Page 12 of Sent To A Fantasy World and Now All the Men Want Me: Volume 4

Is This What They Call a Doom Flag?

False spring; that time when the cold clutches of winter receded, allowing for unseasonably warm air and days of sunshine. Give it a week or so, and winter would throw on some boxing gloves and knock spring on its ass, sending us back into chilly temps.

But for now? I enjoyed the bright sunshine and birds chirping in the trees. Just because something was temporary didn’t make it any less beautiful.

“The café was busy today.” Lake held me from behind as we stood in the kitchen, staring out the window over the sink. “People love your pecan sweet buns.”

“The apple pie was popular too.” I tilted my head back against his. “Probably because of your apples. You grew them with love.”

“The orchard seems happy.” Lake rested his cheek on the side of my hair. “Thus, the apples taste sweeter.”

“They’re happy?” I smiled.

“I believe they are. I speak to them every morning.”

“I love that you speak to them. It’s too sweet.”

My wolf cared so deeply for everything around him.

“All living things can feel, Evan. Plants. Grass. Trees.” He gently turned me to face him and brushed my bangs aside, a soft gleam in his purple eyes. “Which is why we must treat them with kindness and show our gratitude when they bestow gifts upon us.”

Lake’s father had taught him that. He’d also taught him the lullaby that eased my anxious mind on restless nights. How someone could look at Lake and see danger was beyond me. His heart was so damn pure.

After taking a small breather in the parlor and reading a few more chapters of my smutty romance novel, Lake and I prepared boar and potato stew for dinner. The aroma of baking bread filled the cottage, luring a feisty redhead over to the oven. Rowan peeked inside and smiled. The boy definitely loved his carbs.

“Where have you been all afternoon?” I asked him. “You weren’t asleep. I checked your room.”

“I was… around.” He flashed my favorite tooth and tweaked my ass cheek on his way to the barstool. “I told Draven and Reign about your invitation to dinner. Reign’s excited to try your food.”

“And Draven?”

“Pretty sure he still thinks you’ll poison him.”

I sighed. “Are you working again tonight?”

He nodded. “Draven and Reign are meeting me here after dinner.”

The sun had mostly set, leaving the kingdom hanging between night and day. I checked the stew and added just a touch more seasoning before returning the lid to the pot.

The heavy beating of hooves came from outside. Minutes later, Briar and Maddox joined us in the kitchen. The sight of them soothed nerves I hadn’t even been aware of. Not sure if it was our fated mate connection or just me being a sappy muffin, but I breathed easier when around them. Knowing they were safe.

“Come here, you.” Maddox pulled me into his arms and feathered kisses in my hair. It was playful and tickled.

“Miss me that much, huh?” I reached up to lock my hands behind his neck.

“Always.” He pressed his lips to my temple, then kissed down my cheek.

Over dinner, the five of us sat together at the table and talked as we ate. And I tried not to get too emotional. With Rowan’s work schedule, it had been a while since we’d been able to sit together like this for a meal.

“Anything exciting happen at the castle?” I asked between bites. Lake and I made a great team. A powerful duo in the kitchen.

“Quincy fell from his horse.” Maddox spooned more stew into his bowl. He’d basically inhaled the first serving, a sign that he’d worked up quite the appetite that day. “Provided entertainment for the rest of us.”

“Be nice to Quincy.” I fought a laugh at the visual. “He and I are two peas in a pod. The clumsy squad.”

“I crafted more protection charms and focused on my research.” Briar exchanged a look with Maddox. “Then, I helped Thane create an elixir using Herbert’s toxin.”

“I’m sorry.” I paused with the spoon inches from my mouth. “You did what ?”

Briar laughed. “Herbert’s species, while highly dangerous, are marvels in the medical field. Their toxin can be used to craft strong pain-fighting elixirs. The process holds many risks, considering the aggressive nature of the beetle, therefore very few people attempt it while the insect lives. Thane has built trust with Herbert and is able to extract his toxin without either of them being harmed. He’s quite extraordinary.”

