Page 64 of Their Princess

A thought came to me and I asked, “Would you like a job, Huk?”

He tilted his head. “Job?”

“The children,” I began explaining, “the ones whose parents are dead …”

“Orphans?” he clarified.

I nodded and felt bad that I’d thought he might not know what that word was, that he might not be intelligent just because of how large he was. How could I fall to such a stereotype?

“The orphanage that was recently built, where the children will be, Azgon is the leader there, but I still worry for their safety. Would you be willing to work there, as their guard?”

“Protect demon orphans?” he asked.

I nodded. “Exactly.”

He bowed. “It would be a great honor to protect the orphans at Princess Liliana’s orphanage.”

That solved one of my issues nicely!

“Thank you, Huk.”

“Do you know of others who might be willing to be guards, who would never harm the children even if the children are injured?” Jol asked Huk.

Huk tilted his head up and thought for a moment. “I know two, strong fighters, never harm others unless attacked first. They are smart enough to understand the children will be the ones to protect and know not to harm them, even if the children act out against us.”

“Please have them come see the princess to discuss working at the orphanage as well,” Jol ordered.

Huk dipped his head in a bow. “As you wish, Your Majesty.”

“Are you injured?” I asked Jol.

He shook his head. “You summoning Zoman prevented me from being able to fight.”

I smiled at the indignation in his tone. “I apologize, but they were clearly intent on harming you. You wouldn’t want to return to a certain female demon with wounds, would you?”

He folded his arms across his chest and said, “She would tend to me and praise me for my valiant deeds.”

Mom laughed once before turning it into a cough. “Why are kings so similar no matter the race?”

Dad scowled at her as he walked to us, finished cleaning up the bodies. “What was that, mate?”

She smiled sweetly at him and batted her eyelashes. “I was asking if you’d like to go on a date, just the two of us, soon?”

He clearly knew she’d changed the question, but he smiled, slid an arm around her waist, and pulled her close to whisper something that made her giggle.

“Ew,” I said and waved at them like that would make the mental image disappear.

Tony and Maya ran from the direction of town towards us, panting. “What … What happened?” Tony gasped.

“A little late, bro,” Mason teased.

“I didn’t know something was wrong until a moment ago,” he said, ears red.

“Were you two … preoccupied?” I guessed.

Maya’s pale face turned as red as her hair and she shouted, “Lily!”

Everyone laughed and I felt myself relax finally.

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