Page 6 of Sent To A Fantasy World and Now All the Men Want Me: Volume 4

Shadows are a Boy’s Best Friend

The sea sparkled under the bright sunshine, the crystalline water giving one the impression that maybe pirates were right all along. There be treasure in those waters, me boy. Argh.

“What’s going on in that mind of yours?” Rowan asked.

“Hmm?” I looked at him.

“You’re thinking hard about something.” He poked my forehead. “What is it?”

“Oh. Pirates.”

His amusement grew. “Fancy a life as a rogue, little treasure? Your captain will be awfully sour about it. Which can only mean one thing. I approve of your plan. Let’s run away, commandeer a ship, and sail off into the sunset together.”

“It’d be quite the adventure.” I shoulder-bumped him. “But you know you’d miss Maddox too much. You’d start crying, and we’d have to turn the ship around.”

“They’d be tears of joy.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’ll get the two of you to call a truce someday.”

“Good luck with that.” He smirked and ate a roasted almond from the bag we’d purchased in the market before coming to the beach.

Lupin had said Rowan and Maddox would butt heads a lot, and they were certainly proving him right so far. The two stubborn goofs.

Sighing, I returned my attention to the sea.

With the café closed, Rowan had taken full advantage of the sunny day and whisked me away from the cottage like the thief he was. The water was too cold to even dip our toes into, but the sea in wintertime was beautiful. We’d found a place in the sand and laid out a blanket to sit, listening to the gentle crash of waves against the shore.

“I wonder what Lake’s doing.” I pressed closer to his side, loving when he didn’t shy away like he once had. Little by little, he’d let me past the walls of his dark fortress. Trusting me.

“Probably talking to his vegetables,” he said.

“I think it’s sweet when he does that. I heard him singing to the roses once. When I asked why, he said their petals looked sad.”

“The pup has a pleasant singing voice. I’ll give him that at least.”

“Just admit you like him.”

Rowan scoffed. “I’d rather eat sharp rocks. Or worse, one of your chocolate cupcakes with the grossly sweet frosting.”

“Hey!” I swatted at his arm.

A loud laugh filled the air. “So feisty. Just how I like ‘em.”

“Keep being a jerk and you won’t get any more of those spicy truffles.” The one sweet he actually liked; even if he claimed otherwise.

“Hit me where it hurts.” He sighed and kicked one leg out, bending the knee of his other. “I admit, playing chess with him was fun. Kind of. Even if he says I cheated.”

“Because you did. Lake told me all about it this morning.”

“I did not.” Rowan rolled his eyes. “Using shadows to steal his pieces and shift them around the board isn’t cheating. It’s called being strategic.”

“Remind me to never play against you.”

“Eh. I reckon I’d let you win at least one game.”

“Just one?” I asked.

“Well, if you won them all, I wouldn’t get to see you lookin’ like a sad toad.”

I hid my face in my hands. “Leave my double chin alone!”

I’d tested out that theory in the mirror one day, trying to figure out how he’d come up with the nickname. Apparently, when I pouted, my chin tucked in and wrinkled. Looking like a frog.

“Ah, come on now,” he said with a raspy laugh. “Don’t hide that face. It’s much too adorable.”

Smiling so much my cheeks hurt, I relaxed against him and watched the waves roll in. “This is nice. Being here with you.”

“Aye, it is.” Rowan turned his face into my hair. “You smell so good.”

“I do?”

“Mhm.”

“What do I smell like?” Each of them had a unique scent, but I never thought about me having one too.

“Like…” He dipped his face to my neck. “Oranges.”

“Really?”

He nodded. “Back in Solynia, there were groves of orange trees. I used to pluck a few and sit on a hill outside of town to eat. Food was hard to come by, but I looked forward to spring because of them. The smell’s a comfort for me now.”

“Oh.” My eyes stung, and I focused on a lone cloud drifting above us. “That’s… well, that’s—”

“There you go cryin’ again.”

“I’m not crying.” I rotated my body away from his. “The sun’s just in my eyes.”

