Page 16 of The Demon King's Unruly Mate

“Challenging or not, it is,” I replied. “So, stop acting like nothing has changed and you get to carry on with your little... business. You have greater responsibilities now.”

I watched as he visibly swallowed back the retort I’d almost prodded out of him. Instead, he made a mocking bow and gestured toward a door at the far end of the room. “After you, Princess.”

I spared a glance for Griffin and gestured for him to wait for me. My bodyguard nodded once, but didn’t look happy about letting me out of his sight.

I swept past Kaz into what I assumed was his office and took in the sparse furnishings with a critical eye. A desk, some chairs. Boxes sat unpacked. No personal touches, nothing to indicate the man who occupied it.

I took the chair across from his desk with more confidence than I truly felt. This was the first moment alone with my mate since we’d slept together. I wanted to bathe in the anger and indignation that had carried me through the last five days, but all I could think about was how his mouth had felt on my skin, the way he’d made me beg?—

“You left,” I said without preamble as he closed the door behind us. “You fucked me, and then you left.”

Kaz winced, looking suddenly pale. “I apologize for that,” he said, moving to stand behind his desk rather than sitting. “I took advantage of you in a situation neither of us chose. I assumed you would want nothing to do with a male you’d been forced to wed and bed.”

His words stunned me. I’d expected excuses, maybe even blame for seducinghim. Not this... odd sense of honor.

“You didn’t take advantage,” I said evenly, plucking at an imaginary thread on my slacks. “I was a willing participant, if you recall.”

The corner of his mouth twitched. “Still. I’m sorry.”

“Thank you,” I said, the words feeling strange on my tongue. When was the last time anyone had apologized to me for anything? “I appreciate the consideration.”

His fingers twitched against the back of his chair, and I was thrown back into thoughts of those fingers on my body, inside me, making me come apart in ways I’d never experienced before. Heat flooded my cheeks, and I forced my attention back to safer territory.

“But that doesn’t change the fact that you’ve been avoiding your responsibilities,” I continued. “While you’ve been off playing mercenary, I’ve been at court ensuring our safety by diverting doubts and gossip.”

“Our safety was never in question,” Kaz said, frowning. “Adron got his heir to the throne.”

“A male heir who disappeared the moment the ceremony was complete,” I countered. “Do you have any idea how that looks? How vulnerable it leaves us both?”

He had the grace to look slightly chagrined at that. “I didn’t realize?—”

“Of course you didn’t. You’ve kept your clan away from those vipers while I nested with them,” I cut him off. I leaned forward, fixing him with a hard stare. “Have you made any progress finding Leona?”

It was clearly the wrong thing to ask. Whatever openness had been on Kaz’s face disappeared, replaced by a blank mask I recognized all too well from my own maneuverings.

“Some,” he admitted. “I received confirmation this morning that someone matching Leona’s description checked into a bed-and-breakfast near Niagara Falls with a human male.”

“A human?” That was unexpected. The Malum clan rarely associated with humans, let alone traveled with them. “You’re certain?”

The puzzle pieces scattered through my head. Emil had been with my father just before our mating ceremony, discussing something in hushed tones. Could the Malum clan be involved more than they let on? Leona was, after all, from a branch of that clan. Niagara Falls was a hop and a skip from Toronto, and Emil had a lake house a few hours north of the city…

But why? To what end?

Kaz hummed noncommittally. “I planned to teleport to New York City tonight. It’s the closest location I’m familiar with. From there, I can?—”

“That’s a waste of time,” I interrupted. “I can take us directly to Toronto and save several hours on the road.”

Kaz frowned. “You’re not coming with me.”

“I most certainly am.” I rose from my chair, matching his stance. “It’s clear you need me. Not just for teleportation, but for dealing with Leona when we find her. She knows me from court. She’ll be more likely to trust me than some ifrit she’s never met.”

“This isn’t the place for a princess,” Kaz argued. “If she’s been abducted, there could be danger. I’m not putting you at risk.”

“I’m not some delicate flower who needs protection,” I snapped. “I survived twenty-eight years with Javed as my brother. I think I can handle a human kidnapper.”

Kaz pretended to consider for just a moment, then leaned forward conspiratorially and shot a look toward the door. “Does your bodyguard go everywhere you go?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Yes, Griffin knows every move I make.”

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