Page 18 of Their Princess

She stuck her tongue out at his retreating back.

“They’re still hovering, huh?” Maya asked softly, watching him go.

I nodded. “I’m still not one hundred percent recovered, so they’re worried about me.” Truthfully, I didn’t know if I’d ever feel one hundred percent again now that I’d lost part of my power. Lost part of myself.

“Have you talked to King Jolmach recently?” Maya asked.

I nodded. “We spoke last night. Things are going well with the restoration, but slowly. It’s hard to revitalize a world that’s been kept burned and dead.” Turned out, Valentino had been continuously burning and destroying the land to keep it in line with his lies to the demons.

There was a lot of work to be done still, though.

Mom and Dad still weren’t letting me return to the demon world yet. They promised I could go soon, but for now, they were making me wait.

It was frustrating because I wanted to go back to see Talrinir and Azgon as well as the others. I kept thinking about the little demon orphan boy I’d met and wanting to return to help him as well as others as soon as possible.

“It’s still terrifying to think about how powerful that man was. I’m glad you had an ace up your sleeve because watching you all fight was awful,” Maya whispered and reached over to grip my hand.

“I’m her guard and I couldn’t even get close to her. It was incredibly frustrating,” Piper grumbled.

“Well, what’s important is that we’re all safe and sound and neither world was overthrown.”

“What’s important is that none of the royals died, especially you,” Piper said and squeezed my shoulder. “You saved us and everyone is very, very thankful.”

“So, what’s your plan for the next few days?” Maya asked.

“No,” I said immediately. “You’re not hiding at my house to avoid the guys you are courting.”

She pouted. “Mean.”

Piper laughed loudly and Maya smacked her in the face with a pillow.

Piper gasped. “You didnotjust hit me in the face with a pillow.”

“You laughed at me!” Maya countered, getting to her feet and backing around the couch as Piper grabbed a pillow and held it out menacingly.

Laughing, I watched as they chased each other around the couch, swinging pillows while also laughing.

Right, things didn’t need to be perfect to enjoy them.

Relaxing was important for my recovery as well.

After Maya left and Piper went to her room to sleep, Trey joined me on the couch to watch a comedy. He draped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me against his side, absentmindedly rubbing his thumb along my arm.

“You seem a bit more relaxed,” he commented.

I nodded. “It was nice having them here. They know just how to make me laugh.”

“That sounds like a challenge,” he muttered, but I didn’t bother to comment.

Silly, jealous man.

“You’re ridiculous,” I muttered.

He smiled and squeezed my shoulders. “I know.”

“So, what is up for tomorrow?” I asked.

“We are going to take you to work at the shop tomorrow,” he commented. “You need to get some sleep. Am I keeping you up? Do I need to take you to bed?”

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