Page 22 of Their World (Her Royal Harem: Lily #2)
Tony threw down his cards and growled. “You’re cheating! Somehow!”
I drew the pile of money from the center towards me and said, “You are all just terrible players.”
Bran Bran and Triston pushed out of their chairs, now broke.
“You have a tell, I just can’t figure out what it is,” Riddick said softly as he stared at me.
I smiled at my fathers and said, “Only one person has figured out my tell and since he’s my mate, he won’t tell you.”
Trey laughed softly from where he sat on the couch reading some emails. “That was a threat if I’ve ever heard one to ensure I stay quiet.”
In a sugary sweet voice I said, “I would never threaten you, my love.”
Riddick put the cards away and asked, “Have you heard anything from Jol?”
I took a drink of my vodka soda before responding, “No.” I hadn’t tried to contact him either, terrified of what I might find.
From the vision Nessa had and the drawings from Molly, it seemed like we were bound to fight no matter what I wanted.
I couldn’t believe a week had passed so quickly and as the day grew closer, the harder it was for me to get good sleep at night.
“I looked back through those drawings, trying to find anything that might be helpful for the battle tomorrow, but nothing really stood out or seemed connected in any way,” Riddick said.
“From them we know there will be three large portals and we’ve split our fighters up into six groups, one for each portal on each side,” Bran Bran said.
Triston grabbed a beer from the fridge and sat down across the table from me again. “We’ve also confirmed, after much back and forth arguing with your great grandfathers and grandmothers, that you will be allowed to approach the portal with Mason in raven form on your shoulder, but otherwise alone. We will let you speak to the Grand Advisor, remove one of the curses, and not move until you give the signal.”
“Once you give the signal, Nico will create a portal under your parents, and move them to the rear where Leona and the three of us will be, to verify it is actually your parents and not a ploy by the Grand Advisor,” Riddick continued.
“I know the plan,” I said a bit harshly. “I’ve been going over it constantly. Don’t worry. I’ll handle my part.”
“If something feels off, get out of there immediately,” Bran Bran said. “We don’t want you endangering yourself any more than necessary.”
I wasn’t going to flee. No matter what, I was going to get my parents back and take down the Grand Advisor. They might be mad about it the next day, but I wasn’t going to fail my people, either world of my people.
After a few hours of arguing, I had convinced my mates to lend me Mason’s sword that stayed invisible on the wearer until it was drawn. I planned to keep it on my hip until I removed the curse from the Grand Advisor, then I would cut his head off.
Hopefully, once he was dead, everyone from the demon world would no longer be under his sway. Otherwise, I would have to try to convince them all that I had killed their beloved Grand Advisor for a good reason and not because I was an enemy.
“How are you three doing?” I asked my fathers. Without their mate and king, they were likely in pain and experiencing withdrawals.
“We’re surviving,” Bran Bran grumbled.
“Once we get them both back, everything will be fine,” Riddick said with conviction. “It’s the only thing we can really think about, other than trying to ensure you don’t pull something crazy and put yourself at risk again.”
“I didn’t put myself at risk last time. The Grand Advisor teleported me against my will,” I reminded him.
“I wasn’t referring to that battle, but all the other times in your life that you’ve done something crazy,” he countered.
Oh, right.
“She’s going to have me at her back this time,” Piper said. “I won’t let anything happen to our beautiful princess.”
“You better behave,” Tony threatened. “You’re the only sister I have, and I’ll be damned if you die before me.”
I patted his hand on the table and smiled. “I don’t have any desire to die anytime soon. Plus, I’m very invested in finding out who you end up mated to. So, don’t worry, baby brother.”
His cheeks reddened and he pulled his hand back. “Just be sure to call for help if you need it.”
We played a few more games, laughing and teasing each other, and it almost felt like old times. If only Ember and Caleb were with us to join in the laughter and fun instead of stuck in the demon world.
A tingling sensation spread from the center of my chest outwards, making me press a hand against my breastbone. What was that?
“Lily?” Mason asked as he and Kayden came over to me. Trey stood and faced me, a scowl on his face.
Everyone’s phones started dinging with text message notifications at the same time.
Dread filled me as I pulled mine out with a shaking hand.
Grandpa Nico: The portals have appeared in the park.
“A day early?” Triston asked. “Why?”
“To try to catch us unprepared,” Trey said calmly. “Everyone, get changed. It’s time.”
Rushing to my room, I changed into my fighting clothes and grabbed the few mana stones I’d prepared as well as secured the sword to my back. I also put on the necklace and felt a surge of power course through me. Hopefully, it would help like it was intended to.
We had to take two SUVs, but once we arrived at the park, I made sure to take my time hugging each of my fathers and my brother.
“Keep yourselves safe,” I ordered them.
“Ditto,” Bran Bran said to me and gave me another, tight squeeze.
Piper stretched her arms and legs and bounced on her toes to warm up.
Mason gave me a soul searing kiss before shifting into his raven form and landing on my shoulder.
The three portals before us were huge, which made me concerned that there would be more of the large werewolf demons or other large demons we hadn’t encountered yet.
I waved to my family stationed around the portals, and turned when I felt Great Grandpa Dan approaching.
He pulled me into a tight hug, forcing Mason to fly around us for a bit. “Don’t do anything rash, you hear me? You’re my only great granddaughter and I don’t want to face any more days without you. Let the older generations take the risks.”
I pushed back and scowled at him. “You think I’m going to let you do something crazy just because you’re old? Great Grandpa, I don’t think so.”
“How about everyone acts calmly and rationally and nobody tries to sacrifice themselves?” Grandpa Deryn said as he came over to hug me and patted his father on the back. “You ready, pup?”
I nodded. “I’m ready for my parents to come home.”
He squeezed my shoulder and said, “We’ve got your back. Just call out anything you see or feel. We trust you.”
“Don’t forget to tell them not to hurt my hellhound, Dhun, and don’t attack the demons first.”
They both nodded and hugged me again before moving back to their places.
Mason landed on my shoulder and cawed, “Worried.”
“Yes, they’re worried about me,” I agreed.
He rubbed his head against my cheek, keeping his beak away. “Love.”
I stroked a hand down his feathered back and said, “I love you, too.”
Facing the portals, I took a deep breath, and headed towards the center of the three, standing about one hundred feet in front of the first group of fighters. More and more arrived, taking their places and preparing for our defense.
“Center, bottom!” Nana Jolie shouted.
All eyes turned towards the center portal.
The Grand Advisor, wearing armor on his upper chest and legs, stepped out of the portal. He smiled happily when he saw me standing on the grass before him. No doubt, he saw me as vulnerable without any armor on my body and no weapon in my hand or visible at my side. I hoped he would continue to view me as vulnerable and weak as we approached the first steps of our defense plan. If he continued to underestimate me, I could use that to my benefit and hopefully, decapitate him.
Jol in full armor including helmet came out next, his spiked mace in hand. My parents bound in the chains that prevent you from moving were carried out by two bull-headed demons who quickly set them on their knees on either side of Jol, right behind the Grand Advisor.
Great Aunt Leona blew out a breath, sending calmness to us all.
Taking another deep breath, I centered myself, drew on the calmness of Trey and Great Aunt Leona, and did my best to keep my emotions off of my face.
It was time.