“Uh huh.” He crept in behind me and took me in his arms, resting his chin on my shoulder. “Silly little treasure. Cryin’ all the time, whether you’re happy or sad.” He kissed my nape. “I wouldn’t change a single thing about you.”

I turned back to him and threaded our fingers together. “The more I learn about your past, the more I want to hug you and never let go.”

“Maybe I never want you to.”

There was a hard thump against my ribs. “Do you mean that?”

“You doubt my feelings?”

“No. I know you love me.” I focused on the sea. “But a part of me is scared of waking up one day and finding you gone. That despite your feelings for me, this life wasn’t enough for you.”

After a long pause, he pulled away and stood from the blanket.

“Rowan?”

“Come with me.” He offered me his hand.

I took it without hesitation. “Where are we going?”

He said nothing as he led me toward a section of trees along the beach. Once in the shade, he slowed his pace and peered up at the branches, a wistful set to his topaz eyes. “I sat right there on that branch and watched you that day. For hours, it seemed like.”

Butterflies flapped in my belly. “The day you Evan-napped me.”

He smirked. “I pounced and was knocked on my ass, thanks to that shiny stone around your neck.”

“Didn’t stop you for long. I stumbled as always and made it all too easy for you.”

His smirk slipped into something much sadder. “I almost didn’t do it. I watched you play in the sea with the demi-cat. Watched how your entire face lit up when you laughed. It did something to me, Evan. Made me feel things I hadn’t before.”

“Like what?”

“Guilt for what I planned to do. Before then, I always acted with my own interests in mind. Screwed over anyone for a shilling, just as your captain said. But that was the first time I ever second guessed myself. The light in your eyes was so damn bright. I didn’t want to take it away.”

“You said you didn’t regret capturing me.”

“And I don’t. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here with you right now.” Rowan dropped his gaze to our joined hands. “I’m not good with words, little treasure. They get jumbled in my head and never come out how I want. I’m also not good at… this. Loving someone and outwardly showing that love. But I’m trying. I really am.”

“I know you are.” I stepped into his orbit, no space between our bodies. He stood only an inch taller than me, bringing our mouths in near perfect alignment. His breath held traces of rum and smoked almonds. “You’re doing great. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

He wet his lips. “What I’m trying to say is I’m not going anywhere, Evan. So put any worries about me leaving to rest. Because this life with you? It’s greater than a no-good thief like me deserves.”

“You deserve all the happiness in the world.” I hooked my wrists behind his neck. “Being loved by you and the others? I don’t know what I did to get so lucky, but I don’t take a single moment of it for granted. I love you so much, Ro.”

“Ro?” he asked with a crinkle of his brow.

“Is that okay? It just slipped out.”

Smiling, he ghosted his mouth across mine. “I like it.”

We kissed, then, beneath the shade of the tree where we’d first met.

A muffin and his thief.

***

Stars looked so much brighter in winter. They shone like diamonds in the night sky, as if the treasure from the sea earlier had floated up and got caught in the dark web. Each twinkle cast the world in a silvery hue, kissing the land with stardust and moonbeams.

“Are you warm enough?” Lake adjusted the scarf around my neck. He’d knitted it for me, working on it many nights while I’d sat by the fire reading.

“Yep.” I admired the dark green material, loving how it faintly smelled of peaches. “Thanks to you.”

“Where’s mine, pup?” Rowan sat on the porch railing, one leg dangling down. He was like a bird, always perching on something. “Don’t care if I freeze to death?”

Lake exhaled through his nose. Like an annoyed huff. “Cheaters don’t deserve scarves.”

“For the last damned time, I didn’t cheat.”

Another huff. “Magic isn’t allowed in chess.”

“Know what shouldn’t be allowed?” Rowan withdrew his dagger and picked at his fingernails. “Your face.”

“You have no manners.”

Smiling at their banter, I tipped my face to the sky and inhaled the crisp air.

After leaving the beach, Rowan and I’d returned to the cottage and ate a late lunch with Lake. It then turned into a lazy afternoon of kisses, cuddles, and reading by the fire before Maddox and Briar came home.

“Supper was delicious,” Lake said. “What did you call the meal?”

