Page 33 of Their Princess

Elrith squealed. “Snacks!”

I picked him up and swung him around onto my back, giving him a piggyback ride. “Let’s go get snacks!” Jogging slowly, holding onto his arms around my neck, I made sure he didn’t fall as we went.

Elrith laughed loudly, and I knew we were both smiling like fools as we approached the house.

Dad and my mates whispered behind us, but I dismissed them, since they were likely filling him in on what had happened.

Mom opened the door as I approached. “My baby’s home!” She ran out to tackle me, but stopped when she saw Elrith. “Oh, an adorable visitor!”

“Mom, this is your grandson, Elrith. Elrith, this is Queen Ember of the Hybrids.”

“Does she shift, too?” Elrith asked.

I nodded. “All hybrids shift. Grandma here can even shift into a bunny!”

“A bunny? What’s a bunny?” he asked.

Setting him on his feet, he tilted his head slightly, confused.

“It’s a prey animal,” I explained. “Small, furry, and cute.”

“Also delicious in stew,” Dad teased as he caught up and kissed Mom on the cheek.

Mom shifted into her bunny form and then into her hybrid form, which was mostly humanoid with her legs rabbit-like to allow her to jump higher and a puffy white rabbit tail on her butt. “I prefer this form since I’m bigger.” She winked.

Elrith giggled. “You’re all so funny!”

“Mom, are there snacks?” I asked.

She gasped. “Of course! Come on, Grandson. I’ll show you where I keep the good snacks.” She leaned close to him and whispered, “The ones I have to hide from Grandpa Caleb.”

“What? What snacks do you hide from me?” Dad gasped in not so fake shock.

Elrith laughed and took Mom’s hand, letting her lead him inside.

“How many words out of his mouth before Nana Jolie melts into a puddle?” I asked Dad as we watched them go inside.

“Zero,” he said. “She’ll melt as soon as she sees him.” He put his arm around my shoulders and squeezed. “He reminds me of you. Small, smart, and full of magic.”

“I think he’s a hybrid,” I whispered. “He can do things the other demons can’t, like shift.”

“Well, we’ve got the first hybrid demoness right here,” Dad said, squeezing me again. “So, it’s not out of the realm of possibility. He did smell like a hybrid, but I will need to smell him again to tell what kind.” He looked down at me and asked, “Are you feeling well?”

I shrugged. “As well as I can in the circumstances.”

“You should visit Nana Kara for some healing,” he suggested.

“Great Nana Kara already visited me. I think it’s just going to take time to get used to not having that part of me. I’ll be fine.” I hugged him and said, “Thank you for worrying about me, though.”

“Always, Daughter.”

“Where’s my granddaughter?” Nana Jolie shouted suddenly behind us.

We both spun around, staring at Nana Jolie and Grandpa Nico who must have teleported here.

“What are you two doing here?” Dad asked.

Nana Jolie shoved Dad to the side and pulled me into a hug. “There you are! You naughty little thing. You haven’t visited me since the battle and I’ve been worried.”

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