Page 2 of Their World

“You have to eat,”the demon who had grabbed me two days ago said sternly.

“I don’t have to do shit,” I snapped back and hissed at him for good measure.

The hellhound pup I had rescued and who I felt had slightly betrayed me, lay on the floor, whining at me with his ears flattened against his head.

“Even Dhun is worried about you,” the demon said.

After tying me up in a weird rope, he’d carried me to the spire, which had indeed been a castle made of a strange rock that seemed to absorb all the light around it. All of the demons, no matter their size or shape, bowed to the warrior demon and averted their eyes from looking at me. One demon had peeked at me and the warrior demon had released a vicious growl that had sent them all scurrying away.

The warrior demon put me in a room that rivaled the best hotels I had ever stayed at with a fluffy mattress, huge claw-footed tub in the connected bathroom that had indoor plumbing, and a chaise lounge chair that was perfect for relaxing on.

I continued to stay curled up on the chaise lounge, ignoring them both. As far as I was concerned, the pup was a traitor who had failed to protect me from getting kidnapped by this demon.

“Would you prefer live food? You are a snake shifter from what we saw, so I could find you live food to consume.”

There was absolutely zero judgment in his words, just genuine concern.

Was I going about this all wrong? Should I be trying to make him my friend or ally? He hadn’t done anything aggressive since bringing me here. If he really wasn’t my enemy, then I needed to alter my plan.

Sitting up, I asked, “When can I go home?”

He shrugged. “That’s not up to me.”

“Who is it up to? Let me talk to them.”

“It’s up to fate,” he answered. “The necklace will send you back home when it’s time, or a portal will open in front of you.”

Dropping my head into my hands, I sighed dramatically. “If I eat food here, will I be stuck here?”

“What? Why would you be stuck here?”

“There are stories of people eating food after going through a portal and then being unable to return to their home. I just want to make sure that’s not going to happen here,” I explained.

“That’s absurd,” he whispered. “What kind of worlds have you been to?”

Looking up, I saw his horrified face and burst into laughter.

He stood on the plush grey carpet before the chaise lounge, watching me curiously.

“What’s your name?” I asked once I’d stopped laughing.

“I am King Jolmach of the Demons, First of my Name, Fourth to Reign.” He bowed with a flourish.

My eyes widened as I realized that, of course, the man who lived in this tower and had the demons bowing would be their king.

“It’s an honor to meet you, King Jolmach,” I replied.

“May I know your name?” he asked.

“Oh. I thought you knew already,” I admitted and stood. Why did they know about me, but not know my name? “I am Princess Liliana Rubyserpent of the Hybrids, adopted daughter of the King and Queen of the Hybrids.” I curtsied, but kept my headraised as I had been taught never to bow my head to anyone exceptmyking and queen.

He reached out slowly, took one of my hands, raised it, and kissed my knuckles. “It is an honor to meet you, Princess Liliana Rubyserpent.”

My heart beat a bit faster, and I took a moment to study his face, noting that while it wasn’t traditionally handsome, he wasn’t bad looking either. Once again, I got the feeling that he was like me, a hybrid shifter, or something because there was a weird connection between us. The same strange connection I felt to Dhun.

“Will you eat?” he asked. Glancing at Dhun he said, “He won’t eat until you do, so you’re really punishing both of you.”

I had a feeling he was playing at my emotions, but I nodded, then pointed at him and said, “But if I end up stuck here, I’m going to make your life miserable.”

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