Page 13 of Tricky Princess
The man’s eyes glinted wickedly, as if he could see her through the marble. She covered her mouth and hid behind Duhne’s broad back.
“I will ask again,” he said, growing taller. “What are you doing on my side of the castle?”
“You and Rosier are the only ones who can’t share,” the woman said. “This is our family’s castle. No one has their own side.”
“Right. I’ll keep that in mind as I run around your wing naked.”
The woman’s features flashed, changing to something wicked as she bared her teeth at her cousin.
“Keep your manhood away from my wing.”
“That’s what I thought,” Duhne said with a devilish chuckle.
“You and Asmodeus cannot hide the witch forever,” the man said.
“Who said we were hiding her?”
“We haven’t had a witch here since—”
“Don’t you dare speak her name,” Duhne cut him off.
“She wasn’t only your aunt, Duhne,” the woman said, her tone softer than it had been a moment ago.
Duhne’s shoulders seemed to cave the slightest before he righted himself. Ellea shifted to the left, trying to gauge his reaction. Were they speaking of Ros’ mother?
“Well, if you would excuse me, I have to go rub my dick on all your doorknobs, Cara,” he said, and the woman paled. Her brother only chuckled and walked past Duhne.
Once they were gone, Ellea pressed against the wall, trying to free herself. Claustrophobia had quickly crept up her back once she was no longer distracted by their interesting conversation. Her breaths came in quick, short pants, and she could hear her mother’s cackle in the back of her mind.
“Duhne,” she whimpered.
He reached through the mist and marble, wrapping his large hand around her wrist and tugging her free. It felt as if she was moving through sand, not a marble wall. She quickly checked herself, but she didn’t have a mark on her, nothing to show she’d been shoved through a hard surface. Taking a steadying breath, she looked up at Duhne.
“Could you warn me next time?”
“Like I had the time.” He rolled his eyes and continued toward the west library. She grasped him by the bicep, stopping his retreat.
“How did you do that, and who were those two?” Her thoughts were under a mountain of questions.
“My creepy cousins, and demon magic,” he said with a bored wave of his hand.
“So you’re a demon too?”
“What did you think I was?”
“I didn’t want to assume.” She let a nervous laugh escape.
“I’m half human, half demon.”
“Okay, and them? What are they, and are they dangerous?”
“They are full demons. Their mother is like Asmodeus and their father was some incubus or succubus or something. A sperm donor.”
“Lovely.” She shivered. “They seemed creepy.”
“Creepy, yes.” He thought for a breath. “Dangerous? No. They probably want to get to you before anyone has influence over you.”
“Influence? Why would they have influence over me? I don’t plan on staying here any longer than I need to.”
