Page 54 of Sent To A Fantasy World and Now All the Men Want Me 7

Once we were both seated, his boot pressed to mine. A touch that kick-started my heart. Warmed it too.

Dinner resumed with the same enthusiasm as earlier.

Quincy, who’d lost the arm wrestling match before dinner and forced to give up the seat he wanted to Baden, made sure to grab the last chicken leg, earning a series of protests from the other men who’d also wanted it.

“You rotten bastard,” Duke chided him. “I should throw you out to sleep with the pack of Fenrir roaming the woods tonight.”

“Whatever pleases you,” Quincy said between bites, picking the bone clean. “But whether I’m warm in bed or out with the wolves, my belly will still be full of this chicken.”

Duke looked at Reign. “Please take him with you when you leave tonight.”

I laughed.

“I find it maddening that you still intend to leave,” Fane told Reign, the muscles in his jaw clenching. He had moved over to the hearth. “These are no ordinary mercenaries. They’re ruthless in their pursuit of Evan. So why abandon him now? You’re his friends, are you not?”

“We would lay down our lives for the boy without question,” Draven answered. “He’s our prince. However, the other young prince doesn’t have a barrier, nor a powerful demon lord, between him and the ones who wish him harm.”

“Prince Sawyer,” I said, throat tightening.

Reign nodded. “Lyric and Lochlan are watching over him in our absence. The twins are highly skilled, but with Cedric’s ascension to the throne and his ever-growing lust for power, I fear the worst is yet to come.”

“Well, that doesn’t make me feel all warm and tingly.” I rubbed at the center of my chest. “What if Cedric declares war on Haran as soon as he’s crowned?”

“Then I’ll thank the gods that you’re here.” Reign’s mismatched eyes softened. “Under Lord Onyx’s protection where that war can’t reach you.”

His words caused a tightening in my chest. “My life isn’t any greater than anyone else’s, Reign. Why should I be safe behind a barrier when my friends and all the people in the kingdom are left to suffer?”

“Then what would you propose?” Onyx asked, resting his hand at the side of his mouth. “Storm the citadel and use your blue flames to bring Cedric to heel?”

“What?” I balked at the question. “Of course not.”

“But you’re of royal blood,” he said, the firmness in his tone matching the glint in his eyes. “That blood must rage against the idea of allowing a tyrant to rule your kingdom.”

Prickles of heat stung my chest. “Royal blood or not, I don’t really feel like a prince. Certainly don’t have that umph needed to carry the weight of a kingdom on my shoulders or order armies to march into battle on my behalf.”

“How do you know?” Onyx asked. “You’ve yet to try.”

Shock sparked through my bloodstream. Most shocking of all was a tiny part of me was tempted by the idea. Using my powers to overthrow Cedric and giving the throne to the rightful ruler: Prince Sawyer.

Then Bremloc would be free of tyranny and safe. Maybe my men and I could even return to our cottage.

“Enough of this talk,” Maddox said, placing his hand on my thigh. There was a subtle shake in his palm. “War is no place for Evan, regardless of the power he wields.”

“I agree,” Briar added, shooting a glare toward Onyx. “I’m appalled you’d suggest such a thing.”

“What I find appalling is your lack of confidence in him.” Onyx lightly tapped a finger against the arm of his chair. “Stop treating him like a child and see him for the man he is.”

I blew out a breath, feeling ten kinds of awkward.

The clack of boots against the hard floor came from the hall before an unfamiliar male stepped into the dining parlor. Two ram-like horns curved back from his head, and he had varying shades of red and white in his hair. He was also short and small framed.

Like a peppermint twink.

“Apologies for interrupting your meal,” he said with a curt nod. His voice was deeper than one would expect given his small stature. “But the arrangements have all been made with my scouts.”

Ah, the scout captain?

“Thank you, Titus.” Onyx nodded to him. “Give them time to collect their bearings. They’ll meet you near the eastern woods shortly.”