Page 74 of Happily Ever Bitten (Underworld Royals 2)

“You’re both rather strange,” the female in question stated.

“We are,” Zaya agreed. “But it’s why he’s mine.”

Possessive, little minx, I taunted, amused and floored at the same time. She’s not a threat to you.

I know. And she did. I could see the truth of it in her mind. I’m glad you’re mine, she added.

I’m glad you’re mine, too, I replied. Now let’s figure out how to get the fuck out of here.

The sun was setting when we finally found our way back to a speck of civilization, and it set before we reached the entrance to the village.

Narissa didn’t recognize the province, but Zaya did. When she mentioned the name, Narissa perked up and said she knew just where to go.

That ended up being an old servant’s house.

An older female with bright orange hair and yellow skin embraced Narissa with the warmest of hugs, her eyes tearing up at seeing the girl she once knew all grown up. Then her nose had curled upon finding us in our existing wardrobe.

She offered us showers and clothes, something I was entirely too grateful for, and also provided us with something to eat.

The latter wasn’t my favorite—all the food fish-sourced—but I indulged in as much as I could to be kind.

Zaya rested against my shoulder, her blue hair fresh from the shower, her eyes closed.

I need to get in touch with Adrik, I told her.

She nodded without opening her eyes. M’kay.

I kissed the top of her head. How about you take a nap while I go find a new phone? My wallet was ruined, but the demon credits inside were fine. I’d use them in the village to purchase a few essential things, such as boots that actually fit.

Leaving Zaya with Narissa and Greza—the former palace servant—I set out to wander around the small village. It existed near the border o

f Noxia. There was a shimmering wall between the realms that required authorization to pass through, which was one of the reasons I needed Adrik. Without my portal charm, I’d have to go via the formal methods, and that wasn’t going to work.

It took me only a few minutes to find the stores I needed, the first being footwear and the second being a small electronics store. They were both open, despite the later hour. Which made sense with their location near Noxia. I imagined that demons from my kingdom sometimes ventured over for small things, and my kind tended to stay up through all hours of the night.

“Thank you,” I said to the final clerk. He’d helped get my new phone set up on the appropriate network. It had cost a minor fortune since I didn’t want to reveal my identity to him, but it was worth it to have a proper communication channel again.

I quickly sent off a text to Adrik while walking back to the house.

His response came several minutes later. I translated our old language in my head and smirked. Thank. Fuck. I thought you were dead or something.

I typed off a reply. No. Just had a long date in a swamp with Zaya. How’s my mother?

Narissa met me at the door as I entered, her green eyes vibrant. “Did you find what you needed?”

“Yes.” I moved past her to find Zaya curled up on the couch, lost to sleep. I bent to kiss her temple just as Adrik replied. Not good. I can’t figure out how to undo this damn hypnosis. I’ve tried everything, including slapping her. And she didn’t even react to that.

Shit, I thought. Have you called… him? I asked, referring to Lucifer.

He’s a last resort was the reply.

I wiped a hand over my face and shook my head.

“What is it?” Narissa asked. She’d changed into another dress, this one much plainer than the gown she had on before.

“My mother seems to have fallen victim to the hypnosis,” I muttered. “I have no idea how to fix it.” I told her some of the things that had happened, how my mother seemed to be under the control of another, and how the same hypnosis had impacted Zaya.

“Oh” was Narissa’s response. Then she turned and left without another word, causing me to frown after her.

---