Page 77 of Tricky Princess
Ros clenched his jaw so tight he thought a fang would crack.
Our princess!
“Ellea only belongs to herself,” Ros growled, and Garm smirked beside him.
“Don’t we call the Gods, our Gods? We worship and revere them…how is she any different?”
“Are you saying Ellea is a god?”
Garm turned his head completely to Ros, but he didn’t want to see the look on Garm’s face.
“As good as one; she is better than all of us, stronger than you and me.” A sharp intake of breath sounded next to him, and his father stepped forward, holding his son’s angry stare.
Ros stood taller, towering above his father. What would Ellea think if she heard this conversation? Stronger than the both of them… She had spent so long fearing her own power, and now his father was putting her in the same category as a god.
“I think you’ve spent too much time with her; she seems to have won you over too much,” Ros growled.
“Don’t be jealous. I was only doing what any future father-in-law would do while his son could not get to her.”
“Keep talking like that and you will scare her off for good.” Ros stepped toward his father, feeling his power burn under his skin. Ellea didn’t need any more stress; she carried too much. “She has feared her powers for so long, don’t you dare add this to the list of things she has to worry about. Speaking of being unable to get to her, have you figured out why that is, Father? Because you are my first guess. Maybe you wanted her all to yourself, King of the Gods.”
A slow smile spread across his face at Ros’ accusations.
Smug bastard.
“That’s why I called you here. But first. How. Is. Our. Princess. Doing?”
Ros stepped forward, ready to punch the smug look off his father’s face, but Garm cut in, grasping him by the arm.
“You are doing a wonderful job at hiding your demon, son.” His father walked around his desk and turned back to the two of them. He threw an ancient leather-bound book, so small it could fit in the palm of his hand. “I found that on Belias when my guards searched him after your attack. He is the reason you two couldn’t get to her, using an ancient spell from the Gods. I’m not sure how he got it, and we are still looking into the soul situation, but he has been banned from leaving for the next year or until he can show he wasn’t involved. You should go topside and check in with the council. I’m sure Ellea’s family will be happy to see her in one piece. I wish I could see the look on their faces when she comes back as the powerful creature she is now.”
He looked thoughtful and so young as a devilish grin spread across his face.
“You’re letting me leave?” Ros had a hard time believing it. He was happy about Belias; that was one less thing to worry about.
“Why wouldn’t I let you leave?” His father looked confused, and it made Ros want to punch him even more.
“You fucking kidnapped Ellea to get me here, now you are sending us on our way?”
“You said it yourself, there is more at play here.” He stood taller and looked more serious. “But you will be back, both of you. I’m not done with you and Ellea isn’t done with us. She has started something, and there is no turning back now.”
“I don’t want her involved in our kingdom’s business,” he said through his teeth.
“I’m pleased you’re calling it our kingdom, but maybe you should ask Ellea what she wants to be involved in.”
28
Ellea
Ellea stood in the garden she and Azzy had used for most of their dinners. It had to be her favorite spot in this whole place, especially at night. The stars were spectacular and so different from the stars she was used to. Today, she would leave, but it didn’t feel like leaving for good. Florence and Duhne stood off in the distance, talking with her friends as they prepared to help them leave. Ros, Ellea, Garm, and Billy would meet with the council in the city. Duhne and Florence would head to Glenover with Sam and Devon and wait for them there. Then they would plan to stop her parents once and for all.
Ellea turned as she felt Azzy walk out on the veranda. It was as though her magic recognized him and knew when he was near. It was so much stronger with Ros.
“Azzy, I can’t believe you are letting us leave.”
“Don’t lie,” he scolded. “You knew you weren’t being kept here, like I know you will be back once you finish up business with them.”
He didn’t enjoy calling her parents by their names. Ellea smirked at him, then eyed the wrapped object tucked under his arm.
