Page 44 of Their Princess

“How’d you know that?” Trey asked. “I’ve never told anyone that.”

Smiling, I leaned forward and said, “Mate, I’ve known you most of your life. I could tell whenever you were around her that you’d get tense and your responses were always clipped. She thought you were being conceited or that you thought you were better than her, but I knew it was because she scared you.”

“Scared you? My mom is super sweet,” Kayden argued.

“She was sweet to you,” I countered. “She yelled at us when you weren’t nearby.”

His eyes widened. “She what?”

“Actually, she told me I should keep away from you after we graduated. When I told her I was going away for college, she actually breathed out in relief.” I shrugged. “Not sure why she doesn’t like me, but she’s never wanted us to end up together.”

Kayden scowled and sat back in his chair. “I’m going to have to talk to her about that.”

I waved it away. “It doesn’t matter now. You’re mine and she can’t change that. There’s no need to bring it up.”

I was fairly certain it was her concern over the spell I’d taken for Mom when we were on the island. And that Kayden wouldn’t look at other girls when I was around.

“Why didn’t you ever tell me?” Kayden asked with a frown.

I shrugged and said, “Because there’s not much you could do. Plus, I hoped as I grew and changed that she would learn to like me. When we stopped talking, she was nicer to me whenever she saw me, but I bet now that we’re mates, she’ll go back to being annoyed by me.”

“I’ll talk to her,” Kayden whispered.

“It’s okay, Trey’s mom hates me even more.”

Trey sighed. “She doesn’t likememost days.”

“No, she’s always been pissed that you spend your time with us, sullying your pure-blooded-ness with us hybrids,” Mason countered. “She tried to threaten me into stopping our friendship when we were teens.”

“Same,” Kayden said with a nod.

Trey blinked in stunned silence.

“Well, anyway, I’m glad we have family who does approve,” I said, and looked over at Ezio, who was talking to Elrith, both smiling wide.

No matter what their moms thought, their sons were mine now, so they’d just have to accept me. That thought made me smile, earning curious stares from my mates.

ChapterSixteen

The days passed so quickly and quietly that I didn’t realize howmanyhad passed until I looked at the date.

The orphanage was well under construction and all of the other updates and plans were going into effect. The public opinion was varied, but many were embracing the trade options and hiring the demons who requested work here. We had announced our adoption of Elrith as well. The poor little guy had hated all the posing for pictures, but he loved looking at them afterwards.

I still wasn’t recuperated, but Trey had been dealing with something with the dragons that kept taking him from home, so we hadn’t yet returned to the demon world. It was one of a handful of topics we needed to discuss.

“Mama, can we go tour the school soon?” Elrith asked softly.

“Your fathers and I still have to discuss school. I think you’re better suited for a school in the demon world,” I replied.

Elrith sat on the couch next to me, eyes glued to the TV as we watched the news.

“I want to learn about this world,” he whispered. “There’s so much I don’t know.”

He was right that we needed to decide. We had to register him soon.

“When Trey and Mason return, I’ll talk to them, okay?”

He nodded and resumed focusing on the news.

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