Page 19 of April's Fool
“We’ll let you get settled in, maybe have a nap before dinner. Mori and Gregoris will be here soon.”
“Thanks, sweetness.” I felt the day’s events catching up to me with an exhaustion I felt down to my bones.
“Damon?”
“Yeah?”
“You don’t have to tell me everything, but are you in trouble? Please be honest. I want to help if I can.”
“I am. You’re doing all you can, just by letting me stay here. If trouble comes this way, though, I’ll leave.”
“I’m glad you came here. Maybe it’s my turn to keep you safe.”
“Maybe it is.”
Visiting
Amorandes
“Did you ask him?”
I saw the tears brimming in my mama’s eyes. She knew what I was going to say before I did. “He’s not ready for so many people. Plus, his friend is there,” I said as gently as possible. “The castle is rather… neglected. Cody would like the chance to make a good impression on you both.”
“Oh.”
The one word spoke volumes. My son was the greatest gift of my life, but I hated being the one to disappoint my parents. They had been so good to me.
“They have an important business meeting tomorrow for the orchard, but they would like to spend the day with you a couple of days after that if you would like to meet them in town?” I was just making stuff up. On the call, there had been little time to talk to Cody about meeting my parents. I’d heard his hesitation and knew I’d do anything to make things right for both of them. I could bridge the gap between them. Once I got there, I’d convince Cody of my plan.
There was a small town not too far from Toth’s castle. Cody and Toth would want a more neutral venue for when they met Cody’s grandparents for the first time. I knew how insular my son-in-law was. He wouldn’t want strangers in his home and this way if something happened…
Not that I expected any issues. Both of them were introverted and seemed reluctant about the meeting. I guess it was understandable that both were hesitant over family, with their history.
“We can’t go to the castle? I’d like to see where my grandson lives.” My mama was a stunning demon and looked like she could be my slightly older sister, still it was jarring to see her pout like a child.
“Amoredessa,” Dad chided gently. Yes, my mama’s name was very similar to my own. They were sure they were having a female child and refused to change the name. “We discussed this. At their pace. We’ve had much longer than Cody to prepare for this day.” She brightened under his attention.
“You’re right, Hanandes, as always.” They traded smiles. Dad squeezed my mama’s shoulder and poured her another cup of tea.
Behind them, I caught Gregoris relaxing fractionally. As if I didn’t know how to handle my parents by now. I reined in my scoff, but his eyes narrowed at me, nonetheless. “We should pack,” he reminded me.
It took far too long to get packed up and start our journey deeper into the capital. Hellasburg was bustling with many scores of demons flying and walking the streets of the city. I wanted to get to a portal guild quickly and have a hellhound transport us to Djalling. It was a reminder of how flustered I was when I found out that Cody was in our realm that I’d forgotten such a thing existed. They were tightly controlled and very expensive, worth every coin in my opinion. Gregoris had put in our application as I had finished up packing my things. I’d packed for an extended stay, ever hopeful I would get to spend some quality time with my son.
My magic could open a door to the human realm easily. All demons could travel to the human realm and back, though it was taxing on their magic. The only species that could travel between places in our realm were hellhounds. It was something to do with the ambient magic in the air that I’d learned and forgotten as a child. I remember being told it was what we had wings for, which was fine. I was grateful for my wings. Loved them a lot and there was nothing like flying, but it was so damn time consuming. Okay, so I was a little envious of the ability hellhounds had.
The hellhound that opened our portal was very different from the hellhounds I was used to. This one was very stoic. He offered nothing in conversation andpractically abandoned us on the other side without even a smile! The wonderful smiling face of Barr greeted us. While he still had that trickle of attraction to me, there was nothing on my end. All I felt was affection and a feeling of protectiveness. It was just a shame that Barr wasn’t in my personal employment. It would be good to have such a powerful hellhound in my service. Costly, though. He was better off at the hotel helping our customers.
Honestly, the sweet hellhound had gone out of my mind once I had met Cody and his friend. I knew Damon was staying with my son for an undetermined amount of time. All Cody would say was that Damon wasn’t telling him much, and he feared Damon was in trouble.
Damon was my son’s family, which should make him mine, yet I knew what I was feeling towards the young hitman was nothing a family member should be feeling. I was protective, but in a possessive way. I was drawn to the man and would do anything I could to get him under me.
Gone was the concern that he would hurt Cody. With my son safe in the demon realm and able to use his magic, once properly trained, of course, there was nothing here that could touch him. No one would risk harming the newest prince.
Perhaps Barr caught my eagerness to see Cody, Toth, and Damon, because he kept the chit-chat to a minimum and opened a portal to Toth’s castle quickly.
“Um, Prince Amorandes, sir.”
“Mori, please Barr.”
