Page 53 of Their Princess

“Veggies are important to help you grow strong,” Elrith lectured.

She pouted. “Daddy didn’t eat vegetables and none of the other hounds do. Why do I have to?”

“Those who can shift into these types of forms require vegetables for nutrition,” Trey explained gently as he sat, cross-legged, between them. He picked up one of the blocks and added it to the tower Elrith had been working on. “Just like this block helps make the tower taller, the vegetables help make you taller.”

Kora huffed, but said, “I’ll try them, I guess.”

“I’m going to go to the other world and get some food supplies. Is there anything specific you want?” Kayden asked.

“Cake!” Elrith shouted.

“Ice cream!” I shouted.

“Meat!” Kora shouted.

Kayden chuckled. “Cake, ice cream, and meat. Got it. I’ll be back soon.” He squeezed me and whispered in my ear, “I’ll also update your parents about the newest addition.”

“Ask Mom to order some outfits for Kora, please? She looks like she’s probably in size eight kids’ clothing.”

He kissed the shell of my ear and whispered, “You got it.”

“Don’t forget we’re going to the castle at lunchtime, so meet us there if you’re not back in time,” Trey called out to Kayden’s retreating back.

Kayden raised his arm to let him know he’d heard before walking out the front door.

I sat in the highbacked chair and watched Mason, Trey, Kora, and Elrith playing together in the living room of the castle the demons had built for us and a sense of rightness and familiarity settled deep in my chest. Kora wasn’t ours, but she definitely fit with the group of us. She was the first, born hellhound with the ability to shift forms, likely due to her father’s unique powers. She was like a hybrid, a unique being like me. Suddenly, the familiarity triggered a memory and I realized that it was because I’d had a vision of this over a year ago. I’d thought it had been a simple dream due to Elrith’s and Kora’s appearances, of a being I’d never seen before, and I assumed it was my mind creating something.

Now, I understood the vision.

Trey and Mason looked at me, both with their heads slightly canted and a slight frown.

Was my shock filtering through the bond? It was going to take some getting used to and practice to keep from so openly sharing my emotions with them.

“Mama, come help us with the tower,” Elrith said.

“Please, Princess!” Kora begged.

Both looked at me with wide, earnest, and eager eyes.

How could I say no to that?

“I’m not the best at building, but I’ll help as much as I can,” I promised as I slid off the chair, tucking my dress around my knees as I joined them in their circle.

Trey and Mason smiled at me, joy filtering through the bond from the both of them, and the warmth in my chest grew even more.

A found family. Exactly what I’d always wanted. Perfection.

ChapterNineteen

Two weeks in the demon world and I felt as good as I had before I’d unlocked my other shadow powers.

Elrith and Kora were a full-time job, both so full of energy and the desire for knowledge that we’d hired private tutors, one from each world, since the demon world’s school wasn’t quite ready yet.

They were both being spoiled to an extreme level by my family, but I was okay with it. They deserved to be spoiled and shown what it was like to have a family like I was fortunate enough to find. Nana Jolie and Great Aunt Leona were the worst perpetrators, finding an excuse at least every other day to meet up to spend time with them.

Maya had been extra busy with courting my brother Tony, elf Tony, and Jaeden. Things were going well, though, and it helped ease my worry that I was neglecting our friendship. We did schedule a monthly girls’ night with Piper, Maya, and I as well, swapping between worlds each month to keep our friendships stronger.

Azgon had volunteered to run the demon orphanage with the help of a few other females as staff. Jol had assured us she was a great choice because she was hard to rile up, making her perfect to handle children, and she was a strong fighter, so she could protect them as well. I still wanted to find and hire a few guards, which was on my to-do list when we returned.

---