Page 3 of Tricky Princess
Billy seemed ready to protest, but Devon gave her a stern look. She returned it with a smirk.
Yes, Billy said. Take the princeling and hose him off. We will begin planning and talking when he’s more sober.
Sam easily gathered Ros under his arm and steered him toward the door. The sound of running water could be heard from the upstairs bathroom thanks to the magic of the house.
“Come on, Ros,” Sam said. “Let’s get you cleaned up, and then we can plan the snacks for the road trip.”
The two men navigated through the lower level of the cabin. Their large bodies melded together, and Ros took up so much more room as he stumbled under his friend’s care.
“We need to get her, Sam,” Ros grumbled.
“I know, buddy.” He squeezed him a little tighter. “We’ll get her.”
“We will,” he agreed and began carrying more of his own weight. “Then I’m going to burn my father’s kingdom to the ground.”
2
Ellea
ONE DAY IN HEL
Ellea trailed a finger over the smooth obsidian throne. It sloped elegantly from the sharp crest at its center to its furthest peak that ended in a jagged point. Each of the sharp crests could easily slice through skin. As she rounded the throne, Ros’ father, Asmodeus, a king of Hel, stood before her. She looked down at the floor where claw marks sat deep in the stone, and the vision flashed before her eyes again. The dream she’d had of someone she didn’t want to admit was Ros. It seemed her dreams were visions, ones that always led to him.
Ellea stood where Ros had in that dream; she could still feel the pebbled skin and feathers of the demons she’d trudged through. Asmodeus cleared his throat, snapping Ellea out of her memory.
“I know this is a lot to take in.”
He wasn’t wrong, but there was more going on than being dragged to Hel by her boyfriend’s father.
“You said Ros left his legacy,” Ellea said with a voice much calmer than she felt. “What makes you think he wants it, or that he will even come back?”
He chuckled softly, his voice deep like Ros’. She’d expected him to be menacing, but it didn’t feel that way. “I’m not dumb, Ellea. I know Rosier doesn’t want this, but he has no choice.”
“We all have choices.”
“No, we don’t; we all have responsibilities, and this is my son’s.”
Ros had never spoken of having to take over his father’s domain in Hel. She had never asked either, but why would she?
Gods, she was ignorant.
He was a prince, of course his father was a king. Why wouldn’t this be his legacy? He didn’t have any siblings (that she knew of). She scoffed loudly, and Asmodeus arched a brow at her.
Steps sounded from the far end of the room, but Asmodeus didn’t seem worried about the man who came out of the darkness. He walked with his hands clasped behind his back and gave Ellea a bored look before turning toward the king and bowing.
“Lord Dale, this is Ellea, my son’s…”
He trailed off, glancing at her in question.
“I’m a lot of things,” she answered with a smirk.
Dale. What a funny name for a demon.
Dale was broad in a pressed black suit. His magnificent ginger beard glinted in the low light. It was such a stark contrast to the sparse hair on his head.
“Right.” His look was dismissive. He turned sharply to Asmodeus. “I have a message for you from Sonneillon.”
“She can wait,” he answered harshly.
