Page 45 of Their World

I shook my head. “I was coming back, I was working with them to get food and crops to bring you and your people.”

“You’ve been gone weeks!” he bellowed.

Mom started struggling against her bindings and yelling, but her words weren’t discernible. She was likely telling me to run, to flee, but I wouldn’t. Not when she was in trouble. There must have been a spell on her as well to prevent her from communicating mentally with me.

It worried me even more that Dad was nowhere to be seen.

Hopping up onto the platform, I held out my hand placatingly to Jol. “Time moves differently between our realms,” I explained. “I swear, I was only gone a few days in my world and I spent those days arguing with my overprotective family. They locked me up and prevented me from coming back here.”

Jol’s fury turned into confusion. “Locked you up?”

I nodded. “They put me in a magical prison that I couldn’t escape from. They were worried that you would hurt me if I came back. I tried to tell them that you wouldn’t, that you would let me explain, but they didn’t want to risk it. Please, please let me explain everything to you.” Opening the bag, I pulled out a small pot with a sprout in it. “I’ve brought plants to try. I swear, Jol. I swear to you on my soul that I was coming back and would have been back sooner if I could have. Please, give me five minutes.”

He growled and said, “Follow me.” Turning to Zoman, who stood to his side, he ordered, “Take the woman to her cell.”

Zoman nodded and grabbed Mom by the arm.

Remembering the necklace was around my neck, I unclasped it, which was much easier this time, and held the chain out to Mason. “Fly this away,” I ordered him.

“No,” he croaked.

Sighing, I stopped at the doorway to the castle. “Jol, one second,” I called.

He turned to watch me.

Taking the necklace, I set it on the ground just outside the door, turned, and walked inside.

He opened his mouth, but I held my finger up to my lips and waved him forward.

His scowl deepened, but he turned and led me to his room.

Once inside with the door shut, Jol jerked me forward. The sudden jerk caused Mason to fall off my shoulder with a startled caw.

Jol pulled me into his chest and hugged me tightly. “You foolish female. Are you injured?”

I hugged him back despite my shock and shook my head. “I’m uninjured.”

Pushing me back, he looked down into my face and said, “I thought you had abandoned me.”

Smiling, I said, “You silly demon king, I never abandon my friends or my people, and you are both.”

“You shouldn’t have come,” he whispered. “We’ve been working out a plan to get the Grand Advisor to show his true colors. You were safe at home, even if I didn’t want you to be away.” He paused and rested his hand against my cheek. “I am happy to see you.”

“Was it you who thrashed my room?”

He smiled and shook his head. “That was Dhun.”

My eyes widened. “Dhun?” Looking around I asked, “Where is he?”

“With your king,” he said.

Mason shifted, pulled me back, out of Jol’s arms, and wrapped his arms around my upper chest. “Mine,” he growled and bared his teeth.

Jol froze and looked down at me. “Who is this?”

“This is Mason, my to-be mate, one of them,” I explained. “I promised him he could come this time. Please, don’t hurt him. He isn’t your enemy.”

Jol relaxed a bit. “You better keep her safe.”

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