Page 64 of Tricky Princess
She smiled, and they all headed to the ballroom where Billy and Garm would meet them. They were staying in a different part of the castle that Ellea hadn’t had a chance to ask about.
Two guards opened the doors for them when they arrived, letting Ros and Ellea enter before the others, Florence and Duhne included. The entire castle seemed to be in the massive room that glittered in gold and black. They all turned toward the door as a booming voice called out to the crowd.
“Rosier Danier, the shadowborn crowned prince and commander of Hel’s four armies, has returned!”
Ellea hid her shock at hearing his title as whoops and shouts sounded through the room. Ros stood even taller at the attention, and she knew that even though he hated this place for what it had taken from him—his mother, his freedom—he belonged here. Ellea could feel the growl in his chest as he stared at Belias and his father. Belias had been let go from his house arrest when they couldn’t prove he was the one to command his guards to attack her friends. Those that surrounded the two men didn’t follow the jovial shouts that continued as Ros guided Ellea toward his father, who had the proudest look on his face.
“That was hot,” Sam whispered, and Ellea couldn’t agree more.
24
Rosier
Fucking Belias.
Ros glared again at his cousin. He should be buried in the pits of his own father’s territory, not smirking back at him and not openly eyeing Ellea. Ros forced himself not to cover her, not to step in and be a total ass. She talked and mingled with those in his court like she was born for it, but he still wanted to hide her from all of it. “I’m going to kill him,” Ros hissed to Sam.
Sam was almost fully recovered, enough to be here and thriving. It seemed like the whole situation entertained him immensely.
“Can I watch?” Florence asked, and Ros stared at the female. He didn’t know much about her, but he was starting to like her. The way she glared at his cousin made him like her even more.
“Why does his father keep looking at Ellea like that?” Devon asked.
Beelzebub was glaring too; it was his typical look, but he eyed Ellea a little too much for Ros’ comfort.
“Probably because Ellea insinuated she would share Ros and Asmodeus during her first dinner at court.” Duhne ate a piece of meat off a stick like he hadn’t just said what he’d said.
Everyone but Florence looked at him with wide eyes.
“She was joking.” Duhne smiled wide around the food in his mouth, a truly unkind grin. “Enjoy the tiny taste of what I’ve had to deal with while you’ve been struggling to save your princess.”
“She isn’t that bad,” Florence offered.
Duhne hissed. “To you. You two have been tramping around the castle at all hours of the night like a couple of spies.”
“Shut your big dumb mouth,” she hissed back.
Ros groaned. Yet another thing he would have to talk to Ellea about... He took a breath and closed his eyes for a moment.
She’s alive, she’s unharmed, and she’s stronger than ever.
When he opened his eyes, Ellea was staring at him, her gray eyes dark and wicked. She wouldn’t stop checking him out. He was pulled toward her, not caring that he stepped into the middle of a conversation she was having with his other evil cousin, Cara. He grasped the back of her neck and pulled her in for a searing kiss.
“Princess.” He used his nickname for her like a caress, hovering above her lips and unable to pull away.
“Shadowborn?” she questioned with a nip at his bottom lip, melding her body with his as he shuffled them to a quieter part of the ballroom.
“Isn’t that obvious?” He was sure she didn’t know that he was born on the longest night of the year under a total lunar eclipse. If it hadn’t been prophesied, he wouldn’t have put his brilliant mother past planning it herself.
“Don’t all demons have shadows?”
“Yes and no.” He kissed her cheek and moved to whisper in her ear. “I’m the only one who can wield them in the wicked ways you love.”
He felt her shiver against him.
“I’ve missed you and your shadows.” She smirked, running her hands inside the opening at his chest. “But I do like this suit.”
He hated wearing these types of clothes, but they were all here to put on a show. And when she looked at him like that, with want radiating across her blushed skin, he just might add them to his regular wardrobe. He also wanted her to add more dresses to hers. There was nothing quite like ripping an expensive piece off of her body.
