Page 7 of April's Fool
He scoffed and then colored. “I’m sorry, sir, but that was a decision that neither me nor my grandfather approved of.”
I shrugged, unoffended. “I know. Mama loves your grandfather to this day. Truly she does, yet none of them wanted a triad long term. Probably just as well, or we would be related!” I flashed him a smirk before returning to my breakfast, feeling hungrier than normal.
A smile tugged at the corners of his generous mouth. “True.”
Part of his attitude was that Cody was a permanent reminder of Gregoris failing at his duty. All of this had to be bringing back bad memories for my guard. Along with all of his unresolved guilt. I’d been free for nearly thirty years. Nevertheless, it bothered him greatly to have failed at protecting me.
If it hadn’t been for him calling for me, using my full name, Amorandes, then Cody’s grandfather wouldn’t have learned my true name. While he couldn’t get used to calling me Mori, he used sir, or your highness around humans, shifters and witches.
Not that we went to the human realm often. Though a trip might become necessary if I was going to continue expending so much magic. Usually I had reserves of energy, but I felt so depleted. In the demon realm there was usually enough magic in the air to replenish most demonkin that lived there. I was just using so much to spell my hotel into the vision that I had for it.
When the situation called for it, Gregoris helped me feed. Unfortunately, I’d been sensing growing feelings on his side and while I absolutely adored my friend, there was no love there. He didn’t set my heart alight with joy at seeing his admittedly handsome face each day. Our arrangement was mutually beneficial, as Gregoris had stated when he had suggested it a century ago.
“How about we head topside,” I offered, using the nickname we had for the human realm. “We could head to a strip club and try to sense Cody whilst we’re there.”
Gregoris mulled it over, another frown on his face. He was lucky that demonkin aged slowly and had fastregenerative powers or he’d have wrinkles all over his too pretty face. Like me, he had the familiar deep pink skin, horns, and wings. He stood taller than me, with a wide build that was perfect as a protector. Gregoris had used his superior strength more than once to protect me from someone I’d inadvertently offended, either just by breathing or trying to feed. In human form, he had the human guise with rich umber skin, wavy black hair to his shoulders and eyes so deep brown they almost appeared black. He was so beautiful as a human, but my heart didn’t love him. My soul didn’t yearn for him to be closer.
Eventually, he answered, his words dripping with reluctance. “We can if you need to feed, though I could see to your needs here, sir.”
“Please, Gregoris, I cannot just sit here and wait.”
He relented with a sigh. “Of course, sir. Whatever you wish, I will do.”
Happy in my victory, I cleared my plate and looked over my itinerary for the day. I was going through correspondence when there was a knock at the door. Gregoris answered, his brusque tone reaching my ears. Startled, he shouted in alarm as the visitor pushed by him and entered my spacious suite in my family home. “Prince Amorandes, your highness, your son is here and is looking for you!”
Reunited
Amorandes
Joy. Pure and simple,flooded my system. My son was looking for me! I was going to meet him as soon as I could get to him.
“Where is he? You must tell me everything!” I implored the hellhound.
The demon realm was not as vast as the human one and we were governed by our kings and queens, with the gentry acting as advisers and a panel of elected representatives taking up the causes of regular demonkin. Yet, it seemed the gossip that I was looking for my son had reached a fair distance.
We were in the capital city, Hellasburg, with my mother and father, who preferred to stay close to their own parents. I liked to travel and kept several homes over the realm. The hotel that I’d been working on was in a nearby city called Eshura. Far enough away that I couldn’t fly home every night.
“He is in Djalling city, your highness.” Quite some distance. Even further away than Eshura, requiring a flight that would take hours unless we could portal, orteleport, though the magic for teleportation was rare and expensive.
The hellhound bowed low. “News arrived just this morning that you were looking for your son. Then the demon, Quezalintoth, asked one of his servants, my friend, Jorgoth, for help with finding the young master his father. When they came to stay at the hotel, I just knew he had to be the same son that our Prince Amorandes was looking for. I remember seeing you before, in your human form, and your scent is similar.”
He colored, the flush running up his hairy chest and up to his cheeks. It wasn’t polite to talk about scents, especially to royalty. I waved a dismissive hand, too excited to sit still and incapable of taking offense. “Please, tell me more. What is he like?” Gregoris laid a quelling hand on my thigh. I felt like I might vibrate out of my skin. I wanted to know everything about my boy.
“Oh, he’s a handsome one,” the hellhound said cheerfully. Immediately, it occurred to me I’d neglected to find out his name. “As I said—“
“Sorry to interrupt,” I said, cutting him off. “What’s your name? You know mine, of course, however I’ve been remiss and neglected to introduce you to Gregoris, my guard.”
The hellhound blushed again. He really was a pretty thing, with big puppy dog brown eyes, dark furrunning all over his hybrid form. He matched Gregoris in size and build. “Oh, um, I’m sorry, Your Highness, it’s Conchobar. Most people call me Barr.”
“It’s nice to meet you Barr. Okay, so more about Cody!”
Barr grinned at me, the redness of his cheeks deepening and a sweet scent coming from him. What a sweet boy! He found me attractive, too.
I listened, with great interest, to all the details that Barr had picked up about my son and his new mate. Barr had gone to the trouble of learning more about his friend’s master. Jorgoth, his friend, was a water elemental that worked on Quezalintoth’s farm, helping the special apples grow. Quezalintoth had also been contracted by a witch, just like me. With sadness, I learned his family had abandoned him for it.
In that regard, I had been lucky. My parents had looked for a way out for me and then Mama had discovered royal parentage. She had been the one to petition for us to be recognized in the court. Sadly, it had come too late to save Cody from his mother’s family. It gave him privilege now, though. Once we could get him recognized by our kings and queens, he and his mate would be princes and therefore free from any contracts.
“Thank you, Barr, for coming to us. You must have used a lot of magic to portal so far,” I said withpraise layering my voice. I had to reign in the suggestion. My incubus nature tugged at me, hungry for a snack. Barr looked like a tasty treat.
