Chapter 30
Ciaran went back inside when he saw the group heading toward Arik’s place. As soon as he entered the yard, he heard some noise at the back of the house. He rushed around the corner to find Madeline and Arik lying in the soil of the garden bed. He had known they would come back and Madeline would be fine but was still deliriously happy to see his prediction confirmed. He hurried over and saw Madeline’s big brown eyes looking up at him from the ground.
He crouched, cupped her face, and rubbed his thumb on the dimple in her left cheek. “Which part of ‘do not touch him’ didn’t you understand, First Councillor?”
“How can I resist a man that hot?”
He smiled, pulling her up, and kissed her. “I meant Arik,” he said when their lips finally parted.
“I know.” He kissed her again, stop