“Spaghetti and meat balls.”

One thing about this fantasy world? I had to make everything from scratch. No pre-made pasta. The same went for making my own spaghetti sauce. I didn’t mind though. Homemade tasted better anyway. Caramelized onion was my secret ingredient.

“The bread was my favorite part,” Rowan said. “I could’ve eaten the entire loaf.”

My chest warmed with the compliment. “Carbs are clearly the way to your heart.”

“Unless it’s sweet. Then Captain Glutton can have it.”

I snorted. Rowan didn’t care for sweets, but I’d learned he had a weakness for carbs and anything spicy. Buttery biscuits were his favorite.

“I enjoy everything you make.” Lake rubbed my arm as a light breeze brought another chill. “Sweet or savory.”

“Pfft.” Rowan hopped down from this perch and sheathed his dagger. “You’d eat anything he made and say it was delicious, even if it tasted like cow dung.”

I grinned. “Nah, I save the cow dung for you.”

“You little shit.” Rowan barked out a laugh. “And you say I’m rude. You’re on a whole other level of…” His attention snapped to the woods behind the cottage. “Pup?”

“Yes?” Lake became more alert.

“Take Evan inside and lock the door.”

“Huh?” I tensed at the sudden seriousness of his tone. “What’s wrong?”

But whatever Rowan sensed, Lake did now too. His wolf ears shot straight back, and he bared his teeth before grabbing my hand and leading me to the door. He pushed me inside the cottage and stepped in after me, turning the bolt behind us.

Briar sat at the kitchen table and glanced up from the stack of papers in front of him. Work he’d brought home. “Is everything all right?”

Lake’s eyes were wild, pupils blown. “Someone’s outside. I caught their scent just as Rowan detected them. They were hiding in the trees.”

“What?” I squeaked. “And we left him out there alone? It could be someone bad. Like a bandit or, hell, a freaking demon.”

“Not a demon.” Lake shook his head. “They’re human.”

A different kind of fear then sank into me. “Do you think they saw you?”

Lake averted his eyes from mine. “More than likely.”

“Who saw you?” Maddox entered the kitchen with his black hair damp from his bath and dressed in a dark blue tunic, the strings unfastened and showing a peek of his muscled chest.

Usually, one look at his muscles turned my brain to mush and overrode any other thoughts, but I was too worried. For Lake. For Rowan, who’d stayed behind to confront the stranger.

A grunt came from outside.

“Ro!” I made a dash for the door and flung it open. What could a clumsy weakling like myself do to help? Bat my eyes at the bad guy? I was useless in a fight. But rational thinking went out the window when fear for the man I loved came into play.

“Gods be damned. Evan, wait!” Maddox rushed after me and caught me just as I reached the porch steps.

“Let me go!” I thrashed in his arms. “Rowan could be hurt.”

“Take a breath, sweetheart,” Maddox murmured softly in my ear. “Your thief is safe. Look.”

Ahead, near the tree line, Rowan stood over a dark figure. He’d unsheathed the long dagger from his hip and aimed the tip of the blade at the trespasser's throat.

“Briar?” Maddox called out. “Hold Evan.”

“Come here, love.” Briar wrapped his arms around me as Maddox passed me over to him.

Maddox then left the porch and strode across the grass. Rowan exchanged words with him and motioned to the cloaked figure at his feet. More words were spoken. At least punches weren’t being thrown.

My lungs refused to work as I slumped against Briar. He pressed kisses into my hair.

Lake appeared at my side, his purple irises glowing. In his current tense state, his nails had sharpened into claws and his canines had elongated. A tenseness that reflected in the lines of his brow as he watched Maddox and Rowan. I knew without a doubt if a fight ensued, he’d bolt off the porch to protect them.

Rowan lowered his dagger and stepped back. The hooded stranger rose from the grass, slowly, as if to not seem like a threat.

My anxiety flared up again.

Who was it and what did they want? And would they tell anyone about Lake? With Rowan safe, that was my biggest worry. Someone hurting my wolf.

