Chapter 5

Treade watched the terrified girl who stood at the very end of a long table.

The kitchen looked a lot smaller than he'd imagined. It was too small. The place couldn't room more than five people.

The small kitchen was warm and cozy with wooden benches and tables in the middle and large cupboards at every turn. Sunlight filtered in threw one of the windows, bathing the room in a golden light.

There was a small stove present as well as big ovens to one side of the wall with crockery of different sizes hanging from the hooks on the wall.

Lots of pans and pots sat overturned and on top of the central table, probably drying off after being washed.

Standing far away from the door, a shocked and very afraid expression on her face, was a tiny girl.

She had a beautiful face, Treade realized, and long, thick dark hair. She had large eyes and her pink lips were still not touching.

He looked up to see her eyes finally catch his.

The girl swallowed and a smile tugged on Treade's lips.

He didn't want her to be scared of him.

Treade's smile faded almost immediately when he remembered why they'd walked in.

Was this innocent looking girl the female Damien had been talking about?

--

"Hey, you!"

Lana tore her eyes away from the piercing stare of the tall, tan redhead who'd burst into the kitchen with the other two men.

"Y-Yes?"

She was being addressed by a shorter man with a big smile and an excited look on his face, "Who are you?"

The man waved his hand at her, "You're sure you're friend hasn't told you?"

Lana blinked.

What was he talking about?

"M-My friend?"

"Yeah, your friend," The man talking to her blushed as he giggled, "You know… that pretty blond you were with last week… she gave me some grape juice when I visited, famished from all my dangerous training."

"I-" Lana tried very hard to remember but couldn't. The man was clearly talking about Briar, but she hadn't seen this strange man before and didn't want to get her blond friend into any trouble.

"I am so sorry… I am afraid I don't recall."

There was a loud snort from the redhead, and she turned her face to catch him again.

He was a handsome man but the whole sight of him was mesmerizing in a different way. Lana blinked. He was taller than the other two and had dark skin. His hair was a vibrant, scary dark red that lay unrulily swept back. He had a scar over his eyebrow and looked quite intense, she realized. Something about his gaze and the way he glanced at you with so much intensity in his eyes, could give a person goosebumps, Lana was sure.

"My apologies."

Lana forced her gaze to the owner of the pleasant voice and froze.

What was such a stunningly handsome man doing in front of her. The blond who had taken to speaking was beautiful. He was smiling and had the sharpest canines she had ever seen of people's teeth. His eyes were a stormy grey and could lure you in. His skin was rather pale and flawless, adding to his overall perfect appearance.

"Our friend was asking to see a maiden he seems to have met here at the kitchen a week ago."

Lana nodded quickly, hating that she was having difficulty speaking to the man.

"We were wondering," the man smiled, "If you could find her for us and tell her Damien has come to meet her."

Lana paused for a moment, thinking.

She examined Damien.

He seemed rather naïve. There was an eagerness in his face that she did not quite trust but he seemed sincere to Lana overall.

"I- I'll see if I can find her," Lana managed, "But I cannot be sure."

The beautiful blond man nodded.

Lana took two steps forward before hesitating.

The three men stood in her way.

The strong tan one with the red hair had his arms crossed and was leaning against the doorframe, successfully hiding most of the door from her. 

The blond man stood in front of him, his large shoulders also hiding most of the door with a dreamy Damien standing in front of both of them, clearly not realizing that he was completely blocking her way.

"She has to leave through this door," The red-haired man said, his tone gruff before he stepped away from the door.

"Oh, right!"

The blond man smiled at her pleasantly as he walked past, making his way to the bench to take a seat.

The man who'd come to see Briar gave Lana a pleasant nod as he followed his friend.

Lana hesitated as she walked past them to the door, where the tall, muscular redhead stood, his presence quite large for her to ignore.

Getting to the door where she could see he stood quite close to her to her right, Lana reached for the door and opened it before slowly looking up to watch the man's face.

Much taller than her, she could see his strong jaw and intense eyes staring down at her, a small speck of warmth in their orbs.

Lana blinked and looked away quickly before she exited the kitchen, shutting the door behind her.

Taking a deep breath, she set off to the stables, her feet walking as fast as they could.

She knew her cheeks were flustered.

Two of the most attractive men she had ever seen in her entire life had so unexpectedly entered her life.

Lana swallowed.

Her mind was daydreaming about what it would be like if one of the two men were the spy. Maybe they'd come to find her, pretending to accompany their friend.

Lana shook her head.

The spy could easily be the straw-haired man who'd come searching for Briar.

Or it could be neither of these knights and possibly someone else.

These men could be her enemies, Lana reminded herself.

And so could Briar.

Lana put away the swirling emotions as she marched over to the tiny room most of the stable hands spent their time in.