself to you in marriage.”
“Kuya could be the flower boy.” My heart swelled. “But he’d probably eat them.”
“What would my role be in this wedding?” Briar asked.
“Easy.” I nuzzled his hand. “You’d be right beside us at the altar as I marry both of you. Wait. Is that even allowed here? Being married to multiple people?”
“It’s not where you come from?” Briar asked. “It’s a fairly common practice here, but mainly with royalty. Most commonfolk see no need for it.”
“Well I do,” I said. It was way too soon to seriously talk about marriage, but it was a relief to know that someday, if we wanted to, all of us could be wed. “I want both of you beside me and won’t accept anything else.”
Maddox smirked at Briar. “Our muffin lord has spoken.”
“That he has.” Briar returned his smile before aiming it at me. “It’s late, love. You should sleep. We have a fun day planned for tomorrow.”
Maddox threw his big arm around my middle and snuggled in closer. He pushed his face into my hair and heavily exhaled. He could be such a cuddly bear sometimes.
Briar kissed my forehead before laying on my other side and pulling the blanket over the three of us. He rested a hand on Maddox’s forearm, and Maddox adjusted his position to link their fingers.
I was almost too excited to sleep. The café would be closed, and they had taken the day off work so we could spend time together. Maddox mentioned a section of the beach he wanted to take us where we could swim and picnic for lunch.
I would also see Lake again. Hopefully.
I’d find out come morning.
Chapter Seven
Fun in the Sun—And Sand in Places it Should Never Go
An afternoon at the beach was the best way to spend my day off.
The sun heated my skin as I lay in the soft sand, arms tucked behind my head. I had just taken a dip in the water and was drying off.
Lake had been right on time that morning, arriving at the cottage just as I’d started cooking breakfast. He had been quiet, as usual, but just him being there had been a huge step. And Maddox had only sneered at him once, so that was progress too. The four of us had then sat around the table, eating apple strudels and drinking coffee—tea for Briar and Lake.
Before leaving for the beach, Lake had darted back into the woods. The daylight made it harder for him to hide on our way through town, so I understood his reluctance. But I hated how he felt the need tohide. All because of humans not trusting demi-wolves and being cruel to them.
“Come here, love.” Briar moved his fingers through my hair. “I need to reapply the salve, so you don’t burn.”
The salve was this world’s version of sunscreen but way more effective because Briar crafted it with a combination of herbs and magic. I stayed still as he dabbed it on my nose and cheeks and smoothed it across my chest and shoulders.
“You missed a spot,” Maddox said before scooping up some on his index finger and splattering it on Briar’s forehead.
“You ass,” Briar muttered, rubbing at the cream. He had taken off his glasses earlier since we were swimming and he didn’t want to lose them in the ocean.
“Would you love me otherwise?” Maddox asked.
