Page 11

Chapter Eleven

Elrith danced in a circle, his tail swishing in his excitement. “I won! I won! I get your bread roll.”

Kayden panted in an overexaggerated manner at the doorway to the castle. “Yes, you won. You’re very fast.”

“Have to be,” Elrith said. “The faster the safer.”

He wasn’t wrong, but it made me angry to hear him say it, to know that he endured so much alone. My hair once again started glowing, casting rainbows around us.

Mason slid his hand into mine and squeezed. “Deep breath, babe.”

Closing my eyes, one deep breath turned into two before I finally felt the anger disappear.

“Little goddess,” Jol called as he exited the castle doors, a smile on his face.

Mason released my hand so I could step forward and hug Jol. “Hello, Jol. How are you today?”

He patted my back, set his hands on my shoulders, and smiled down at me. “I’m much better now that you’re here.”

“No,” Mason said and pulled me back against him with an arm around my waist. “No more men for you.”

Jol and I shared a smile before he looked over at Elrith who was slightly hiding behind Kayden. “And who is this?”

“Elrith, come here, please,” I called gently and held out my hand.

He hesitated a moment before Kayden stepped forward, giving him a way to stay hidden and make his way to me. Once he took my hand, his nerves settled a bit and he straightened to look at Jol.

“King Jolmach, this is Elrith. Elrith, this is King Jolmach. We are friends, so you don’t need to fear him,” I explained.

Jol squatted down and smiled at Elrith. “Hello, imp. Your horns are thick for your size. How old are you?”

“I’m five, King,” he answered, meeting Jol’s eyes, a bit of pride shining in his eyes at the compliment from Jol about his horns.

“Well, when I heard a guest was coming with our goddess, I had them make an extra special breakfast including things from the other world. Would you like to join us?”

Elrith nodded enthusiastically. “I’ve not eaten for two days as I missed the meals at the city.”

Jol scowled. “You missed them?”

Elrith nodded again. “I was trying to hunt in the woods and when I didn’t find anything, I went to the city, but they were already closed.”

“Ah, I see. Let’s not delay then, and head in so we can eat. I don’t want my people going hungry,” Jol said and stood.

I squeezed Elrith’s hand and smiled down at him as we followed behind Jol. He returned my smile and I knew my heart was already his. This little boy was never going to go hungry again.

“Did your discussions with Silverowl go well?” I asked Jol as we followed him down the hallway, and out to the garden where a large table was set up and filled with food.

“Yes, though we still have more to work out. There are meetings tonight with your kings and queens. Will you be in attendance?” He pulled out a chair for me and I sat in it with a smile of thanks.

“I wasn’t informed about it, so they must not think I need to be there,” I answered.

“I would like you to attend, if you have the time,” he said as he pushed in my chair and then pulled out the chair beside me for Elrith who hopped up into it, mouth open and practically drooling at the sight of all of the food on the table.

“We do not have plans tonight,” Trey said before I could even ask. “You are available to attend if you wish.”

I nodded. “Then we will attend.”

Jol sat and smiled. “Wonderful. That makes me feel better. Please, eat.”

Elrith sat perfectly still and I could tell he was uncertain what he was allowed to do.

Mason sat on his other side, so he picked up Elrith’s plate and asked, “Are there any foods you see that you don’t want to eat?”

Elrith frowned and shook his head. “I eat all edidble.”

“Edible,” I whispered to correct him.

“Edible,” he corrected.

Mason piled Elrith’s plate high with food and set it before him. “If you finish this and want more, you just let me know, okay?”

Elrith’s eyes welled a moment and he nodded. “Okay.”

Kayden grabbed a bread roll and set it on Elrith’s plate, giving him two now. “For winning our race.”

Elrith smiled and popped the entire roll into his mouth, chewing with unadulterated delight.

Jol took my plate before any of my mates could and filled it up, then set it in front of me. “How are you feeling now that it’s been a bit since the battle?”

“Still a little drained,” I admitted, which caused all three of my mates’ heads to whip in my direction. “Losing that piece has definitely caused a change in me that I think I’m just not used to yet.”

“Have you been able to summon your serpent?” he asked.

“She was a snake this morning,” Elrith commented.

“He meant my shadow snake,” I explained to Elrith, whose eyes widened.

“You have a shadow, too?”

Jol paused with his fork midway to his mouth and raised his eyes to look at Elrith.

“I think our shadows are slightly different,” I explained. “Can yours form into a shape?”

Elrith frowned. “Not a creature shape, but it can be a ball. To protect.”

“Interesting,” I said and smiled warmly at him. “We’ll have to do some training later.”

Elrith gasped and gripped my forearm. “Really? You’ll train me?”

“Yes,” I said and nodded.

He jumped up in his seat and did a little dance. “Yay!”

Kayden and Mason snickered into their hands and turned their heads so he wouldn’t see their laughter.

“Sit and eat,” I ordered, though not sternly. “You need to fill your belly so you can stay strong.”

“Yes, Princess,” he said, plopped down, and began shoveling bites of food into his mouth.

We ate the rest of the meal in silence and once Jol and I were done, we walked to the far corner of the garden.

“I’d like your approval to help create an orphanage here,” I told him. “For those like Elrith.”

“You may build whatever you see fit. I will have Zoman assist you. Just tell him what you need and he will ensure it happens.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that. I want to do as much as I can for the children here. Creating an orphanage where they can sleep feeling safe is the least I can do.”

“Will you put Elrith in the orphanage?” he asked as he examined the leaf of a small plant at his feet.

“That will be up to Elrith, but my mates and I plan to offer to adopt him,” I answered.

He smiled as he raised his head and said, “I figured as much.”

“Do you have many demons with the ability to shift?” I asked. “Or use shadows?”

He straightened and frowned. “Shifting is not an ability of our kind. We are as we are. The shadows are a different story. In my lifetime, I have only known a handful who could use the shadows, and those were all very powerful demons, such as Third to Reign and you.”

Could Elrith be a hybrid? Was it possible that his parents weren’t full demon and that’s why he could shift?

“Is this regarding the boy?” he asked.

“I can’t say as I’ve made a promise, but I’ll do some investigating and update you when I can,” I answered.

He smiled warmly and said, “I understand and will not pressure you to answer. I hope you know that I do not discriminate, though, on what powers or not my people possess.”

I nodded. “I know, but it seems some are uncertain.”

“Are you truly okay?” he asked, his smile falling. “You seem … drawn.”

“When I used that power to become a goddess, to take down the Grand Advisor, it felt like a piece of me was burned away. Destroyed. It was more than an overuse of my powers. It was like I cut off a piece of myself and cauterized it. I knew when I used the power I would have to sacrifice a part of myself and I would do it again without hesitation. It’s just taking me a little longer than I anticipated to feel like myself again.”

He set his hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “If there is anything I can do, you let me know and I will do it immediately. This world, including me, owe you a debt we could never repay. Even if you asked for the throne, I would gladly hand it over.”

I set my hand atop his on my shoulder and smiled. “The prophecy said I would give you the throne, remember? Plus, you’ve done so much for our people and I know deep down that you are the rightful ruler.” It was like a bone deep knowledge. “Though, I do hope you continue taking my advice on matters.”

He squeezed my shoulder and said, “Always.”