Page 84 of Tricky Princess
Ellea rolled her eyes and pressed into him like she wanted to guard him from her grandmother.
“Yeah, and it was fine,” Ellea said.
Felix cocked his head at her. “It was not fine. We were worried.”
Ellea waved her hand before taking a long sip of her drink, moaning around the rim of the mug. “You had nothing to worry about.”
“None of us knew that,” Ros added. “And I’m sorry you two had to worry. I never thought my father would do something like that.”
“You told us it was to get you home, which seemed to work,” Jadis said. “Now you’re back, but only because of”—she paused as though words hurt her to say—“my daughter and her husband?”
“Speaking of those ass-hats,” Ellea cut in. “What’s the plan?”
Ros couldn’t help it as his shadows curled possessively around Ellea’s waist, ready to pull her away at the mention of her parents.
“We can’t trust the vampires on the council, so besides Rosier’s lead, I’m not sure.”
“I want to head to Glenover tomorrow to talk with Sam,” Ros said. “The west coast pack is still in the area, and they may have some insight on Vlad’s brother.”
Felix and Jadis both nodded in approval.
“Now, back to your father, Rosier,” Jadis said pointedly, sitting taller. “What are his intentions with Ellea? Is he trying to force you two to marry? Is he holding her over your head for something—”
“Nana!” Ellea squeaked.
“No one is getting married,” Ros said quickly, hearing both Billy and Garm chuff from their spots on the carpet.
It was true; no matter the pain Ellea’s flinch caused him and the coldness she left as she leaned away, he would not subject her to the curse of the kings. She didn’t deserve a life in Hel, looking over her shoulder and wondering when the time would come for her to die. He couldn’t bear a life without her in it, but as long as she was alive, he would learn to live without her.
“Why didn’t you tell me I’m a descendent of Loki?” Ellea said roughly, seeming to try and fill in the silence. “You, my tutors, and even Cato never mentioned it.”
His shadows squeezed harder again. Her fucking father. Where was he in all of this?
“We’re all descendants from some God or deity,” Felix said. “It didn’t seem important.”
“Well, I find it important. Where I come from is important. I know being a trickster is scary for me and those around me, but I’ve learned so much from the library in Hel and from Azzy—”
“Azzy?” Jadis questioned with a furrowed brow. It was such a signature Ellea look.
“King Asmodeus,” Ellea said, as though it was nothing.
“You call the King of the Gods ‘Azzy?’” Jadis looked offended for his father as she placed a hand to her chest. “To his face?”
“For someone who never spoke of the man, you are very concerned about my nickname for him.” Ellea placed the mug on the table and crossed her arms. “Are you hiding something from me, Nana?”
Jadis rolled her eyes and Ros instantly knew how Ellea had learned her signature bratty move.
“Don’t be mad at me for not telling you about Hel, it wasn’t—”
“Important? What other non-important things are you not telling me?” Ellea said, a bit harshly. “You’ve spent my whole life protecting me, training me, and for what? So I can learn there is so much more to our realms, to my magic, in the span of three months? I’m twenty-nine years old; there was plenty of time for you to explain a few more things to me.”
“You’re practically immortal, Zaza,” Felix said. “There is plenty of time to learn about the cruel world we live in. You had a rough start, so please forgive us if we wanted you to live a simpler life for a bit longer.”
Ros placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing once, and she finally leaned into him.
“I’m a billion years old and I only learned about tricksters three months ago,” Ros said jokingly, kissing her on the temple.
He wanted to tell her that there were going to be plenty of things for her to learn, for them to learn together, but it would be a lie. So he squeezed her shoulder again, and she looked up at him with a smirk.