The last was said like a proud father.

“Both of you need a kick in the ass.” Rowan sopped up some stew with a wedge of bread and shoved it in his mouth, speaking as he chewed. “Stop treating Evan like a child. You damn well know you did more than craft elixirs today, Specs.”

Briar averted his gaze.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

Rowan looked at me. “You wanted to know where I was this afternoon? Checking in on these two.”

“Why?” I folded my arms on top of the table and tapped my index finger. “What are you keeping from me?”

Maddox scowled at Rowan before regarding me. “The knights received a report from the Guild Hall. A party returned from a quest in the mountains and found something of interest. Callum knows one of the adventurers and went to speak with them.”

My chin wobbled. No doubt it was the pretty brunette who’d kissed his cheek. Had Rowan’s teasing provoked Callum to surrender his v-card to the first pretty thing to cross his path? Or was she special to him?

Not sure which thought I hated more.

“What did they find?” I asked, trying to shove those thoughts about Callum aside. “Treasure? A dragon? A super powerful artifact that grants immortality? Maybe a magical coffee bean?”

Maddox’s lips twitched. “No.”

“No to the treasure or the coffee bean?”

“No to all of it.” With a smile shining in his eyes, he reached over and brushed his thumb over my lip. “Yet, your imagination never fails to amuse me, sweetheart.”

“They found a dead demon,” Rowan said. “We heard the adventurers speak of it in a tavern late last night.”

And by “we,” he meant his new order of brothers. I would’ve teared up had I not been so freaked out.

“The corpse was brought to me for examination.” Briar released a slow breath. “No visible wounds or anything to indicate manner of death. Based on where it was discovered, in the mountains half-buried in snow, I initially believed it froze to death.”

“Really?” I asked. “I didn’t know demons were susceptible to the cold.”

“Demons are still living creatures, love. Though some are stronger than others, they can become ill, freeze, and starve just like anyone else.”

I hadn’t considered that before. For so long, demons had been phantoms from my nightmares, the memory of them causing me to wake in a cold sweat. With the exception of Oreo, I’d considered them to be monsters who could only be taken down by swords and arrows, not from something like snow. But Briar was right. They bled like the rest of us. Felt pain and hunger.

“You said initially thought.” Lake’s ears lifted in his curiosity. “You believe differently now?”

“Yes.” Briar lifted his glasses to rub at his eyes. A tell-tale sign of his fatigue. “Upon further examination, I discovered something peculiar. Complete organ failure. It then led to another conclusion. Mana sickness.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

“A sickness caused when one’s body, or vessel, isn’t strong enough to hold high concentrations of magical energy,” he explained. “I believe the demon was exposed to powerful magic, and its body became weak from it, essentially causing its organs to fail.”

“So, the demon died from magic exposure?”

Briar nodded. “Humans can suffer from it as well. It’s most common in those who aren’t born with mana, like myself. Exposure to high degrees of magic can be deadly, which is why it’s taken me years to improve my craft. I had to build up my tolerance.”

“What caused the sickness?” Lake asked. “If it came from the demons being exposed to too much magic, what was that magic?”

“That’s what I’ve yet to determine,” Briar answered, brow wrinkling. “Over the years, higher ranked adventurers have discovered powerful gems in caves and enchanted artifacts deep within the forest. It’s possible the demon made contact with an item of that sort.”

“Curious and curiouser,” I muttered, rubbing at my chin. “This sounds like a case for the muffin detective.”

Maddox almost choked on his food. “I think not.”

“Have to agree with Captain Glutton here,” Rowan said. “You’d wind up getting yourself into trouble. Going from detective to damsel.”

“Rude.”

He smirked.

After dinner, they helped me clear the table, and then I washed the dishes. It was a never-ending chore, but there was something therapeutic about it. Keeping my hands busy gave me something to do other than obsess about things.

