I had needed to see my boys. To see for myself they were okay. And they were. For the most part.
Baden, who had been struck in the chest, was still asleep. His once buzzed hair had grown longer, the blond strands a mix of pale and darker shades.
Duke placed his hand on Baden’s forearm, his teasing mood gone. Lines of worry marred his brow. The two of them bickered constantly but seemed so close. As far as I knew, Baden was straight as an arrow. Duke was bisexual. Did he care deeper for Baden?
Did Baden feel the same in return but hadn’t realized it yet?
Or maybe I was reading too much into it.
“No need to fuss over me,” my favorite cinnamon roll said from a nearby cot as Briar checked his wounds. “It’s just scrapes and bruises.”
“Then this will go quickly. Now sit still,” Briar responded. He had asked Callum to come into the clinic that morning for a follow-up. He examined the cuts before nodding. “A salve will heal these. Give me a moment.”
Callum sighed. “Really, Briar, I’m fine. Save the medicine for those who need it.”
“You sound just like your captain,” Briar mumbled as he exited the ward. Seconds later, he returned with a small, round dish. He must’ve already had a batch of the salve ready to go. He applied the green cream to Callum’s wounds. “There. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then you can leave.”
“Thank you.” Callum’s gaze landed on Baden. “Will he be all right?”
The question drew Duke’s attention.
“Yes, he’ll make a full recovery.” Briar went over to Baden’s cot, touching his forehead and then checking the wrapping across his chest.
“Why hasn’t he woken?” Duke asked.
“The elixir put him into a deep sleep so his body could use all of its energy for healing,” Briar explained. His hazel eyes warmed behind his round framed glasses as they moved to me. “I’m sure he’ll be quite hungry when he wakes.”
I smiled. “Leave that to me.”
As the other injured knights began to wake, I hopped up and went into the kitchen where I’d cooked breakfast. After filling more bowls with sweetened rice and sorting them onto a large tray, I grabbed the banana nut muffins I’d brought from my cottage—fewer in number than when I’d left because Maddox had gotten hold of them—and placed them on the tray too. I returned to the medical ward and passed them out.
“I want a muffin.” Quincy eyed the bowl I’d just handed to a knight named Ollie.
“Remember my warning,” Duke said with a sigh. “I feel sorry for your horse.”
Quincy’s gaze was pinned to the plate of muffins on my tray. “You know? I think it would be worth it. I could retire, fat and happy.”
Ollie took a bite and grinned at him. “It’s so good, Q.”
Quincy pouted at me.
I laughed and gave him two of them.
“I appreciate your kindness,” Hudson said, staring at his bowl of rice. He was the knight who’d threatened me the first time we’d met. A bandage was wrapped around his head, and one of his eyes was covered. “Even if I don’t deserve it.”
“Don’t say that,” I said. “It was a misunderstanding. You were just looking out for your men. I’d be suspicious too if I saw a stranger walking around the camp.”
He offered me a small smile before digging into his food.
Baden finally woke an hour later. I was in the other part of the clinic watching Briar craft more tonics when I heard Duke’s voice filter in from the ward. Briar and I walked in just as Duke drew back from the hug he’d given him.
“Don’t scare me like that ever again, you ass,” he said, plopping down in his chair.
“Worried about me?” Baden rasped.
“No.” Duke huffed.
“Then why tell me not to scare you again?”
