The next morning, Julien woke early, eager to get to the practice field.

"Morning," Lacey said, rolling over in his bed, where she belonged. "Give me a minute and I'll get ready—"

"Absolutely not," Julien growled. "You stay in bed and let your leg heal."

A disappointed look colored her face, her pout looking so cute. "But what about my young warriors?"

Julien smirked. It wasn't lost on him that she had referred to them as her young warriors. Julien slid into his ...