Chapter Fourteen
How Not to Become a Demon Lord’s Dinner
I survived the night without getting my head bitten off. The bad news? As soon as I’d woken that morning, I tried to leave the room, only to find the door locked.
Prisoner Muffin once again.
No extra clothes to be found, unfortunately, which meant I’d have to prance around in the oversized cotton shirt a while longer. At least I still had my own underwear.
“Follow the lilies,” I mumbled from the cushioned window seat. The bowl of red apples from the table sat beside me, two of them already devoured. “Damn you, Lupin. That’s the last time I take advice from you.”
The lilies had led us to Onyx, though, who had helped Lake. The silver lining in it all. And if I had to be a prisoner somewhere, this room wasn’t so bad, I guess. The view beyond the window was actually… pretty.
Thoughts of the Shadow Realm had often brought to mind images of darkness, fire, and screeching dragons flying through the eternal night sky. A place where demons roamed, tearing apart each other and anything else they encountered.
But I saw none of that.
Instead, there were rolling hills bathed in golden light and a backdrop of blue sky.
A mountain range stretched to the left, and in the distance, several stacks of smoke rose up through the trees as though from chimneys.
Homes, maybe? Below me sat a courtyard filled with vibrant flowers, stone fountains, clusters of lush trees, and a small pond that glistened beneath the sun’s rays.
No demonic dragons or fire pits. No screams of terror or bloodthirsty monsters.
A knock came at the door.
Just as it opened, I whirled around and pulled the blanket higher up my thighs. Only my men were allowed to see the goods.
“Morning,” a baritone voice greeted me. Then, the owner of that voice stepped farther into the room. Purple hair, green eyes, and skin like sienna, a warm and earthy reddish-brown.
“You have horns,” I blurted out. They jutted from his purple hair, swooping back and gently curving under toward the ends. Shiny and black. “Cool.”
“I do.” He nodded to the tray in his hands. “Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, do you want your breakfast or not?”
“Oh, bless you. I’m starving.” My stomach rumbled in anticipation, but it’d be rude to dive in right away with no introductions. “I’m Evan. What’s your name?”
“Fane.” He set the tray on the table. A cloche covered the plate, but the smell of something yummy wafted from it.
“You’re the one who took off my clothes,” I said, placing the name from the night before when Onyx told me.
“And I took no pleasure in it.” He scowled. “I was simply doing what milord requested.”
“Right. Onyx is your lord. Because you’re a demon?”
Fane gave me a blank stare. “Did the horns give me away? Keen perception you have there.”
“Hey, no need to be snarky.” I crossed my arms. “I’ve never met a humanlike demon before.”
“Human?” he asked with a low growl. “I’m far from human.”
“I only meant that you…” I struggled with how to explain it. “Well, I mean, I’ve only ever met demons who looked like animals. Crows, lions, and wolves like Oreo. Those insect-looking ones too.”
Fane glared for a few more seconds before sharply nodding. “I believe I understand. Two legs and two arms, and I walk upright. My skin isn’t scaly or covered in fur or feathers. It’s smooth like yours.”
“Exactly.”
“We high-level demons appear this way, taking after our lord.”
“Does Onyx have horns too?” I hadn’t seen them last night, but I’d been a bit out of it at the time.
“Enough questions.” With another scowl, he turned his back to me. A thin black tail protruded from the top of his pants and hung down like Kuya’s did. It had a purple triangle at the tip.
“Wait a sec!” I hopped up from the window seat, keeping the blanket wrapped around me. “How long do I have to stay cooped up in here? When can I see Lake?”
He stopped walking and turned his head to look at me. His black horns, wispy purple hair, and strong jaw made for a striking profile. “The demi-wolf is resting and should not be disturbed.”
“But—”
“Eat your breakfast before it gets cold.” He stepped into the hall and closed the door behind him.
Though faint, I heard the click of the lock.
I sighed. Yep. Definitely a prisoner. But one who had food. The two apples hadn’t stayed with me long, and I was starving. Eager, I waddled over to the table with my blanket and peeked under the cloche.
Two sunny-up eggs, bread, and a potato and sausage hash with red bell peppers and onion. Grapes and strawberries on the side, along with a cup of milk and a small dish of warm honey.
But as hungry as I’d been seconds earlier, a knot formed in my stomach. Normally, I would’ve been at the cottage, having breakfast with my men right now. There’d be a table full of food, warmth, and laughter as we all sat together.
