Chapter 13
DAHLIA
Tauren’s carriage is much nicer than the one that took me from my sisters.
The walls are carved from a deep brown wood and the seats inside are lined with wine-coloured velvet.
There’s even a tray of chocolates on the table between the seats, which I make Tauren sample first before helping myself to the rest.
By the time Claren joins us, there’s only an empty tray left. Whoops.
“Claren,” Tauren acknowledges as his little brother steps inside.
He takes the seat beside Tauren, squishing himself against the wall of the carriage. I really don’t know how I missed that they were brothers before. Aside from the age difference and hair colours, they’re almost identical.
“Hello, Claren.” I smile warmly at him. Pumpkin barks from my lap.
“You have a dog?” His eyes light up. “You didn’t tell me you had a dog.”
“I didn’t until tonight.” I pass her into his lap so he can say hello. “Your brother surprised me with her when I woke up. Isn’t she lovely?”
“She is,” he chuckles as Pumpkin tries her best to lick his face off. “Where did you find her?” He turns to Tauren, who seems far more interested in watching the trees through the window.
“A friend,” he says dismissively.
Claren laughs quietly. “Didn’t know you had any of those.”
Tauren shoots him a look that makes him shrink into his seat.
I glare at him. After breakfast, Tauren insisted on spending the rest of the morning with me (or moonrise, as they call it here).
He followed me while I took Pumpkin for a walk around the castle, then made sure I joined him for lunch at midmoon.
While we ate, he told me about his court and how their main trade is spy work.
Apparently, rulers across the realm will pay handsomely for demons to spy on their enemies or train their own spies.
I was only half-listening to everything he was telling me, and I think Tauren could tell. It’s hard to enjoy a conversation with someone who whipped you last night. Big surprise there. Even if they try to bribe you the following moonrise with a puppy and several trays of chocolates.
But for some reason, now Claren is here, I’m feeling far more confident.
Confident enough to bully Tauren the same way he bullies his sweet little brother.
“So, Claren…” I grin. He lifts his gaze to me. “After our chat yesterday, I was thinking… you’re probably the smartest person I know.”
“Really?” Claren brightens.
Tauren gives me a look, but I ignore him, relaxing into my seat as the carriage lurches into motion. “Of course you are. So I wanted to ask you, what makes a demon a demon? How are you different from, say… a faerie? I’d love it if you could teach me.”
“Oh…” His cheeks turn pink. “Well I suppose we’re not so different, really.
But if faeries are the magical beings of the day, then we’re the creatures of the night.
Faeries draw their power from life; they need flowers and plants surrounding them to stay strong.
While demons draw their power from death.
It’s why the land surrounding our castle is so dark and lifeless. We need death to keep us alive.”
“Huh, that’s so interesting.” It actually is. No lie there. “I wish I was as clever as you. Don’t you, Tauren? Wish you were clever?”
He passes me a warning look. “What are you implying?”
“I am simply making conversation.” I smile lazily at him, turning back to his brother. “Won’t you tell me more about your magic, Claren? It’s fascinating. I was so impressed when you used it to help me yesterday. You’re so talented.”
Tauren scoffs. “He is not—”
“I was talking to Claren.” My tone is so sharp that he flinches.
“Please do continue.” I smile at the boy. His eyes dart between Tauren and I, but they’re filled with too much pride to let him stop now.
Tauren better have a good reason for being so cold to his brother. He’s an absolute sweetheart.
“Most demons don’t have magic like we do,” he explains eagerly. “Most can just about manage to disguise themselves as humans or shift into shadow form – which is like turning invisible.”
“We become one with the night,” Tauren cuts in, keeping his gaze on the window.
“Yes.” Claren nods. “Like I said, we’re creatures of the night.”
“What about eating souls?” I ask. “I’ve read books where demons do that to unsuspecting maidens.” The demons are always eight feet tall and packed with muscle.
I read a lot of romance...
Claren chuckles. “That’s very old-fashioned, and not to mention if we made a habit of it, I’m sure the human kingdoms wouldn’t be very pleased. We do a lot of trade with humans. Most crops won’t grow on our withered soil, nor will our grass feed cattle. We need to feed our people.”
