A faint smile crossed Ban’s face. The mountain of a guard rarely showed emotion, but little by little, he’d started opening up around me. Like during our trip to Exalos when he’d gently touched my arm, silently asking for a good night kiss.
“Excellent.” Finnian motioned to the space between them. “Allow us to escort you to the royal garden.”
Walking between two armored men definitely made me feel safe. As Quincy said, most people would shit themselves seeing Ban charge at them. And although he wasn’t as big and muscled, Finnian knew his way around a sword too. He wouldn’t have been a high-ranking guard otherwise.
The main courtyard soon came into view. The trickle of the large water fountain, newly sprouted flowers, and the clear blue sky screamed springtime, and I couldn’t have been more excited.
Something slammed into my back.
“Evan! Kuya missed you!”
The force of his body sent me stumbling right into the big guard’s chest. Ban’s arms came around me, as if on impulse. I didn’t have a chance to say a word—or process the way my heart skipped a beat at his tender expression—before I was attacked again. Kuya tugged me toward him and pecked kisses all over my face.
Guess there were two things my necklace didn’t protect me from: my own clumsy feet… and Kuya’s wet slobbers.
“Help,” I said, lacking any sense of urgency. “I’m being attacked by the cutest demi-cat in the kingdom.”
Kuya laughed and stopped his assault. The sun hit his rainbow eyes like a glass prism, sending the kaleidoscope of colors into a sparkling frenzy. “Evan is so silly. Kuya is the cutest in all the realms, not just the kingdom.”
Oh, to have his confidence.
“Is Evan here to see Prince Sawyer?” he asked.
I nodded. “And to see you too.”
He blessed me with a toothy grin.
“Shall we continue?” Finnian smiled. “The prince awaits us in the garden.”
“Best not keep him waiting.” I looped my arm through Kuya’s and slid my other through Ban’s.
The big guard came along willingly, allowing me to hold his arm. A soft expression smoothed the hard planes of his face as we found the path that led to the garden.
Rose bushes and flowers of all shapes and sizes bloomed, adding a splash of color across the grounds. Trees swayed in the breeze, and branches that hadn’t lost their leaves amid the dreary winter rustled.
A feminine laugh came from the gazebo ahead of us.
Kuya growled under his breath and held my arm tighter.
“Here you are,” Finnian told me, stopping at the gazebo’s bottom step. “It was a pleasure as always seeing you, young Evan.”
“You too.”
Ban nodded to me before he and Finnian moved over to the end of the path to keep watch.
“Evan!” Prince Sawyer stood from his chair. The mix of joy and surprise on his face caused tiny fractures in my chest.Finnian had been right: he must’ve been really upset about being confined to the castle. “What a pleasant surprise.”
“Afternoon, Your Highness.” I bowed to him.
A pretty girl with freckles dusting her cheeks rose from the chair across from him. She wore a modest blue gown with ruffled sleeves, and a matching flower adorned her dark hair.
“Oh, where are my manners? I forgot you haven’t been properly introduced. Do forgive me.” Sawyer turned to her. “Alina, this is Evan Clark. He’s not only the finest pastry chef I’ve ever met, but he’s also my dearest friend. Evan, this is Lady Alina Norwood of Voltas.”
“Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Clark.” She curtsied and offered me a friendly smile.
“You can call me Evan. And it’s nice to meet you too.”
Sir Noah stood behind them and gave me a curt nod.