Instead, I sat alone in an unfamiliar place beside a dying hearth that needed to be stoked. The echoes of their laughs faded from my mind, as did the warm flutters when remembering all those special mornings shared with my men. Mornings I might not ever get again.
Bringing my legs up into the chair, I wrapped the blanket more around me and cried.
A commotion sounded in the hall—a loud bang and a crash.
“You need to rest!” a female voice exclaimed.
“Let me pass!” came a gruff response. “He needs me.”
I knew the voice all too well.
“Lake?” I jumped up from my chair and rushed toward the door, the blanket falling off me in my haste.
“Evan,” he rasped from the other side, followed by a soft thud against the door, as though he’d pressed his head to it. The handle jiggled, then did so again, but more aggressively. “Unlock it.”
He wasn’t talking to me.
“The door must remain locked,” a woman responded. “Lord Onyx told us—”
“I said unlock it!” Lake snarled. “Or I’ll break it down.”
My wolf wasn’t one to raise his voice like that or to be rude. He was gentle and soft-spoken. The exception came when it pertained to me.
“Do as he says,” came a different voice. Sounded like Fane.
A key jingled before sliding into the lock. After a soft click, the door swung open and Lake burst in. The scent of peaches and spring water engulfed me as he took me in his arms. I clung to him and cried hard, relieved he was safe.
“My beautiful human,” he murmured between kisses to my hair. “My mate.”
Tears flowed freely, and he petted the back of my head and let me cry, ever so patient and tender.
“How’s your back?” I asked shakily, drawing back to peer up at him. His features were blurry, and I rubbed at my watery eyes.
“Much better.” He gently cupped my face and moved his thumb across my wet cheek. “I owe you my gratitude. You carried me all the way here.”
“You don’t owe me anything. That’s what you do when you love someone. Take care of them. You did the same for me.” My throat squeezed, just like my heart. “You were hurt really bad and kept running despite the pain. All to save me.”
“And I’d do it again.” Lake took me more in his arms. The dusting of silver chest hair tickled my cheek as I snuggled closer. “I’ve got you. Always.”
“If you really cared for him, you’d make him eat,” came a deep voice from the doorway. “I worked hard on that breakfast only for it to go cold.”
I peeked around Lake to see a very annoyed Fane. “Hi again.”
“Hi, the little human says.” Fane heaved a sigh and brushed past us, tail flicking swiftly in his agitation. A bundle of clothes was draped over his arm. “You should be apologizing. I’ve more important matters to attend to, yet here I am, tending to an ungrateful brat like you.”
“Careful of your words, demon.” Lake’s fluffy wolf ears curved back.
“It’s okay.” I looped my arm through Lake’s and guided him away from the door. “I am a brat sometimes.”
“One thing we agree on.” Fane placed the clothes on the foot of the bed. “Your suit from last night. Freshly washed. I also brought an extra shirt and pair of trousers for comfort wear, as the suit seems too restrictive.”
“Thank you,” I said, touched by the thought he put into it. Especially considering his obvious dislike of me.
“You’re… welcome.” Fane quickly averted his eyes, clearly uncomfortable. He then looked at Lake. “You should be in bed. Your wounds aren’t yet healed.”
“I’m staying with Evan.”
The demon scrutinized him. With his purple hair and grass-green eyes, he reminded me of a field of lavender. “Very well. I’ll have you moved into this room for the duration of your stay.”
“Gratitude.” Lake nodded to him.
“I don’t say it to be kind.” Fane’s nostrils flared as he sharply exhaled and turned away. “I couldn’t care less whether it’s in his bed or the one down the hall, just as long as you rest. We worked hard closing those wounds of yours. Don’t make it be for naught.”
Fane stormed out of the room, closing the door on his way out. Unlike earlier, he didn’t lock it behind him.
“This is weird, right?” I plopped down on the bed. “Being in the Shadow Realm.”
“In the demon lord’s castle,” Lake added, sitting beside me. “Weird indeed. I keep wondering why he allowed us here.”
“Me too.” I curled against his side. “He could’ve turned us away instead of helping us. Why didn’t he?”
Lake’s palm slid across mine before he linked our fingers. “Perhaps he isn’t as cruel as the stories claim.”
“Maybe.” I chewed my bottom lip, thinking. “When I talked to him last night, he seemed… kind of nice, actually.”
“He spoke to you last night?” Lake asked.
I nodded. “He told me you were safe and resting. He also said the others are safe too. They found your father’s cottage and holed up there for the night.”
Lake shakily exhaled. “Thank the gods. I… I’ve been worried, not knowing what became of them after we left.”