Page 13 of Deranged Demons

He shrugs. “It does not matter to me as long as I still get you.”

My brows lift. It’s obvious this guy has forgotten that we don’t get to choose our mates, but I’m happy to indulge him for now. Who knows, maybe heismy mate.

As he reaches where I stand, he stops and dips his head. “Because you, my dear, are as beautiful as the brightest pearl in the ocean.”

I smile politely. I’m not sure if ‘bright’ is a word I’d use to describe myself, butI have to say, I’m feeling pretty good about him right now.And Dad thought this was going to be hard.

“Thanks,” I reply. “So how should we?—”

The air squeezes from me as he grabs my hand unexpectedly and spins me until I hit his hard chest.Oof!Shade flaps into the air, dislodged from her perch, and the male’s strong arms slide across my body. Maybe it’s because of his pearl metaphor, but I have the distinct thought that his arms are like the sides of a clam shell closing me in. Instinctively, I want to elbow him in the ribs, but I restrain myself. He’s obviously convinced we’re mates, and they do say fated mates can have odd responses to one another when they first meet. Still, I’m about to tell him to take a step back when I smell him, and I freeze.Merciful. Lady. Fate.

He smellsterrible, and not just in a musty kind of way. As I inhale, I choke on the scent of sweaty socks, sea salt, and rotting fish. It’s like I’m smelling something that’s been left at the bottom of a sea barrel for months, and it takes all my effort not to gag.

Wincing, I push lightly against his hold, but instead of taking the hint, he only grips me tighter and drops his nose to my hair as he sniffsme.I scrunch my face and wait for him to realize we’re not fated, because surely, I must smell bad to him too if we’re not mates, but he only murmurs something appreciative under his breath.What the fuck?

Shade paces at the top of the mural wall, watching me intently, but I shake my head at her, not wanting her to get involved.

“Look, I get that you wanted this, but it’s notmeant to be,” I say quickly, still trying not to breathe in.

The alpha stills, and I think he’s going to let me go, but then he says, “No, we are fated. You will see. I have waited for this.” His head lowers like he’s going to kiss the side of my face, and…that’s the extent of my patience.Fucker.

My elbow slams into his ribs with enough force that I hear a satisfying crack, and he stumbles backward. Spinning, I turn as he curses and his expression changes, fury reddening his pale-green features. “We are fated. I will make you seeeee?—”

His last word rings in the air as Prince Callan steps up behind him and tosses him into the air, using wind power to send him sailing above the tops of the nearby buildings and out of sight.

I’m so bewildered, that for a moment I simply continue to stare at the empty sky, but then I snap my gaze to the archangel prince who’s now standing in the alpha’s place. Anger flashes on Prince Callan’s face but it’s gone quickly, and his expression smooths.

Shade lands on my shoulder, and I’m sure she must be internally ranting about the fact I didn’t let her help, but I can’t worry about that now.

“I was about to handle that,” I point out matter-of-factly as I watch the prince.

He dusts off his hands, and his lips curve into a devastating smile. “Yes, but why should you have to?”

I blink, stunned. In Seral, I often have guards close by, but they never act unless I ask them to. As a demonroyal, punishing the demons who disrespect me is a show of strength and is expected.

“Because it was my fight,” I say when I manage to get my mouth to work.

He only shrugs like he did the obvious thing, but then his brows lower, his forehead wrinkling as confusion floods his features. “Oh, you’re serious. Would you like me to retrieve him so you can punish him yourself?” He spreads his wings as if to launch after the alpha who’s probably splattered on a sidewalk on the other side of the ancient city.

“What? No,” I splutter, but I don’t think he’s heard me. “Stop,” I say, shooting forward and resting my hand on his broad shoulder to prevent him from flying away. Before I can think about what I’m doing, his scent envelops me, and my heart begins to race. He smells like sunshine after it has rained. Like warmth, and the cool crisp sky as I soar through the clouds. He smells like the sweet tangy scent of green apples with hints of bergamot. “Oh, shit,” I whisper.It’s so at odds with the dark, musky smell I’m accustomed to back in the palace, but my body responds, need rushing through me as suddenly all I can think about is this male spreading my thighs. His muscular body moving…Whoa, hold on. What the fuck?

I go to step back, but his head jerks my way, and I stand frozen as his throat bobs, his body stiffening under my hand. “MyAhalian Touizda,” he whispers low with a thick angelic accent that makes my knees weak. Tingles rush over me, and it’s not because ofwhat he’s said, because I have no idea what that means, but it’s thewayhe’s said it. Like I’m his…everything.

His hooded eyes drop to my lips, and my breath hitches, but just as I expect his lips to slam against mine, he takes a large step away from me. My hand falls from his shoulder, and a coldness that I’ve never felt before spreads through me.

His expression changes, his arrogant but charming demeanor replaced with something much harder. “This wasn’t supposed to happen,” he mutters, and I reel back. They say when you find your fated mates the bond is irresistible. I guess not.

“I’m sorry, but isn’t this the whole reason you’re here?” I say, the coldness inside me turning into anger. “To find out if you’re my mate?”

His jaw tightens. “You’re a princess, you know what it’s like. We all have our obligations.”

Obligations?I scowl. “So what, you thought you just had to attend the ball, prove that we’re not bonded, and go on your merry way?”

He runs a hand through his golden locks. “Something like that. And King Dalton better have my crown tucked up somewhere safe in Seral palace, or there’s going to be a world of trouble if I return to Toralyn without it.”

I force myself to let out a long breath.

Shade ruffles her feathers and squawks, and I activate the magic that allows me to speak with her, pulling down the mental barrier.

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