Page 3 of Their Demon

“I expect you at the next council meeting.” He looked at his sons as he spoke. “That’s two weeks. I’ll even give you an extra week after revealing the trial to prepare.” He took my hand and brushed a light kiss across my knuckles. “I am a gracious king, after all.”

I’m going to kill him.

Stop. I’m fine. Please, just let him leave so I can breathe, I pleaded with Keir.

He touched you.

I’m fine, Keir.Please.

His father studied me for another moment before standing abruptly and walking to the damaged elevator. He flicked one more look at each of us before waving his hand, magically repairing the doors. He stepped inside, they closed, and he was finally gone.

“Are you okay, little one?” Aiden grabbed my face.

All three of them surrounded me. The twins sat on either side of me, and Keir crouched in front of my knees. Keir grabbed my hand, the one his father kissed, staring at it like he wanted to chop it off and burn it. He pulled it toward him, and for a split second, I thought he was going to cover his father’s kiss with his own, but he stopped.

“Baby?” Nicholas chimed in, stealing my attention.

“I’m fine. Really.” I offered them a smile, more for my benefit than theirs, because, to be honest, I was shaken to my core.

Don’t lie to us. Keir’s words made me look at him.

I’m not.

He cocked his eyebrow, disbelief evident in his eyes. He was getting too good at reading me. It was annoyingly comforting.

“I’m a little shaken,” I confessed.

Nicholas took my hand from Keir and kissed it right over where their father had, and I didn’t miss the way Keir’s lips twitched.

“I hate that he touched you,” Nicholas said as his brothers muttered words of agreement. Then, he brushed his finger over my cheek where their father had. “I am so sorry, Lilly. He wasn’t supposed to find out.”

“I knew we shouldn’t have let Mother know about her.” Keir stood, shaking his head as he ran his hand through his hair. “Fuck. This is all my fault. I should’ve been smarter. I should’ve had you guys leave the city. Keep her hidden. Safe. I ma—”

“Keir.” Aiden left my side to stand with his brother at the window overlooking the city. “It’s okay. He was bound to find out at some point. There’s no going back, but we can keep her here now. Forever. She can—”

“Those trials are going to kill her, and you both know it,” he snapped, looking between the twins.

The room was silent. Keir had spoken everyone’s fear out loud.

Keir…I thought to him.

He didn’t respond; he just glanced around the room, looking lost, then turned and left.

“Just give him ti—”

“Stop. I don’t need you guys to defend him. He’s a grown-ass man,” I snapped at Nicholas. I instantly winced and took his hand in mine. “I’m sorry. I just…” My words trailed off.

“It’s okay. We’re all on edge.” He offered me a small smile, one I happily returned. I leaned in, about to kiss him, when Keir stormed back into the room.

“Get dressed.” His eyes were on me.

“I am dressed.” I furrowed my eyebrows, confused as to why he would come back to give me such a stupid command.

“Something more… training appropriate.”

I perked up, and my eyes widened. “It’s four in the fucking morning, Keir. Are you nuts?”

“You need to be prepared for anything. We have no idea what he will throw your way in the trials. We start training today. We still have a few hours until breakfast. I’ll take self-defense, Aiden will handle strength training, and Nicholas will train you in endurance.”

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