Page 35 of Tricky Princess
Azzy sucked in a breath and gave her a wicked smile. “Then be all of them, darling.”
Ellea was even more thankful for Azzy’s lessons the past several days as she sat in the grand dining hall. It was like it had been pulled from a romance novel. For there to be an artist out there who could chisel out the delicate whorls and lines seemed impossible; she had to assume someone had used magic to create all of it. She couldn’t help but look up in wonder every so often, if only to save her from Belias and Beelzebub, who were both glaring at her from their end of the room. Azzy had warned her on their walk over that they would be here, and she was glad the tables were separated as they were.
Four long tables sat in a square with room on the ends to enter the dance floor or for servants to move through to fill their drinks and plates. Azzy sat in the center seat at the table furthest from the door with Ellea to his right and Lord Dale to his left. Florence was thankfully on Ellea’s other side since Duhne had to sit at his own table with his father, Leviathan.
The dynamics were so interesting. Belias and Sonneillon’s tables were full of preening court members. Sonneillon was female, but identified as a king of Hel; she was the mother of Cara and Carver. They kept passing devilish looks to one another and Ellea. She knew she could only avoid them for so long. Her table, and Duhne’s, were practically empty. Leviathan only had one demon to his left, and to the right of Duhne was another male demon Ellea hadn’t seen yet.
“Do you and your son have something to say?” Azzy bellowed to Beelzebub.
The slight snarl in his voice brought up memories of Ros that made her chest ache. It was almost impossible to think of him in this setting, but not too impossible to imagine him leaning back in a chair and snarling at anyone who thought of looking his way.
“You’ve been keeping that witch cooped up all week, all to yourself and out of sight,” Beelzebub sneered.
The way he said “witch” had her seeing red and thinking of a way to make sure he knew and feared her name. Then his spawn spoke, and she deserved a medal for keeping her cool.
“She hasn’t been cooped up at all, actually, and has been wandering the halls unchaperoned.”
“Not creepy at all, Bel,” Ellea said. “Was that your demon who jumped me the other afternoon? Did his balls grow back? I was so very curious about the regenerative magic with some of your beasts creeping along the castle.”
Florence covered her choked laugh with a sip of wine and nudged Ellea under the table with her knee.
“Wandering alone, spending time with soldiers and lowly kitchen demons,” Beelzebub added. “Now you’re parading her around in your late queen’s crown? What’s next, are you going to steal her away from your son to have a powerful trickster sit beside you?”
“What if I wanted to share?” Ellea cut in, leaning back in her chair and enjoying the horrified look on Beelzebub’s face.
It was a joke, of course—Asmodeus was every bit the father she’d never had, but the look on the asshole’s face was worth it.
“I will never tire of your jokes, Ellea,” Azzy cut in, patting her hand that was sparking with power. “And as for her crown, it would pass to her no matter the circumstances.”
Ellea forced herself not to look at Azzy, hiding her shock the best she could.
“If you’re done throwing insults,” Azzy said, “I think it’s time we danced.”
Azzy clapped his hands once and stood, and everyone followed, even Ellea. A show was being put on and she had a part to play. The sneers from Bel and his father couldn’t be missed as she reached for the king’s outstretched hand and let him guide her to the dance floor.
“Did you enjoy your meal?” Azzy asked as he guided her around the room with a dance they had practiced many times.
“They accused you of trying to seduce me and you’re going to ask if I enjoyed the steak?”
“I have been accused of far worse,” he said and then spun her slowly. “They are jealous and worried about an exchange of power. They see you in my son’s court and know that when you two are joined, our part of Hel will be even more untouchable.”
“Asmodeus—” she started, but he cut her off.
“You can tell me a million times that you are not meant to be here. That as soon as you’re allowed, you’re going to leave,” he said kindly. “But I know the truth, and you will see it too.”
An answer or a denial didn’t surface as she searched his hazel eyes that reminded her so much of Ros.
“I want you to explore the lands tomorrow,” he said, cutting into her thoughts.
“Would you like Florence or Duhne to accompany me?”
“I want you to go and explore on your own,” he said with a wicked grin. “Cause some trouble, and bring something sharp.”
“You’re serious?”
Ellea gaped at him. Was he really going to let her explore the lands on her own? She hadn’t gotten farther than the gardens before she’d been stopped by Duhne, Florence, or Reaver.
“If you aren’t back by the time the torches on the keep are lit, I’ll send Duhne to find you.”
