Page 55 of Their World

“Absolutely not,” Trey snapped. “Where did you hear such an absurd rumor? Do you want to be sued for defamation with such a blatant lie?”

“There’s a picture, of her hugging the demon king, them smiling at each other,” one of them answered. It was a reporter I saw often for royal events and was normally very respectful. She pulled out her cell phone and showed us the picture.

It was one hundred percent a picture of Jol and I, just from yesterday. How did someone get a picture of that? There was no one there.

Mason turned and looked down at me. He whispered, “It wasn’t me. I swear.”

I nodded. “I know. The angle’s not right.” And I knew he wouldn’t do that. My eyes widened, and I whispered, “The Grand Advisor, he must have other items, like the necklace, in Jol’s room. That must be what the mana stones in the room are for.” Fear coursed through me and my heart pounded so loud I couldn’t hear Trey or the reports anymore. “He knows,” I realized. “He knows the plan my parents and Jol are working on. He knows.” Stepping forward, I grabbed Trey’s wrist. “We need to go home. I need to get something from home.”

Trey nodded. “Okay.”

“Princess, have you chosen your mates? Are you and the demon hunters truly going to be mates?”

“Yes,” Trey answered and smiled down at me. “Princess Liliana has officially accepted our request to be mates. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have pressing business to attend to.” He put his arm around my shoulders, and led me away from the reporters and to the SUV we’d driven. “What’s going on?” he asked.

“The Grand Advisor knows,” I explained, my hands and body shaking. “That picture could have only been taken in Jol’s room, and it was only Jol, Mason, and I there. Which means he likelyhas other devices like the necklace in the room. Which means he knows all about the plan my parents are trying to do. He knows, and that means everyone there is in terrible danger.”

“Why are we going back to your house then?” Kayden asked as he started the SUV.

“I need to get the communication stone, to reach out to Jol, to check on him and my parents.”

We sped through the city, back to the house. I ignored everyone who was in the house, running straight to my room and grabbed the stone.

Picturing Dad, I whispered, “Dad? Is everything okay?”

“Lily?” he asked.

“Dad, I think the Grand Advisor knows. You’re not safe. You and Mom need?—”

“It’s too late,” he whispered. “Jol has your mom and no matter how many times I fight him, I can’t defeat him. Tell Nico I need him. I need him and Mom and Aunt Leona. I don’t know how much longer I can last.”

“Dad! Dad, I’m coming,” I said.

Picturing Jol next, I asked, “Jol, can you hear me?”

“Little Queen,” he growled. “How dare you contact me after abandoning me so long ago.”

“I didn’t abandon you. I visited you just yesterday. The Grand Advisor, I think he’s been spying on you. He’s changed your memory. Please remember. You have to break the magic that’s in your mind, find the seam and tear it open so you get your real memories back. You have to see it, Jol. It’s in your mind, changing the truth, trying to turn you against me.”

“I trusted you even though the Grand Advisor warned me against it. I should have listened to him. Now, you’ve brought ruin to my world. I will kill you and everyone you love. I will take over your world, save my people, and destroy you and your family.”

“Jol, this isn’t you. You wouldn’t hurt me. You have to listen. This is the Grand Advisor. I’ll come to your castle. I’ll come and?—”

“If you set foot in my world. I will not show you mercy. In fact, you won’t have to wait long. I’ll be coming to your world with my army. Queen or not, I will cut your head from your shoulders.”

Dropping the stone onto my bed, I gasped as tears streamed down my face.

This couldn’t be happening. The Grand Advisor couldn’t win like this.

Rushing downstairs, I ran into Branson, who grabbed my shoulders and righted me.

“What’s going on?” he asked, scowling as he looked at my tear-streaked face.

“I need Grandpa Nico. The Grand Advisor, he’s altered Jol’s memories, and he has Mom and Dad. He said he’s going to come and kill us all. We need Great Aunt Leona and Nana Jolie and … and …”

Branson pulled out his cell phone and started calling someone.

I dropped to my knees and Kayden sat beside me, pulling me into his arms and petting my hair. “It’s going to be okay,” he whispered. “We’ll get this figured out. We’ll rescue your parents.”

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