Maddox looked toward the porch and said something to them. Rowan nodded. The three of them then approached, allowing me a closer look at the stranger. Taller than Rowan but several inches shorter than Maddox and dressed in black from head to toe. A male’s physique, muscled but not brawny.

A low growl worked its way up Lake’s throat as they reached the steps. I grabbed his hand, and he shakily exhaled, instantly calming.

The unknown man wore a black cloth mask that covered his face from the nose down, showing only his eyes and forehead. Two swords were sheathed at his belt.

Who was this Assassin’s Creed-looking dude and why had he been hiding in the woods?

“Sweetheart?” Maddox’s gentle tone contradicted the hard set of his brow. “Why don’t you go inside and warm yourself by the fire? Rowan and I will be in shortly.”

His way of protecting me. But I didn’t need to be protected. I needed answers.

“I’ll do you one better.” I slapped on a shaky smile. “All of us can go inside where it’s warm, and I’ll provide refreshments while you chat.”

As expected, Maddox’s jaw tightened. I held my ground.

“Very well,” he said tersely. “We’ll do it your way.”

“It’s the best way.” I slid my arm through Lake’s and walked toward the door. “You’ll see.”

Once in the kitchen, I made quick work of brewing a pot of coffee and arranged cookies on a platter. Maddox and Rowan stood against the wall, and Briar sat on a barstool at the counter. Lake stayed close to me, always within reaching distance.

The maybe-assassin was the only one sitting at the table. As I placed the cookies in front of him, he watched me like a hawk. Now in the light, I noted thin leather armor beneath his cloak and small daggers strapped to his chest. For throwing? Or placing them between his fingers and punching for swift attacks. Was that even a thing or had I played too many video games?

“Um.” I cleared my throat. “Hi.”

He kept staring. Saying nothing.

“Do you like cookies? I have chocolate chip and oatmeal cranberry. Today was my day off, but you can’t keep a muffin out of the kitchen, as they say.”

Still no response. Just more staring. Did this dude even blink? It gave me time to notice the threads of gray in his baby blue eyes. And was that a peek of silver hair beneath his hood? Pale blond, maybe. The lightest possible shade.

“Answer him,” Lake said with a growl in his voice.

Blue Eyes tore his gaze from me and focused on Lake. “Why should I?”

His voice caught me off guard. It was deeper than expected and held a unique cadence. If he lived in my old world, I’d compare it to a Russian accent.

“Because you are a guest in our home,” Briar told him. “He’s showing you hospitality despite not knowing a thing about you or why you’re here.”

“The boy’s words run together,” Blue Eyes said. “I find it amusing.”

“Yeah, I call those rambles.” I pushed the platter closer to him. “Please help yourself. You’ll have to take off your mask though.”

“Mask stays on.”

“Then how do you eat?”

“I eat when alone.”

“Oh. Is it a religious thing?”

“No.”

Maddox dropped into the chair closest to me. “He’s from the Secret Order. Showing their face when working is against their code.”

Holy crap. A real life spy. How cool was that?

“I guess that explains the mysterious vibe you have going on,” I said, relieved he wasn’t a bad guy. “So. What’s your name?”

The spy cocked his head. Hard to read his expression with nothing but his eyes showing, but I got the feeling I really did amuse him. “Draven.”

“Raven? Your name is Raven? Like the bird?”

“Draven,” he repeated. “Not bird.”

“Oh. The mask muffles your words. An easy fix if you’d just take it off. But I understand. Most of the castle guards won’t even accept a cookie when they’re working. I like the name Draven. It’s different. I’m curious though. If you have to remain anonymous or whatever, why did you tell us your name? Unless it’s a code name? For all we know, your real name could be Bob. Or Tom. You look like a Tom.”

Draven glanced at Maddox. “His mouth never stops.”

Maddox’s lip twitched.

“Just a little peek of your face?” I asked.

“Negative. Mask stays on,” Draven told me. “My brothers and I are one unit, unified in obscurity and existing only in darkness.”

“Sounds like a line a superhero would say.”

Rowan snorted. “Oh, little treasure.”

Draven’s gaze shifted to him. “You’re more powerful than we believed. How did you sense me? I’m undetectable in the shadows.”

