Page 19 of Their World

“Do you not feel a kinship to these people, myself included?” he asked with an arched brow.

I did, but I had thought perhaps there was something else…

“So, I am … part demon?”

“It would seem so. Only a demon would be able to harness the power like you can.”

Everything I thought I knew was crumbling around me. My parents … my grandparents … the trio … would they care? Would they still love me, want to mate with me, once they found out?

“In fact, you bear a striking resemblance to someone I once knew, a former monarch here. I haven’t mentioned it to King Jolmach, but I believe you are a princess.”

“Wait, what? I am an adopted princess of the hybrids …”

He shook his head, interrupting me. “I believe you are Princess of the Demons.”

My ears rang and dizziness overtook me, forcing me to lean my head on the table before me and take shallow breaths. My hair glowed bright, casting rainbows around us.

“Princess? Princess?” Grand Advisor called.

“Air,” I whispered. “I … need air.”

Panic attack. I was having another panic attack.

Arms picked me up and after a dizzying several seconds, I was back in the garden, set on the cool ground.

Digging my fingers into the burnt soil, I closed my eyes and grounded myself. Wind. I could feel the wind. Sun. I could feel the sunlight. Jol. I could smell Jol.

“Little Queen?” Jol asked.

“I apologize,” the Grand Advisor said. “I think the information I provided her gave her quite a shock.”

“What information?” Jol demanded with a growl.

“That she bears demonic blood and is in fact, Princess of the Demons,” he answered.

Jol didn’t respond and when I looked up at him, I saw disbelief on his face.

“She uses the Third to Reign’s powers,” the Grand Advisor went on. “You cannot deny that.”

“You think …” he swallowed. “You think she is a missing royal? A child raised not here, but in the other world and not taught about her demon heritage?”

“Yes,” the Grand Advisor said with certainty. “I believe that’s why you feel such a pull to her. Because you recognize she is of the royal bloodline and must be protected.”

I wanted to argue, but within me, it felt …right.

“Also, because she is an ideal potential mate for you now that you are king,” the Grand Advisor added.

A potential mate to Jol? No, I had the trio. Jol seemed kind and caring, but my heart already belonged to Mason, Trey, and Kayden.

“You …” I opened my eyes and looked up at the Grand Advisor. “You still didn’t explain the goddess thing to me.”

“Perhaps this is enough for the day. You clearly took the news about your heritage a bit harder than I anticipated. I will come back tomorrow, after you have had time to rest and digest the information.” He bowed his head to Jol and then bowed his head to me.

My eyes widened and my heart pounded again.

Jol picked me up in a bridal carry, startling me. “Don’t worry, even if he is wrong about your bloodline, I will still keep you safe while you’re here. I was protecting you before it was mentioned you might be part demon.”

“If he’s right … I’m not sure what that will mean for my place back home.” Would my parents have to revoke my status as Princess of the Hybrids?

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