“Aren’t you a vision?” Maddox caught me around the waist and kissed the top of my shoulder.

“A vision covered in soap suds?”

I felt him smile. “With the new patrol rotation, my unit’s assigned to the king’s road tonight. Will you be all right without me?”

I feigned a sigh. “I’ll somehow survive.”

Truth was, him leaving worried me. I wanted him home, not patrolling the forest and doing gods know what.

“You know it pains me to leave you.” He trailed his lips to my nape. “But it’s my duty to ensure no harm befalls the kingdom.”

“I know.” I rested my weight against him. “Just make sure you’re careful. Otherwise, I’ll kick your butt, mister.”

Chuckling, he kissed me again and pulled away.

Bustling with nervous energy, I hunted for ingredients to bake something. Between being upset over Callum and his mystery girl and worrying about Maddox, my stress level was rising. I needed a brownie, dammit. Once I whipped up the batter and tossed the pan in the oven, I watched Rowan and Lake play a round of chess.

“No cheating,” Lake told him with a huff. “Magic isn’t allowed.”

“How did you know?” Rowan dropped his hand back to his thigh. His twirling fingers had been causing shadows to inch toward Lake’s queen.

“Because I know you.” Lake’s tail flicked once. “Cheater.”

A light tap came at the back door.

Lake growled.

“Retract those claws, pup.” Rowan stepped that way and opened the door. “It’s only Reign and Draven.”

The two spies entered the kitchen, decked out in their usual all-black garb. Hoods up and masked. Daggers were sheathed at their sides, and smaller blades were tucked into their leather chest armor.

“Evening,” I greeted them. “You got here just in time. The brownies should be done soon.”

Rowan cracked a smile. “Always wanting to feed everyone.”

“I’d rather he didn’t,” Draven said in his thick accent. “Sweets are for children.”

“I disagree.” Reign looked at me. Only his eyes showed—one brown and one blue—but by the way they crinkled at the edges, I knew he was smiling. “Brownies are my favorite.”

“You’ll have to eat one and tell Draven how good they are then,” I said with a wistful sigh. “Since he’s still convinced I’m going to poison him.”

Draven’s baby blue eyes lingered on me. “It’s not poison that concerns me, boy. I’ve built a tolerance for most of them.”

“Ah. I see.” I pulled the brownies from the oven and set the pan on the counter to cool. “So, you’re like Ro and just don’t like sweets. That’s fair. You boys need to eat something before you leave for work though. Wouldn’t want you giving away your position while tailing someone because of a growling tummy.”

Reign laughed. “He makes quite the point, V.”

“V?” I asked. “Is that a code name?”

“A childhood one,” Reign told me. “As a boy, I couldn’t remember his name, only knew there was a V in it. The name has stayed with him ever since.”

“You grew up together?” I cut into the brownies, sectioning pieces. “That’s sweet.”

“Sweet like you,” Reign said with another smile clear in his mismatched eyes.

Maddox cut his eyes at the spy.

“Enough small talk.” Draven turned to Rowan. “Get dressed. The night awaits.”

With a nod, Rowan stepped into the shadows near the pantry and vanished. A creak came from upstairs seconds later.

“What’s the mission tonight?” I asked. “Track down a mysterious rogue? Or a lady of the night who slits the throats of unfaithful men? Maybe a crime duo who may or may not be named Holly and Herbert. The Bonnie and Clyde of beetles.”

Reign laughed so hard the top of his mask nearly slipped down.

“That mouth of yours is quite the weapon, little treasure.” Rowan reappeared in the corner of the kitchen. A black mask covered half of his face, revealing only his topaz eyes.

“It’s a gift.” My pulse quickened and heat swirled low in my belly. It was my first time actually seeing him in his spy outfit.

“Well, you certainly look the part of a spy now,” Maddox said. “Did Draven let you borrow his old clothes? From his youth, perhaps?”