“Undetectable? That’s cute.” Rowan smirked. There was a slightly sadistic edge to it. “The shadows are my domain. I see and hear everything. No one can hide from me.”

“You knocked me from the tree with your magic.”

“Well, I don’t take kindly to being spied on.” A hardness touched his topaz eyes. “Especially when it may harm the man I love.”

Heat fanned up my neck.

“You were my only target,” Draven told him. “No one else.”

“Your target?” Briar asked.

Lake growled again.

“For scouting,” Draven clarified before tension could rise any further. “My captain wanted intel on you. Who you are. Your abilities. My mission was to shadow you and report my findings.”

“Why?” Rowan asked.

“Because he’s interested in recruiting you.”

Shock flitted across Rowan’s face. On the trip back from Exalos, he’d mentioned how he wanted to join the Secret Order, but it had been half-heartedly. As if he didn’t believe he had a real shot at it. The change in his expression—the disbelief and spark of hope—caused a tug in my chest.

“Every spy in the Order has a specific set of skills,” Draven continued. “Tracking. Stealth. Some of us can perform basic magic as well. However, your skills are far more advanced than any in our ranks. We suspected an infiltration from Haran prior to your intel, yet we were unable to get close enough to our targets without detection. Your shadow magic allowed you to do what we couldn’t.”

His words affected Rowan, visible in the softening of his gaze. He wasn’t used to people speaking of his magic in high regard.

“Ro would be an amazing spy,” I said, excited for him.

Draven’s eyes narrowed at me.

My excitement turned into a flurry of nerves. Why was he staring at me so intently? Briar had said my resemblance to the royal family was obvious now that he knew the truth. Did Draven see that same resemblance? Spies were trained to learn secrets.

Had he learned mine?

I’m probably just paranoid.

Rowan tugged me to his side, placing me a little behind him. “You mentioned reporting back to your captain. What will you tell him?”

“I believe you’d be an invaluable asset to our ranks given the proper training. My report will say as much.” Draven regarded the platter of cookies, and his hand twitched at his side. Did the mysterious spy have a sweet tooth? “With that, I must be on my way.”

He pushed back from the table and stood.

“Wait.” My heart pounded. “Please don’t tell anyone about Lake.”

“The wolf?” Draven looked at him. “Many see his kind as enemies of Bremloc.”

“He is no enemy.” Maddox’s stare was lethal. “And if you dare speak of him to any—”

“Rowan was my only target this night,” Draven interjected. “As far as I’m concerned, I saw no demi-wolf.”

“How do we know you’re speaking the truth?” Briar asked.

“Lies are for cowards. I’ve given my answer. Believe it or don’t.”

The spy moved toward the back door.

“Draven?” I grabbed a stack of cookies and rushed over. “Here. Take these. You can eat them when you’re alone.”

He regarded them in silence. Then, his baby blue eyes lifted to me. “Some might say your kindness is a clever tactic intended to lower the guards of those around you. To manipulate them.”

“Oh.” I lowered my arm. “I’ve been accused of worse, I guess. Maddox thought I poisoned his porridge once. I didn’t, of course. He was just teasing me. But if you want one, I promise I haven’t—”

Draven turned from me and stepped outside, vanishing into the night.

My chin did that annoying wobbling thing as I looked at the cookies in my hand. Did people really think I used sweets as a weapon? Sure, a yummy pastry helped persuade the men in my life to tell me things or calm their irritation, but I never did it maliciously.

“His loss.” Rowan snatched one and took a bite.

I gaped.

“What?” he asked, mouth full.

“That’s a cookie.”

“I’m aware.”

“A chocolate chip cookie,” I said in disbelief. “You hate them.”

“Eh. They’re not so bad.” He shrugged and grabbed hold of my wrist, leading me through the kitchen and toward the stairs. “Let’s take a bath. I’ll even let you play with my hair since I know how much ya love it.”

The wobble returned, and my eyes filled with tears.

Earlier at the beach, he’d said he wasn’t good with words or expressing his feelings. But as we poured water for a bath and cuddled together in the tub, I felt his love so profoundly no words were needed.