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“Tell me about it,” I chuckle. “You would think they would just fight it out.”
She laughs. “Instead of hurling fireballs, it’s hurling insults about each other’s families.”
I bend over slightly, laughing hard. I can’t help but look at her as she cracks a smile. I notice her eyes light up as she laughs with me, our chuckles only making the joke more hilarious.
My core begins to hurt, and my eyes water from the excitement. She crouches on the ground, covering her mouth and trying to stifle her laughter.
We stand, and I try to regain my composure, wiping the tears from my eyes. I take her by the arm and lead her toward Krett tower.
“That was a good one; I’ll give you that,” I admit, coming down from the laughter.
“See?” she exclaims. “I’m good for something.”
I look at her and see her face blush. Her high cheekbones stand out against her soft pink lips perfectly. Her dark brown eyes have gold highlights as if I am looking into another world.
She’s intelligent, too, and curious about politics. I’m intrigued by thinking of a human woman’s position in the demonic court, especially with her power. Indeed within days, she’ll have suitors approaching her from all corners once they discover she is the heir.
They wouldn’t appreciate her intelligence, though. They would be after her material possessions, status, and money. Such a bright mind and fierce attitude can’t go to waste like that.
She can be a valuable asset to the court. Her ego wouldn’t get in the way of battle strategies and politics like most of the counts’ do. She is a fresh perspective, one of both passion and logic.
I feel a pull in my chest toward her, almost like a duty to protect. I’ve only felt this way once before, when I was initiated into the court and was finally held responsible for more than just myself, and a sense of purpose flowed through me. I wonder if she is right, if this actually is my next responsibility, to protect her.
We reach Krett and enter through the small door on the side. I checked in with the guards and asked for her room assignment, and they gave me the key, and we walked along the deserted hallways to the back room.
I opened the door and introduced her to her new quarters. She marveled at the blue and gold drapes over the canopy bed, the fireplace, the couch in the corner, and the bookshelf holding various tomes and spell books. A bar sits beside the bookshelf, holding different liquors and aged wines. The room screams luxury when its meaning is really something much darker.
Krett was created as a last resort destination. While demons have hatred in their hearts and wicked plans up their sleeves, they decided each person sentenced as a prisoner or to death deserved a little luxury, mainly to stop them from acting out and creating more problems for the guards or us.
She ran and flopped on the bed, spreading her arms out over the large comforter. I smile slightly and close the door behind us. The guards will not blink an eye at me being here. They probably think I have orders to stay with her at all times. While that’s not entirely true, the king did say I was her bodyguard. Being on duty at all times seems appropriate.
She sprang from the bed and walked to the fireplace. Then she turned to me. “Can we light this?” she asked excitedly.
“Sure,” I agree, walking over to the fireplace, placing paper shreds on the wooden logs, and mustering a fireball to shoot into the pit.
She cowered back before laughing and sitting in front of the warmth. She smiled for a second before her face fell.
“Systorak,” she says softly. “I’m not safe here, am I?”
My heart sinks, and I gulp. “Well,” I begin, debating on how truthful I should be with her. “Honestly, no, but,” I sit beside her by the fire, “I’ll do my best to see that you remain untouched.”
I think to the count at court. He had a devious look in his eyes, and I know something is brewing beneath the surface when it comes to Lana. I have to figure out his plan to keep her safe, or even just alive.
“Just because they all covet that coin,” I point to her hand, “doesn’t mean we have to make it easy for them.”
She rested her head on her hand and grinned. “Well,” she stood and walked to the bar by the bookshelf, grabbing a bottle of wine and two glasses. “Let’s make the best of it.”
She found a stocked wet bar and handed me a glass, making me freeze. I shouldn’t be here, thinking these thoughts. I should be in court right now, helping them scheme on getting this coin to enhance our status as a kingdom.
She poured my glass first, dark red liquid filling it halfway. I smell the musky notes of a rich mead and feel my shoulders relax. It’s been a long time since I’ve sat still and had a drink.
“To …” she paused, pouring her wine and thinking of her words … she finished and raised her glass to mine, “not making it easy for them.”
I chuckle and try to clink my glass with hers. She pulled back and smiled. “No,” she said, holding her arm out. “Let’s be fancy.”
I stare at her, confused. What does she want me to do here?
“Come on!” she insists. “Lock your arm with mine.”
