Page 5 of Deranged Demons

Shit.

“You’re the rightful heir to the throne,” Dad presses on as my mind begins to unravel, “but there are many who would try to usurp you. I’ve fought too hard for civility in Seral, and I refuse to die knowing it would crumble the moment Lady Fate takes me.”

Lady Fate?From what Dad’s saying, this doesn’t sound like fate to me. This sounds like injustice. Anger rushes through me as his words sink in.

Dad’s gaze softens as he stares at me. “And of course, like any dutiful father, I need to know you’ll be taken care of when I’m not around.”

His words cut through my anger, and my eyes begin to water, but I hold on to my emotions, keepingmy expression unreadable.Never show weakness.It’s the number one rule he’s taught me since I was a child.

“You don’t need to worry,” I say, speaking past the hard lump in my throat.

He smiles, but his eyes shine with sympathy. It’s a look I haven’t seen on his face for years, not since I finally managed to get the demons to respect me, and I straighten my back.

“You’ve made a fine reputation for yourself as you’ve grown, daughter,” he goes on, “but you’re not…”

I wait for him to say any number of words that would fit at the end of his sentence.I’m not what? A full-blooded demon? Cut out to be a demon royal?These are all things demons have muttered behind my back since I was little. Well, they did until I showed them I was capable of making them scream and beg for mercy. Instead of uttering any of these things, he goes on to finish, “you’re not powerful enough, yet.”

I sit further back in my seat.Yet?“I’m stronger than any demon in Seral besides you.” I retort. “If the clan leaders want to come for me and stop me from being queen, then let them.” I’ve fought my whole life to prove I deserve the royal title that I was born with despite my angel blood, and to hear that I’m still not enough makes my heart harden that little bit more.

“I thought you don’t want to be queen?”Shade asks, and I know she’s trying to lighten my mood.

I don’t answer her because she’s right. Idon’twantto be queen. But hearing that Dad still doesn’t think I’m worthy to rule makes my jaw clench.

King Dalton raises a black brow. “While I am sure you would give them a fight, even you cannot expect to defeat all the clan leaders in your current state.”

Wait. What?“And what current state would that be?”

He sighs wearily, and I wonder if he’s tired because of the disease or because of me. “You’re bondless, daughter,” he clarifies.

“I’m…” When I realize what he’s said, I laugh. “I can rule without being bonded. You’re telling me that you’re dying, and you want to discuss my love life?”

He rubs his thumb up and down the side of his glass. “While I’d like nothing more than to see you happy,” he replies, “you know it’s more than that. Without your bonds, you’ll never achieve your full power.”

“I’m already powerful,” I say. “Just ask the demons I’ve trained with, or the ones who cower when they see me approaching.”

“I’m not talking about being feared.”

I don’t hide my frustration. “Not all royals need to be bonded before their coronation. You weren’t.”

“I don’t have half-angel blood,” he counters, and though I try not to let it, the words still sting. I must fail at disguising my hurt because his expression softens again.

“I’m not trying to wound you, daughter. I love your mother more than life itself, and I remember what itwas like before being bonded. How invincible I felt, but you will see. There is no greater strength than a demon with their bonded.”

I know I shouldn’t say it, but the words tumble out of my mouth anyway. “How can you say that after she left?”

I’m sure I’ve overstepped, but Dad’s lips only twist into a smile. “I can say it, because when I bonded with your mother, I became the most powerful demon in Seral, and the time we spent together made the rest of my life seem dull in comparison. Most say that I’m the reason we won the war with the witches, but if I hadn’t bonded with your mother, I’d be half the demon I am today.” He pauses before he adds, “And I can say it, because she gave me you.”

At his last comment, emotion threatens to overwhelm me again.Dammit, Blake.The king never says things like this. Sure, I’ve always known he cares in his own strange way, but he never outrightsaysthat he cares. The idea that he’ll be gone soon presses down on me, making my chest ache.

I’m torn between arguing more about my bonds and saying something emotional when he rifles through the stack of papers sitting on one side of the table and pulls out a shiny red scroll.

His gaze locks onto me as he hands it over. “And it’s because of you that I sent out these.”

Confused,I take the parchment from him as a sickening feeling begins to stir in my gut. Usually when Dad says he’s done something for me, I end upbeing put through some kind of test that he believes will build my strength or help shape my character. Like the fighting tournament where I’d had to compete against a few of the most skilled demons in Seral. I can still remember the look of pride on the king’s face when I was the last one standing, bits of torn flesh hanging between my teeth and blood leaking from various wounds on my body. A chill slides down my spine at the thought. Mostly, because while the entire fight had been barbaric, I can’t deny that I enjoyed making the competitors fall. In that moment I wasn’t a half-angel freak. I was a demon, and I was to be feared.

But it doesn’t mean I want to participate in another one any time soon. Carefully, I take the parchment and stretch it open. The red paper is trimmed with gold, and I recognize my father’s cursive handwriting.

By invitation of King Dalton, ruler of Seral, victor against the witches, and protector of the demons, all unbonded alphas of the five allied realms are hereby requested to attend a royal ball. Whomever proves to be the fated mates of Princess Blake, heir to the Throne of the Kingdom of Seral, will rule by her side when the king retires after the twelfth full moon for this year.

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