So much love.
“We do have one problem to consider.” Briar sighed and settled on the other side of Maddox. “If Callum will be joining us, we’ll certainly need a bigger bed.”
Our captain huffed. “He can sleep on the rug. Problem solved.”
I laughed.
“You’re not angry at the rabbit?” Rowan asked Maddox. “How disappointing. I was looking forward to you skinning him. Was even going to lend you my dagger.”
“Be nice,” I said. “There will be no skinning of the Callum. Besides, he may not even like me in that way. With each of you, there was an instant connection. But I only recently noticed it with Callum. I could be wrong about him.”
Briar reached across Maddox to grab my hand. “Well, if he is one of your destined lovers, I’ll rest easier at night. Especially if Lupin was right about the battles to come.”
Maddox tensed before turning his face into my hair. Breathing deeply. “I care not if it’s King Silas, a demon, orLord Onyx himself, no one will take you from me. Do you understand?”
“Yeah,” I rasped and snuggled more into him. “Same goes for all of you. I’ll fight with everything I have to keep this life we’ve built together.”
“Fight with your little spatula?” Rowan asked into the back of my hair.
“A stirring spoon too,” Lake murmured from my lap. “His deadly weapon.”
I snorted and closed my eyes. My soul felt at peace with them around me, calming my mind and allowing me to fall asleep quickly.
A cottage waited for me in my dreams.
Green vines and soft white flowers grew up the side of a terrace where seven men sat beneath the shaded awning. Briar sipped tea, Lake ate an omelet, and Rowan devoured buttery biscuits, the three of them engaged in conversation. The two men beside them were shadowed, just like they’d been the last time I’d had the dream—one big and brawny and the other tall and lean.
There was one change though. A significant one.
Maddox reached for the last muffin at the same time as someone else.
“I outrank you,” Maddox said. “Hands off. The muffin is mine.”
Callum flashed his dimpled smile. “Not fair pulling rank, Captain. You should learn to share.”
***
The kitchen was basked in morning light. Maddox and Briar had already left for the castle. Soon, the redheaded hottie stillasleep upstairs would be leaving too. One no longer forced to steal or kidnap muffins to get by.
I smiled. Rowan had come far, and I couldn’t have been prouder of him. Not just because he’d been accepted into the Secret Order but because he’d started opening up to people more. Learned that he didn’t have to live life alone.
Bacon sizzled in the skillet and biscuits cooled on the counter, having just come out of the oven. I cracked eggs and whisked them in a bowl, then chopped peppers.
Lake joined me at the stove and rubbed my lower back. “Smells delicious.”
“All of Rowan’s favorite things,” I said. “Spice and carbs.”
“He deserves a treat, I suppose.” Lake’s tail wagged. A sign he was happy for our thief-turned-spy too. “I’ll prepare the biscuits.”
“Extra butter. He’d bathe in it if he could.”
My wolf chuckled. “Would improve his smell.”
“Don’t be mean.”
“Yet, you’re laughing.” He gave me a toothy grin before eating a sliver of bacon. “I’m eager for Callum to join us. Then I’ll have another on my side to pester Rowan. It’s much too fun.”
My stomach dipped. “You’re really okay with him joining us?”