Reign laughed again, then stifled it with a cough. I got the impression that when not working, he was quite the funny guy. Easygoing with an upbeat attitude.

“Better to be small than a big brute like you,” Rowan told Maddox, and I sensed the sneer behind his mask. “You’re slow and noisy.”

“No fighting.” I approached Rowan and adjusted the clasp on his cloak. “Want me to pack a bundle of treats for you? Something to snack on later? At least a sandwich. I’d say almonds, but the crunching would be too loud.”

“Gods, you’re too good for me. But I don’t need a snack.” Affection shone in his topaz eyes as he gripped the side of my neck and pressed his mouth to my jaw. I felt the warmth of his breath through his mask. “Don’t miss me too much.”

“Too late,” I said. Something about the mask being between us thrilled me to no end. Added a touch of mystery. Also made me feel like I was living in my own dark romance novel with a dangerous masked man.

That danger being to every carb in sight.

After brushing aside my bangs, he drew his hood up, turned, and walked toward the door. Draven nodded to Maddox before he and Reign followed Rowan, exiting the cottage. A shadow passed across the window before no sign of them remained.

Were they traveling through the trees now? Going from branch to branch and running across rooftops Assassin’s Creed style?

“Spies truly are sneaky,” Briar said, amused.

“Huh?” I followed his gaze. Three brownies were missing from the pan. One for each of them. “Sneaky indeed.”

“They can have the brownies, I suppose,” Maddox mumbled. “But if they take my muffins, I’ll take their heads.”

“Murder is wrong.” I turned to him, hands on my hips. His lips twitched. “I wonder what their mission is. Hopefully not something dangerous.”

“I wouldn’t worry, love.” Briar started water for tea. “The spies mainly keep to the shadows, rarely engaging with anyone. Their purpose is to observe and report anything suspicious.”

That made me feel better. If there was one thing Rowan was better at than anyone else, it was using the shadows to be a total badass.

Soon, the time came for Maddox to leave too.

“There’s the face I wished to avoid.” He smoothed his thumb across my bottom lip.

“My sad toad face?”

He softly smiled. “The very one.”

“I’ll pack you some brownies.” The scent of leather and Maddox-spiciness surrounded me. One of my favorite smells in the entire world. “Defending the kingdom is important and all, but so is your health. Eating. Sleeping.”

“Kissing my muffin lord?” His lips brushed mine.

“That too.” I smiled, feeling a quiver in my throat.

After kissing me softly, Maddox continued toward the front parlor and grabbed his white cloak from the stand near the door, securing it around his broad shoulders. I followed behind him, not saying a word despite the onslaught of things zipping through my mind.

He opened the front door and looked back at me. It was only for a second, but the look in his eyes made my heart ache.

Love. It radiated from him, so warm I still felt traces of it long after he’d closed the door.

“He’ll be safe, love.” Briar hugged me from behind, also staring at the door. “He wears his ring, remember? We’re protecting him.”

“Yeah,” I croaked.

“You should take Evan to the market,” Lake told Briar. “Sitting here worrying over things out of your control will only drive you both mad.”

Briar softly laughed. “Evan is your fated mate, yet you’re so attuned to me as well.”

“Well, I love you.” Lake looked out the front window. Moonlight shone through the glass, kissing his silvery hair. “Perhaps not in the same way as him, but it’s still strong.”

“I love you too.” Briar reached over and patted his head, causing Lake to close his eyes and lean into his palm. “We’re family. All of us.”

“Aye.” Lake shyly smiled. “Family.”

***

Paper lanterns hung between the various merchant stands, casting soft golden light onto the lanes. The market in the evening was fairly calm, though several people had ventured out. Mostly couples by the look of it, all walking hand in hand and lost in their own worlds.

“The lights are really pretty.” I held Briar’s hand as we strolled past the shops and merchant stalls. “I wish Lake could see it.”

“As do I.”

