Page 6 of The Demon Prince's Accidental Mate
“Very well,” the dragon relented. “Give me a description, a name, and where to send the Gray Knights to pick her up. Then we’ll bring her to the court for questioning and punishment.”
A wicked smile spread across Dannorax’s face as he committed to sending the court’s enforcers after the woman. I knew he took a sort of sick satisfaction in seeing people be punished by his court’s particular brand of justice. That was okay, so did I. Suffering was what I was built for, so becoming a jury member of the Twisted Court was a dream job in my mind.
Now, we would bring one more lawbreaker to justice.
“Her name is Lilith Rowe,” I said. “And she runs a bakery on the edge of downtown Niagara Falls. Nice and close, easy for your boys to round her up.”
The dragon’s snout dropped down in a sharp nod. “Excellent. I will dispatch them in the morning. Soon, justice will be had.”
“Good,” I growled, heading for the chamber exit.
I was already dreaming of her screams.
Chapter Four
Lily
Andie surged toward me, far faster than I thought the old woman could go. She smudged the chalk circles as she came, a hand grabbing my jaw with unexpected strength as she peered into my eyes.
“What are you doing?” I asked, wrenching myself free of her grip and backing up.
She eyed me for another second, then seemed to relax. “Just checking,” she said with a shake of her head.
“Checking for what?”
Andie waved me off, shuffling toward the door.
“Wait? We’re going?” I hurried after her.
“Too dangerous to try again right now,” Andie said.
“Why? Who was that? What’s going on?” I had so many questions, and I wasn’t getting any of them answered, it seemed. “That was someoneverystrong, Andie. Why did you have me try to control their mind? You must have known I wouldn’t be able to do it!”
Andie whirled on me. “Not the mind you were supposed to touch,” she said. “You were not calm. You flailed. Touched a different mind. Very, very different.”
“Who did I touch?”
The old woman shook her head. “Not sure. But be glad you managed to startle it and break free. Bad things could have happened if the owner got into your mind and took control.”
I thought back to the feeling of the moment. Of that presenceinmy mind.
“Yeah.” I shivered, glad I had managed to wrench myself away in that moment of surprise. The power behind it had been immense.
Just another sign that I shouldn’t be messing about with things I didn’t know. Except, how else was I supposed to get answers? It’s not like my father was coming back anytime soon.
“So, what now?”
Andie looked back at me while the door to her shop chimed ahead of us, indicating a new customer. “What do you mean?”
I frowned at her. “I never talked to my father. Never got to ask him the questions I wanted. I need answers.”
“You want to try again afterthat?”
Biting my lip, I hesitated, considering my answer. “Maybe not … but also, it’s not like I have any other options, now do I?”
“Maybe later,” Old Andie said, moving much slower as she headed toward the front counter.
“So, what am I supposed to do until then?” I called to her back.