“But you can… eat souls?” Fear edges into my voice.
“Are you offering yours?” Tauren glances at me, a wicked glint in his eyes. “I bet it’d taste delicious.”
Before I can launch the empty chocolate tray at his head, Claren continues. “We can’t just eat a human’s soul,” he explains. “There has to be a bargain made first – their soul for something they wish for. With a strong soul, even the weakest demon can make almost anything come true.”
“Anything?” I press.
“Well, they can’t raise the dead.” He shrugs. “But enough riches to buy the realm, healing a loved one, or making someone fall head over heels in love with you were apparently quite popular choices.”
“Wow.” I pause, wondering if I’ve ever met anyone who’s made a deal with a demon. “How can you tell if someone has had their soul eaten? Would you know?”
Tauren’s gaze turns colder than winter. “They become wicked. Heartless. Any love they may have felt for their loved ones fades away, and they become selfish, greedy people. That’s why I’ve banned soul bargains from my court.
It’s an ancient, barbaric practice. Any demon with even the slightest whiff of a human soul on them will spend the rest of their miserable lives in the dungeon or in exile.
” His voice softens. “So you do not need to be afraid while you are here, Dahlia.”
Something warms inside me. Ignoring it, I grin at him teasingly. “Oh, I wasn’t afraid. I’ve got Claren here to protect me. He’s the most powerful demon I know.” I blow a kiss at the boy, who blushes, while his brother looks downright murderous.
“Tell me more about your magic, Claren” I coo. “I want to know everything about you.”
The carriage pulls to a stop about an hour later, and all three of us file out, Pumpkin yapping excitedly at our heels. Ignoring Tauren’s outstretched palm, I slip my arm around Claren’s while passing him my sweetest smile.
On the journey here I got to learn so much more about him, much to Tauren’s displeasure.
Claren is twenty-four years old, since demons age normally until they’re around twelve, then age half as fast as humans do. While his brother, who looks around thirty, is really almost fifty!
Which makes Tauren far too old for me, and I made sure he knew it.
“Fifty-year-old men have no business marrying twenty-three-year-old princesses,” I’d told him with a smirk in the carriage.
“It’s a good thing I’m not a man then, I’m a demon,” he’d grumbled back, but I was too busy pretending to fawn over Claren to spare him a glance.
If I ever manage to escape, I’ll be setting Claren up with one of my sisters. Heather or Iris would love him. Human age aside, he’s about seventeen in demon years and much sweeter than any prince Father would force upon the girls back home.
Speaking of home… “Are we on a tight schedule?” I toss the question at Tauren while he converses with the carriage driver.
We’re in a thick moonlit forest, but I can hear the distant hustle and bustle of a crowd, so we must be near the markets.
“I’d love for Claren to show me around if we have the time? ”
An escape plan formed in my mind on the journey here. A weak one. But it might work if I can distract Tauren and convince Claren to remove my collar.
“We’re not,” Tauren says gruffly. “But Claren will not be showing you around. I will.” He leaves the driver and drags me away from his brother before I can protest. “Claren, watch the pup,” he orders.
Claren scoops up Pumpkin without a moment's hesitation.
“And you.” His lips brush my ear. There’s a danger in his tone that makes my heart flutter.
“You will behave yourself tonight. If you are to be my wife, then you must at least try to appear to my people that you respect me. Because if you do not, then I will happily play the role of the wicked captor that you seem to so desperately want me to play.” I feel the collar around my neck tightening, forcing me closer to him.
“The only reason that you are still standing and not crawling naked by my boots is because I will it. You, my darling, will not leave my side. Understood?”
The butterflies in my stomach turn to ash, along with any hope I had of my plan working.
“Understood.” I glare at him, until a new plan sparks in my mind, burning like fire.
If he wants respect. I’ll give it to him, and far more.
But I bet he won’t like it…
“I mean, of course, my lord.” I curtsy, smiling meekly. “Your wish is my command.”
His dark eyes narrow, but he doesn’t challenge me. Instead, he marches down a tree-lined path, pulling me along with him.
I give you one hour until you’re sick of me, demon.