“It’s not fair.” I focused on a lantern and watched the flame flicker inside. Frustrated tears stung my eyes. “I still don’t understand why demi-wolves are treated like criminals. Just because a few of them sided with Lord Onyx like a million years ago? Lake shouldn’t be punished for that.”

“I agree.” Briar gently squeezed my fingers. “Unfortunately, that’s the way of most things in life. Two men start a war, and that burden then falls on the shoulders of their children. And their children’s children. Just look at your father. He had no part in the conflict with… that other kingdom, yet was forced into an arrangement to bring peace, resulting in his own death.”

I knew why he was being vague. No one was in earshot, but we couldn’t be too careful. Not with spies roaming about. Hell, Draven could be hiding in the bushes listening to every word.

“You’ve been the court physician for a long time, right?”

He cringed. “What a way to call me old.”

“No, that’s not what I meant.” I chuckled, then sobered, heart thumping harder. “I was only wondering if you’d ever… met my dad.”

“No. I never had the honor.” Softness shone in his hazel eyes. Maybe a smidge of sadness too. “I was just a boy when the news reached my village of his passing.”

“Oh.” I glanced at the cobblestone beneath my boots. “Duke said the people loved him. That he fought for demi-human rights and helped the poor. That he fought for what was right. I… I want to be like him.”

“You already are.” Briar stopped on the path and lifted his hand to my face, gliding his thumb across my cheek. The glow of the surrounding lanterns brought out the lighter shades in his hazel eyes. “Don’t you see it, love? You bring joy to everyone you meet. Not only with your food but because of your pure heart. You care deeply for those around you. And much to the captain’s dismay, you even forgot your own pain in order to seek out an injured demon.”

“I didn’t know Oreo was a demon.”

He tenderly smiled. “I feel you would’ve helped him even if you had known. It’s not in your nature to let anyone or anything suffer. Just as it’s not in mine.”

“Would you have helped Oreo?”

“Without hesitation.” He gave my cheek a soft pinch before retaking my hand and linking our fingers. “But let’s not tell our captain. I fear that vein in his temple really will blow one day.”

“Your secret is safe with me,” I said, trying not to laugh. I lightly swung our hands as we walked. “Know what we need?”

“What?” He peered down at me.

“Something yummy.”

With his hand in mine, I took off down the lane, loving the sound of his laugh as I dragged him along. A woman near the center fountain sold chunks of boar covered in a maple and brown sugar glaze. Honestly, it reminded me of maple bacon, and I could eat the stuff every day for the rest of my life and die happy.

“Two please,” I said once reaching her food stall.

She grabbed skewers for the meat and told us the price.

“Allow me.” Briar touched my lower back before paying her.

Food in hand and my taste buds dancing in anticipation, we walked toward the fountain to sit and eat. “This was supposed to be my treat to you.”

“Being in your presence is treat enough.”

“Okay, Prince Charming.” I plopped down on the ledge and snuggled into his side. The scent of magnolia blossoms mingled with maple. “This is nice. I can’t remember when you and I went on a date with just the two of us.”

“Neither can I.” He took a piece off the skewer and pressed it to my lips, smiling as I gobbled it up. “Life has been busy for us all, but I’m pleased we’re here now.”

“Me too.” I slowly chewed, savoring the sweet and savory combo of the boar. “Was it scary? Examining a dead demon?”

“No,” he answered. “I was fascinated, actually. Do you think me mad?”

I thought for a moment. “I read a book once where a character had that same question. ‘Have I gone mad?’ asked the hatter.”

“What was the response?”

I smiled. “I’m afraid so. But all the best people are.”

He returned my smile. “Then I suppose you are just as mad for loving me.”

“Oh, definitely. I’m absolutely bonkers.” I smoothed aside his bangs. His hazel eyes appeared so soft. It jostled the butterflies in my tummy. “But I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

We cuddled against each other as people passed us by. There was something enchanting about the atmosphere—the glow of lanterns and various light crystals strung throughout, along with the starlit sky above us. The evening was cool but not cold. I could almost hear winter exhaling its last breath.

