Page 25 of The Princess and the Demon

Amon gestures to the large bed, and anxiety coils in my belly. He wanted me to sleep… with him? I swallow thickly, my eyes moving to stare at his back again.

The muscles there ripple as he takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly.

“You have my word that you are safe in my care. No harm will befall you, princess.”

He turns to glare at me, his amber eyes catching the firelight as he bares his fangs at me again.

“You made sure of that.”

I place my shaky hands in my lap, trying to calm the tremor that has begun to take over my body.

I didn’t know what to feel right now, and I was second guessing everything about this.

I glance up at him, then over to the large bed.

I didn’t see how I had any other choice tonight, so I stand, smoothing my skirts, and walk towards the bed.

Kicking off my shoes, I sit on the edge, running my trembling hands over the furs. There were no windows in here, so I couldn’t see the sky. I didn’t know whether it was day or night. I had no idea how time was even measured in this place.

I would have to try to get answers tomorrow, but in the meantime, exhaustion pulls at me, begging me to sleep.

Amon regards me as I crawl under the furs, pulling them back just enough to wiggle under them.

My skirts bunch up around my legs, but I ignore it, the alternative wasn’t even imaginable.

Once I’m as comfortable as I’m going to get, I still, my eyes taking in the ornate ceiling above me.

Amon approaches the bed, pausing for a moment before pulling back the furs and crawling beneath them. My face reddens and my lips part as his arm brushes mine.

This close I can feel the heat emanating from him, and it sends a shiver across my skin.

He seems to feel it, because he reaches over and pulls the furs higher over my shoulders.

“Sleep, princess.” He growls out, turning his back to me. He adjusts to lay on his side away from me, and I do the same, trying to stave off the thick lump developing in my throat.

Tears burn the backs of my eyes, and I attempt to swallow them down, but they fall unbidden, disappearing into my hair.

I clutch the furs to my face tightly, trying to hide.

I felt so sure.

I knew without a doubt that this was what needed to be done.

So why did I feel this way?

Tears fall in rivulets down my cheeks, and I don’t stop them. I sob quietly, curling into myself.

Eventually, exhaustion wins, and I fall into a restless sleep.

Amon

I stare into the fire, listening to the quiet sniffling of the human lying next to me. I shouldn’t care. This female managed to trick me, and I allowed it.

I should throw her into the fires and be done with it.

Better yet, I should return to Delyra and take the child anyway, rendering her efforts useless.

Instead, I feel the need to turn to her and comfort her.

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