Page 91 of A Serenade To The Elf Queen
“You’re way out of line,” Darstan says, closing a hand on his shoulder. “Stand down, brother.”
“You’re not my brother if you allow this.” Garrett turns on him.
“You swore an oath to her,” Aelfric reminds him steadily.
My newest knight ignores us.
Before I can say another word, Darstan captures him in a chokehold. “She may let us call her by name, but remember she is our Queen. Her will is our will.”
Garrett is not the least bit fazed by the grip. His jade eyes flick to me, trying to read what’s in my mind. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“It’s just caning. I’ll be alright.” I sound so convincing; I almost believe my own lie.
The knight gives me a final long look of understanding. He shrugs himself from Darstan’s iron grip and leaves.
“Garrett, wait!” I almost chase him before Aelfric pulls me.
“He will cool down.”
I heave a shaky breath.
No one knows this turmoil in my chest. There is something else far more important than the Aeonians and my stupid punishment. I feel terrible for Garrett, but I need to find Svenn quickly. The binding spell has transferred something horrible. I touch the tattoo on my belly underneath my dress.
I have to speak to the Demon Lord urgently.
The moment I think of Kheirall Bathalzar, the devil himself appears in front of me.
Chapter 26 Rhianelle
“Morning, love,” the Demon Lord greets.
It’s almost noon.
Kheirall’s jet-black hair is still mussed from sleep. He is wearing some kind of dark glasses in front of his eyes. I believe it’s a human invention to see better. I can’t for the life of me figure out why he would ever need them.
“We need to talk,” I say, failing to hide the urgency in my voice.
“Can we do it over breakfast? I need coffee,” he asks with a yawn.
His cavalier attitude is unsettling me. But I can’t exactly deny the male food. I bring him to the tables and chairs the Tluryans set beside my tent. Cocoa and caramel syrup is the closest thing we have to what he requested.
“The sun is too bright…” I hear him mutter begrudgingly as he follows me, his steps unhurried.
Aelfric and Darstan maintain a good distance to give us privacy. I know they’re closely monitoring the demon’s movements.
“Kheirall…” I frown as I eye him.
The corner of his mouth curls up. “Say that again.”
I tilt my head in confusion.
“That’s the first time I heard you say my name,” he says with a wide grin. “I think I quite like hearing it from your lips. Though flirting with a married woman is a new low, even for me. Unless the vampire agrees that sharing is a virt—”
“I need to tell you something about last night,” I interrupt him.
A sympathetic look suddenly casts upon his face. “Ah…was he that terrible in bed?”
If I didn’t have to maintain the eloquent High Elf appearance, I would have glared at him. Svenn was a god. In fact, I’m still reeling from the blinding pleasure he gave me.
