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Kha’zeth catches me around the waist, pulling me toward him. “We’ll be going then.”
He ushers me up the stairs, and I glare at him. “I want to know where they are.”
“And he is not going to tell us,” he hisses. “All you’re doing is proving how much this matters to you, which will give them ammunition against you. You have to stay calm in front of demons like that.”
I sigh, and with that, all the energy feels zapped out of me. For all my trying, I couldn’t help them, and it stings something fierce.
“Will I be able to see my friends again?” I ask softly when we are nearly back to the manor.
Kha’zeth’s eyebrows are knitted together, and he’s not looking at me. I’m not even sure he heard me, and I let the silence lapse over us. Just as I’m putting the thought out of my mind, he replies, “I’ll speak to someone that might be able to help.”
And despite my mind trying to warn it, my heart blooms with hope.
83
KHA’ZETH
Natalie looks deflated as she climbs the steps, and it makes my heart ache. I try to swallow the feeling, keeping my face neutral until she is out of sight.
Seeing those cells and how tense Natalie was around the trolvor guards struck me hard. It reminded me of just how thin and grimy she was when she came to me. Not that she has gained much weight in a week, but she has more color to her cheeks and she doesn’t look so frail that an errant gust of wind might push her over.
It’s hard not to want to help when I’ve become so fond of her, and if she’s this passionate about wanting to feed the other women, then I’m going to find a way to make that happen.
There’s only one demon that I know of that might have enough leverage to help.
I turn on my heel, going out of the manor again, and this time, I go in the opposite direction. I already live a good distance from the city’s center, but this demon values his privacy more than most, and he should. With his new little family, a secret rising with the news of his human mate circulating, I don’t blame him for trying to get far away from his father’s reach.
I arrive in a matter of minutes, and for that, I am glad. I don’t think I would have been able to stand waiting any longer. Natalie’s face keeps flashing behind my eyes, and I can’t take the broken expression on her face when I pulled her away from the cells.
I have to fix this.
The door swings open after one quick rap, and I grin at the Prince. “Prince Rej’thorek.” I bow slightly. “I apologize for coming to your home unannounced.”
Rej’thorek waves me in, dismissing my apology with a shake of his noble head. “We were just going to retire to the gardens. Join us.”
I follow after him. I’ve been to the Prince’s house a few times before, and it has always felt- empty. He has servants, yes, but it has otherwise been spotless and quiet. Rej’thorek, himself, isn’t known for his hospitality or easy going nature, so when I see how relaxed he looks and how easily he welcomes me in, I’m confused.
The feeling only grows as we slip out into his private gardens. There’s a human woman sitting on the ground, and in front of her, to my surprise, is a young demon who looks identical to Rej’thorek. It seems the rumor of the Prince saving his younger brother from the King’s wrath is true.
Beside the woman is a demon I recognize as a friend of the Prince’s. I don’t recall his name, but he sits at ease between the woman and the forgotten little demon.
When the woman tips her head back, a huge smile on her face, it dims slightly as her eyes move from the Prince to me.
“Laura,” Rej’thorek says with more reverence than I knew he could muster. “This is Kha’zeth. Kha’zeth, this is my mate, Laura.”
I incline my head to her. “It is lovely to meet you.”
“You as well.” She stands, her eyes assessing me, but I wrench my gaze from her as the Prince starts to speak again. I am so curious about his mate, but I will keep all my questions to myself – for now.
“I believe you know Thonir,” Rej’thorek continues, and I nod. He gives me a slight inclination of his head, acknowledging my higher status, and I give him a flick of my own head. “And this is Akos.”
The Prince gives no further information about the little ex-prince, and I do not press. I only bend down, smiling at him the same way I would my nieces and tell him, “Hi, Akos. I am Kha’zeth.”
He stares up at me fearlessly. His gaze darts to Rej’thorek for a second, and I see him give the boy a nod before Akos steps forward. “It is nice to meet you, sir.”
I have to hold back my chuckle. He is an adorable one, and it fills me with a strange longing. As much as I love my three girls, I do wish to know what it would be to raise a boy as my own.
“Akos,” Laura says, and the demon spins toward her, rushing to her side. “Let’s go into the gardens, okay? I think your brother might need some time alone.”