“Are you warm enough, love?” Briar slipped his arm around me.

I nodded. “I love when you call me that.”

“It’s what my father used to call my mother.” He dropped his gaze to the half-eaten skewer. “I always found it romantic.”

I paused mid-bite. He hadn’t shared much about his past. All I knew was that his parents had fallen ill and died when he was younger.

Briar watched a couple walk past us. “He used to surprise my mother every night when he came home from work. She’d be in the kitchen cooking dinner, and he’d sweep in, ever so theatrically, and drop to one knee, offering her a flower he’d plucked on the walk home. Her laugh always put the warmest smile on his face. He’d then offer her a treat from his bakery. I remember how her face would light up, regardless of the number of times he’d done it. Fig bread was her favorite.” He gave a slight shake of his head. “Apologies. I’m sure you have little interest in—”

“No.” I placed my hand on his. “I want to hear more. Anything you want to tell me.”

“Not much to tell, I’m afraid.” He gently swiped his thumb along the edge of my lip, catching some maple glaze. “I was an only child and had very few friends. I preferred the company of books.”

“Sounds familiar,” I said, and we shared a smile. “Where did you grow up? Here in Bremloc?”

“No. I lived in a town west of here. More of a village, really. I helped out around the house as much as I could. Even took on work as a pageboy and ran errands for extra coin. Otherwise, I had my nose shoved in a book. Alchemy fascinated me even back then, as did learning about rare plants. Tales of adventure too.”

“I’m trying to imagine you as a kid. Did you have glasses?”

“Yes,” he said with an adorable nose crinkle. “They were too big for my face, but I grew into them as I aged. Well, until I was playing by a stream once, pretending I was a swashbuckling rogue from my favorite novel, and tripped, losing them in the water.”

“Oh my god. I’m going to need you to reenact that. I want to see you as a pirate.”

He blushed. “I think not.”

I laughed.

Briar stood from the fountain ledge and offered me his arm. “Shall we continue our date, my love?”

“We shall.” I accepted his arm, stomach fluttering. Each of my men were swoon-worthy in their own special way, threatening to turn me into a puddle of Evan goo.

What happened when two bookworms fell in love?

Their dates often led them to the bookstore.

The bell above the door jingled as we entered the shop, and a man peeked around a bookcase from where he was stocking and greeted us. I felt like a kid in a candy store as I eyed all the hardbacks waiting to be plucked off shelves. The smell was amazing too; leather, wood, and a unique musk I couldn’t put into words.

Book Sniffer Muffin.

“I promised myself I wouldn’t buy more until I read the ones I already have,” I said, walking farther inside. “But a peek won’t hurt.”

Briar chuckled and lifted our joined hands to kiss my knuckles. “You deserve all the books. Buy whatever your heart desires.”

“Dangerous words.”

Different sections lured us, so after a soft kiss, we pulled apart and started browsing. Shelves and shelves of leatherbound books had excited tingles bouncing in my chest. It’d been so long since I’d done this.

My wandering eye then stopped on an even better sight. Briar approached a bookcase with the same level of enthusiasm as me when surrounded by so many novels. He plucked one from the shelf and smiled as he flipped through it, then carefully placed it back and grabbed another.

And it was during my ogling of the handsomest physician to ever grace this earth that I caught something from the corner of my eye.

A glowing red flower.

An illustration of it anyway. It adorned the cover of a book on display. I neared the shelf and glided my fingers over it. Same glow as I remembered. Same thin leaves and even thinner ones that jutted upward, like a reverse weeping willow.

I grabbed the novel and flipped through it, skimming sections. Looked like a war story. The narrator spoke of marching into battle with his brothers—and then watching them fall, one by one. Red flowers then sprouted from their bodies, with leaves that seemed to be bleeding.

“What have you found, love?”

