Page 80 of Their Promise

The owner scanned the items and put them inside of a bag. “Do you need anything else?” he asked, looked at my card, and gasped. “Y-Your Highness.”

“Shh,” I urged him and glanced up. “Please, I’m in a hurry.”

He tapped the screen on his register to get the receipt and held the bag out, hands shaking, and bowed. “Thank you for your patronage.”

“Thank you,” I said, grabbed it and my card, and ran out of the store and to my car.

Looking over, I was relieved to see the bag still there, opening it, the pup peeked at me, huffed, and put its tail back over its eyes.

“Phew,” I whispered and set the bag of items on the passenger floorboard.

“Why the hurry?” Mason asked behind me.

I screamed and partially shifted.

The pup in the bag yelped in fear and started shivering.

Mason’s eyes narrowed on the bag. “What?—”

He started to reach for it and I knocked his hand away. “Don’t touch him!”

His eyes widened. “Him? What is in the bag, Lily?” Eyes narrowing, he asked, “Is this your child?”

Barking out a quick laugh I asked, “Is that really what you think of me, Mas? That I’d get knocked up, not tell anyone, and then have it somewhere secretly? Wow.”

“No, I don’t think you’d do that, but you’ve been acting incredibly suspicious and there’s obviously something going on.” He indicated the bag.

Exhaling softly, I said, “If I tell you, you have to promise, swear to me, that you won’t harm him.”

He leaned back in the back seat and folded his arms across his chest. “Why do I get the feeling you’re making me swear that because it needs to be killed.”

“Shush!” I hissed and looked at the bag that was quivering in fear now. “Just … just promise me.”

He sighed and rubbed his eyes. “Fine, I promise I won’t kill whatever it is when you show me it.”

“Or after!” I snapped.

He sighed again. “I won’t kill it unless it attacks me or you. Happy?”

“No, but I suppose that’s the best I’m going to get with you.” Taking a deep breath, I said, “It’s a hellhound pup.”

“What!” Mason bellowed and drew his sword. “Lily, that is not?—”

“You promised!” I shouted.

He clenched his sword and stared at the bag.

“Just … just let me find a portal so I can send him back. Okay? That’s what I’m doing. I’m trying to find a portal so he can go home.”

His eyes widened and his sword lowered. “That’s what you meant when you said, ‘the perfect place?’”

I nodded.

“How long have you had it?” he asked.

“A few days,” I admitted.

He chuckled, but there was no humor in the laugh.

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