Page 45 of Their Promise

I glanced at Mom, but she was on her phone messaging someone. Assuming she was just picking on him or teasing him, I followed Mason out and didn’t bother asking more.

He drove us just outside the dragon’s Den, the dragon’s territory where they had their own city, and to the outskirts where Trey’s house sat. His parents had purchased it for him when he turned eighteen, though they’d been upset that he had adamantly refused to have his house inside of the Den. It was three stories, had eight bedrooms, and was actually a small, stone castle. He’d even put a catapult and trebuchet on the roof as anti-dragon countermeasures. His mother hadnotappreciated the humor, but his father had.

“You guys use the catapult since you arrived?” I asked.

Mason snorted. “Is Trey breathing?”

He said it was a requirement to use it every time he came home to ensure it stayed in working order.

We headed inside and I skipped through the foyer and into the main living room, which they used for lounging and gaming.

Trey looked up from his laptop and smiled. “Hello, Lily.”

Hopping over the back of the couch, I landed on the cushion next to him. “Hello, Trey.”

Frowning, he asked, “Are you having trouble sleeping?”

Sticking my lip out in a pout I asked, “Are you saying I look bad? This isn’t the best way to start off our date, you know?”

He prodded just below my eyes. “You’ve got eyebags.”

“I just stayed up too late,” I admitted. Pulling the key from my bag I asked, “So, do I get to find out what this is for?”

Mason’s eyes widened. “Trey,” he growled.

Trey held up his hand and Mason went silent. “I should have known the ever-curious Lily would ask about the key first thing when she arrived. And here I thought you might be interested in me and the date I have planned.”

“Why can’t it be both?” I said and shrugged.

He stood and walked around the couch and waved at me. “Well, come on.”

I followed him, my curiosity and excitement making me vibrate as I practically walked on his heels.

He led me down the hallway and to a metal door that I didn’t remember from the one time I had been here before. “This leads to our secret room. So far, only Mason, Kayden, and I have been allowed in. We are now allowing you access as well.”

The way he described it made it sound more like a man cave, a place they would go to escape life, than something truly cool. Was this a meaningless gesture, or was I about to see something cool that would truly portray their confidence in me? Also, he had said they were allowing me access, but Mason’s growl hadn’t seemed like he’d known about Trey giving me a key.

I looked at the key and looked at the door. The key had the same scrollwork design as the door. Walking up to it, I inserted the key and turned it, eyes widening as the lock clicked open.

Removing the key, I tried to open the door, but it was really heavy.

Trey chuckled. “Not as strong as you used to be, Princess?”

Giving him a quick glare, I grabbed the handle and pulled harder, now knowing it was a heavy door. It opened slowly and quietly. “Hinges are nicely oiled,” I grunted as I finished opening it.

Soft red lights turned on, providing enough lighting for us to see as we walked down a staircase. Without waiting for confirmation of my permission to enter, I walked down the stairs, heart beating faster in anticipation as I headed for their secret room.

What could they keep down here that they didn’t want others to know about? He’d said only they had a key, which meant not even his dad or the kings had a key?

As my foot hit the last steps, a bright light turned on, revealing a large circular room. In the center was a round stone table with a glass top and atop that were three laptops. In the very center was a large leather book that looked well worn.

Was that the demon journal Kayden had told me about?

On one wall was a map of the world with hundreds of red pins and a couple dozen purple pins.

There was also a small refrigerator, water cooler, sink, microwave, plastic side table with paper plates and snacks like chips and granola bars, and three couches with folded blankets and pillows.

“We call it our command center.” Trey walked by me and sat in one of the chairs at the stone table.

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