I jumped and slammed the book shut.

Briar looked amused. “Another romance, I presume? And you were reading a naughty scene when I approached?”

“N-No,” I said, confused by the sudden chill in my bones. “A war story, I think.”

His gaze fell to the cover. “Oh. Valley of the Fallen. I’ve heard of that one. The red spider lily is symbolic and is depicted all throughout the narrative.”

“Red spider lily? That’s what the flower’s called?”

“Yes.” Briar adjusted his glasses with the one hand not weighed down with books. “Several legends surround the red lily. They’re said to grow along the bank of the river in the afterlife, guiding the dead across the bridge and to their final resting place. Some say the lily represents new beginnings and life changes. The most popular belief, however, is the one depicted in that novel. However, I don’t wish to spoil the ending for you.”

“I love spoilers,” I shakily said. “Tell me.”

“Very well.” Briar shifted the stack of books to his other arm. “All throughout the story, the main character sees the red lily while he and his army are matching toward battle. In the final scene, as he lies dying in a field, seeing all of his fallen brothers around him, he finally understands. The red lily was an omen of death.”

Fear struck me front and center, and I lost my grip on the book.

“Crap!” I bent down to grab it and lost my balance, teetering backward and bumping the shelf.

“Evan?” He set his books aside and knelt in front of me, taking my hands. “Gods, you’re shaking.”

“That’s the flower,” I whispered. More chills prickled along my arms. “The one I saw in the forest.”

Briar visibly paled. “When you encountered the demon?”

I nodded. “The flower lured me closer to the forest, and that’s when I fell. I met Oreo after that… and then I saw it again. The red lily. It seemed to appear out of nowhere. A whole patch of them. They wilted just as fast.”

“Perhaps you’re mistaken.” He patted my hands. Drawing attention to the tremble in his. “Red lilies don’t grow in Bremloc.”

“Y-Yeah. I’m probably wrong.” I patted the stack he’d brought. “Find anything good?”

The corners of his hazel eyes tightened. Luckily, he accepted the change of subject. “I did. I’ll show you and Lake when we return home. He might like them too.”

“We should buy him some almonds.” Though unsteady, I got to my feet and dusted off my butt. “Maybe bring him a boar skewer too. He’d love it.”

“He would.” Briar tried for a smile, but it missed the mark. He grabbed his stack with one hand and entwined our fingers with his other. “Let’s go home.”

My dream that night was bizarre, filled with fragmented pieces that didn’t make sense.

The wailing of a thunderstorm and lightning flashes. A man screaming for someone to run. Then, the storm faded, and I found myself in a field of red spider lilies.

And there was silence, the kind that made me aware of my every heartbeat.

“There’s something… familiar about you,” came a man’s voice, silky and smooth, bleeding through that silence.

Standing in the field, I was frozen in place. The red glow of the flowers stood out beneath the dark, angry sky.

“I suspect we’ll meet again soon.”

Then, the flowers began to wilt. As the red leaves detached and glided to the ground, it reminded me of drops of blood, splattering the landscape as though a mighty battle had just taken place.

I woke to a bright flash outside the window. A boom of thunder then rattled the walls, sounding like a canon blast.

“Come here, love.” Briar held me against his chest and petted my hair. “It’s only thunder. You’re safe.”

Lake snuggled in on my other side and kissed my shoulder. Another crash of thunder sounded, sending me deeper into Briar’s chest with a small whimper.

The shift from frigid cold to warmer temperatures must’ve triggered a storm. Other than allergies, it was the one bad thing about spring. My fear of storms went as far back as I could remember. As rain pelted against the window, I squeezed my eyes closed and hoped Maddox and my knights were safe, not patrolling the forest in the middle of it. I hoped Rowan and the spies weren’t outside in it either.

What left me more unsettled than the storm? The field of red spider lilies from my dream.

I couldn’t help but think that, like the main character in that war book, maybe they’d been sent as an omen for me too.