Page 15 of The Demon King's Unruly Mate

“It wasn’t relevant to our operations,” Kaz said stiffly.

Rava made a sound somewhere between a laugh and a scoff. “Not relevant? You mated into the family that tried to destroy us, and you didn’t think it wasrelevant?”

“It’s complicated,” Kaz said.

“Uncomplicate it,” Zane growled.

I watched their exchange with growing fascination. This wasn’t how things worked in my father’s court. No one questioned the king’s decisions so openly, or so bluntly. Evenhis advisors couched their concerns in layers of flattery and deference. But here was Kaz, a prince in his own right even if the Kadhans held no power beyond their fists, allowing his clan members to challenge him directly.

Part of me envied the closeness and freedom to speak their minds without fear. Another part resented it. I’d had to grow into myself in the shadows, learning to manipulate from the margins because direct confrontation would have gotten me killed.

“Adron summoned me to answer for Javed’s death,” Kaz explained. “I expected execution or exile. Instead, he proposed a solution—I would mate Talia, take the Fitsum name, and eventually assume the throne when he passes.”

“And you agreed?” Rava stared at her brother, then at me, her tail lashing behind her. “After everything Javed did to us? After what he made you do tome?”

“I had little choice.” Kaz’s jaw worked with the effort to keep his voice even. “This honors the betrothals made to end the generations of fighting between our lines. The alternative was more bloodshed and death.”

The room fell silent again, the tension thick enough to cut. I found myself studying each of their faces, noting the concern, the anger, the confusion. They cared for Kaz, that much was clear. And he cared for them in return—enough to accept a mating he clearly hadn’t wanted to protect them from further conflict.

It was... not what I had expected.

“What are you doing here?” Kaz asked, finally turning to me.

The abrupt question pulled me from my thoughts. I grinned like a cat in cream. I knew the extra drama I was lobbing into the room, but I didn’t care. Let him feel a fraction of the annoyance that had been building in me while he pretended not a thing in the world had changed.

“Oh, just enjoying my new role as caretaker of your social calendar. Honestly, darling, did you forget so soon you had an appointment with the king?” I pretended to check my nails for imperfections. “He is so very interested in an update on your efforts to locate the Cadum girl.”

The effect was immediate. Three pairs of eyes swiveled to Kaz, who looked like he’d swallowed something bitter.

“You’re tracking someone for Adron?” Malak asked flatly.

Kaz’s expression hardened. “It’s a separate matter.”

“Un-fucking-believable.” Zane’s tail lashed behind him. “Like your mating was a separate matter?”

Kaz’s shoulders slumped almost imperceptibly. “Adron asked me to find Leona Cadum. She’s missing from court, and her family believes she’s been abducted.”

“So let me get this straight,” Rava said, her voice rising. “Another young female from a noble family goes missing, and instead of considering she might have left of her own free will, the immediate assumption is abduction? And you, of all people, volunteer to hunt her down and drag her back?”

“I didn’t volunteer,” Kaz said through gritted teeth. “It was part of the arrangement.”

“So, you sold yourself twice over,” Rava said bitterly. “Once at the altar and once as Adron’s personal bloodhound.”

I felt a flicker of admiration for Rava’s boldness, even as I bristled at the words. So, I arched a brow and fixed her with a cool stare. “Surely you’re not foolish enough to think there would be no consequences for regicide.”

Rava turned to me with a bright, biting smile on her face. “I’m glad you know you are a consequence,sister.”

With that, she spun on her heel and stormed out of the room.

Malak and Zane exchanged glances.

“I should...” Malak gestured vaguely toward where Rava had disappeared.

“Yeah,” Zane agreed. “We’ll talk...”

He didn’t finish the sentence, just followed Malak out. The silence left behind wrapped tightly around me, Kaz, and Griffin.

“Thank you for that,” Kaz said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Truly. It’s not as if there is anything challenging to this new reality.”

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