Page 43 of Tricky Princess
Duhne looked at her from behind his father, and fear shone in his green eyes. Ellea felt it, tasted it, as a wicked smirk danced across her lips. “Fine.”
“El—” Duhne started to say, but stopped as her magic pulsed around her.
Everyone stepped away from her as though they could read the wicked thoughts dancing through her mind. An idea formed as she turned on her heel and left the lords and kings behind.
It took her ten minutes to calm her magic and to be able to utter the name, “Reaver.”
The demon stepped out of a wall and matched her storming gait.
“I need you to go ahead to the stables and have Mhairi readied for me, please.”
“Princess.” She shot him a look, and he visibly swallowed before shimmering into shadows.
Ellea’s face was hot from her anger and the whipping wind. Mhairi had matched her energy and gotten her to the mortal territory at a deadly speed. Her adrenaline was pumping with so much rage and power, but she didn’t have time to be scared. She didn’t even have the energy to marvel at the beautiful surroundings. Worn cobblestones paved the streets, and the surrounding buildings had been built into the cliff that met a magnificent ocean. She breathed in the salty air before ripping open the wooden door of what looked like a tavern.
The mortal souls scattered around the small bar all stopped what they were doing, and the silence was deafening. A woman paused in the middle of cleaning a tanker, and everyone sitting at the dozen tables stared at her.
Ellea tried to look less scary, less frazzled by her encounter with asshole men set in their old, stupid ways as she shouted, “So, who needs saving?”
16
Ellea
ELEVEN DAYS IN HEL
Two days later, Ellea was enjoying a coffee at a quaint little bakery in the supernatural souls’ territory. The owner, Farren, was a witch who had passed away over a century ago. She was an adorable, young thing who had perfected her coffee making over the years. She prided herself in learning from everyone, the oldest of souls and the ones who came in after her, and Ellea was determined to try every manner of drink she had to offer. She sipped her usual latte while Duhne sat next to her, reading one of her shifter romance books. He looked cute as his eyes quickly ran across the pages, and she knew he would soon be asking her for another book.
Ellea was thankful she had gotten used to demons popping in and out of shadows; otherwise, she would have spilled her delicious drink and all its sugary, creamy glory when Cara’s head popped out of a black hole. Her freckled face framed with fiery red hair was bright against the darkness, and Ellea wondered if she was headless in a study somewhere. The thought made her snort, and the demon rolled her eyes.
“You’re going to owe me a favor,” she whispered after glaring at Duhne, who didn’t even bother looking at his cousin.
Ellea cocked an eyebrow and sipped her drink. She wouldn’t owe the demon anything. They weren’t exactly friends, but when Ellea had stormed out of the meeting with the kings and lords, Cara had wanted to help. The heir to the supernatural territory wouldn’t tell her why, but over the past three days, she had joined in on transporting souls in the cover of night and shadows.
“Guards are on their way right now to try and catch you.”
“Catch me drinking coffee?”
Cara’s lips thinned. “Catch you doing you-know-what.”
Ellea paused long enough to make Cara shift uncomfortably, and Duhne peeked over his book to stare. “So you will, in fact, owe me a favor when I don’t tell your guards that you have been helping me do you-know-what.”
Duhne knew what they were talking about since he was also in on it. He had finally given up on trying to get Ellea to follow the rules.
If you can’t stop them, join them.
“I swear you’re part demon sometimes.”
A slow smile crossed her face. “Thanks for the compliment. I’ll see you tonight.” Ellea could see herself liking the demon; she was so different when her brother wasn’t shadowing her every move.
Cara nodded her head and disappeared right before two of her guards barreled into the small shop. Farren greeted them as though they didn’t look like hostile beasts looking for a fight.
“Good morning, gentlemen, what can I get started for you?” the witch asked sweetly. One of the guards blushed and opened his mouth to speak before his companion hit him on his armored chest, silencing him.
They both zeroed in on Ellea. She smiled at them and waited for the accusations and the threats to drag her back to the castle.
“May I suggest hot chocolate?” Duhne said, not bothering to look away from his book.
“Cut the crap,” the meaner-looking guard said.
