“I’m a fierce muffin lord who can take care of myself.” The shake in my voice contradicted that proclaimed fierceness. “You and Briar are the ones I’m worried about, along with Callum, Baden, and the others. All of my boys.”
Lake was going with me, and Prince Sawyer and Kuya were well protected in the castle. Sir Noah wouldn’t let anything bad happen to either of them. But the rest? My heart wobbled just like my chin.
“No reason to worry about Callum,” Maddox said. “He’s the best swordsmen in all three orders of knights. Which is why I’m sending him with you.”
I blinked. “You are?”
“Did you believe I’d allow you to leave the capital without men I trust by your side?” Maddox caressed my jaw. “It pains me that I can’t go with you. Callum and Duke will go in my place to give me peace of mind.”
“Duke is coming with me too?” I smiled. “I bet they’re annoyed they have to babysit me, huh?”
“Annoyed? Not at all.” Maddox lowered his face into my hair. “Both of them adore you and are excited to leave the kingdom, as it’s been a while since a mission has taken us elsewhere. Duke also said it’d be nice to get away from Baden and his ugly mug, though he questioned whether a month would be long enough.”
I laughed.
Lake’s wolf ears perked up as he stared out the window. Not from him being on alert. He seemed curious. And then, he took off outside.
“Damn wolf,” Maddox mumbled. “What has him so excited?”
Briar peered out the window. “He’s standing in the yard, staring up at the sky.”
After Maddox grabbed his cloak and fastened it over my shoulders, the three of us joined Lake outside.
“Hey, mister wolf,” I said, thankful for Maddox’s overprotectiveness as I burrowed into the cloak because, shit, it was cold. “Is everything okay?”
Lake turned to us with a bashful smile. “It’s snowing.”
A snowflake touched Briar’s cheek, and another landed on the front of my cloak. More followed, falling in a slow descent from the wintery sky.
Maddox flicked at one that landed on his nose.
“Jack Frost has a crush on you,” I said with a smile. “He’s nipping at your nose.”
“Who’s Jack Frost?” Maddox glared up at the snow. “And where can I find him?”
How he could see something so beautiful and still find a way to snarl at it was so like him. But I wouldn’t want him any other way.
“He’s all around you,” I answered, amused by his impulsive urge to fight. He was such a grump. “But no need to puff up your chest, Captain Ice. He’s only a myth.”
“A myth?” Briar asked.
I nodded. “Some stories say he’s a god of winter. Others claim he’s a snow nymph charged with bringing winter to the land. He can be mischievous or sweet, depending on the story. You’ll find him in every snowflake and with every cold nip to your nose.”
Maddox drew me in closer and glided our noses together. “The only ones allowed to nip atyournose are me, Briar, and the wolf.”
“And Rowan,” Briar said. “If Evan wants him to, that is.”
Cue the dumb butterflies.Sigh.
Maddox grunted. “Perhaps we should sacrifice Rowan to this Jack Frost. Though, I’m sure the snow god would tossthe thief right back to us and give us a damned blizzard as punishment for offering him something so unpleasant.”
“You’re so mean,” I said.
“Then why do you smile?” Maddox brushed his thumb over the corner of my mouth.
“Because I love you.”
His eyes softened before he lowered his mouth to my ear, whispering, “I love you too, sweetheart. More than life itself.”
