Page 116 of Sent To A Fantasy World and Now All the Men Want Me 7

Onyx settled in closer to me, propping his back against the pillows and bringing me to rest against his side. I curled into him, hooking a leg around his and placing my hand on his chest. Like mine, his lacked any markings or scars.

“It’s really gone,” I shakily said, touching the place where the deep red mark had been.

“It is.” Onyx grabbed my hand and pressed it to his cheek, peering down at me with tender ruby eyes. “Because of you. A little bird I love with my entire heart and soul.”

My breath caught. Did he just…

“Pretty sure I’m still asleep,” I said, the center of my chest achy but fluttery too as nerves and happiness swirled together. “The Onyx I know would never say the forbidden ‘L’ word.”

“The Onyx you knew was only a façade, little bird.” He touched my jaw. “An existence built around fear. But no more. I wish to finally step into the sun and revel in its warmth. To hold you in my arms and never again let you go.”

“Sounds perfect.” Another tear slipped free, and he caught it with his thumb. “There was a happy place for us after all. We just had to fight for it first.”

And I’d keep fighting for it. For all of the men I loved.

Until my last breath.

Chapter Twenty-One

The End of One Chapter… and the Start of Another

Boar gumbo simmered in a pot so big I had to stand on a stool in front of the stove to peer down into it.

“Do try not to fall in,” Fane said with body language that hinted he feared I actually would. He turned toward me, one hand outstretched, as though preparing to yank me back the moment I stumbled.

“Ah, are you worried?” I grinned at him and stirred the gumbo. Mouthwatering spices wafted upward, notes of garlic, onion, thyme, and cayenne pepper. “I knew you liked me. We’re totally besties now.”

He sneered before checking on the corn bread baking in the oven. His dancing tail told me everything I needed to know though.

I stepped down from the wooden stool, earning another anxious glance from Fane in the process, the worry wart, then went to grab bowls from the cupboard.

Three days had passed since Onyx’s curse was broken, and in that time, he’d kissed me more than ever—so much so that I’d needed to ask Briar for a salve to help my chapped lips.

Worth it.

Happiness bounced around in my chest, making me feel warm and toasty. A feeling that amplified as the thud of boots came from the hall.

“Evening, sweetheart,” Maddox said, coming over to me at the stove and wrapping his muscled arms around my waist. His black hair was slightly damp from his bath, and his skin smelled of warm spice and the woodsy notes from the soap he’d washed with.

“Hey, big guy.” I turned to face him, resting my hands on the tops of his broad shoulders. “How was training today?”

“It went well.” Maddox brought my hand to his lips, kissing the knuckle of my index finger. “Nothing exciting to report.”

“Don’t lie to our mate, Captain,” Callum said as he entered the kitchen, the trio of knights behind him. Oreo padded along with them, biting at Callum’s boot laces.

“Lie?” I narrowed my eyes at Maddox. “Spill it. What happened?”

He seemed confused. “I’ve not spoken a lie.”

Duke belted out a laugh and clapped Quincy on the shoulder. “When this one took a tumble, remember?”

Understanding then lit Maddox’s eyes. And with it, a smile.

I soon learned what happened. Quincy, bless his soul, had slipped in the mud and landed face first in Borus’ burly chest. Duke recounted the tale with all the theatrics of a well-versed thespian, even using Baden for his demonstration.

“His chest was softer than I expected,” Quincy added. “Like billowy pillows.”

I laughed and clung onto Maddox. He had the same pillows. Definitely one of my weaknesses.