Page 67 of The Demon's Pet

We landed on the edge of the fae barrens we were visiting, and as I slid off Griffin’s back to the ground, my jaw dropped.

It smelled gorgeous here. Humid greenery and fresh roses and wildflowers filled the air, along with notes of mint and other plants.

There were trees and plants everywhere, growing amidst the ruins of large buildings. Small, rounded dwellings sat amongst the trees, looking like flat, wide trees themselves, with a body of bark and leaves covering the roofs.

Some were barely ten feet square, others closer to twenty.

There were many of these little buildings and then, up at the far end of the community, aged stone steps leading to a courtyard. At the center of the courtyard stood a large iron cage with blackened bars.

Inside, an odd, blurry black shadow moved like an insect swarm, though I could make out a large, humanoid figure within.

But I didn’t have long to look at the faraway cage because Sam led us to one of the larger dwellings and rapped the wooden door with the back of his knuckles, tapping his booted foot impatiently as Os joined him from behind.

Griffin and I stayed back a few steps, waiting uncertainly.

Someone opened the door, and I could barely see them as their chest was at the door’s short level.

A smooth, dark hand with long, slim fingers and jeweled rings extended, slowly curling a finger at Sam.

Sam waved for us to follow and ducked his head low to go in.

“Will there be room for us?” Griffin asked dubiously, ruffling his blond hair with his large hand.

Os simply laughed and waved for us to follow, entering after Sam and disappearing from sight.

“We have to trust them, I guess,” I said. “At least for now.”

“I’ll come to watch out for you, then. And Os.”

I grinned at him. “You’re really going to have to do something about your protective side, aren’t you? I’m a pet.”

He nodded. “I can’t help it. I just want to prevent bad things where I can. I’ve always been that way.”

I supposed that wasn’t the worst thing.

Griffin ducked to go in, and even I had to duck slightly as I walked into the small house, but as I looked up when I entered the room, I realized some sort of spell had been cast on this place because it was huge on the inside.

Sam was talking to a tall, handsome man in the center of the room, the one who must have beckoned us in.

The man’s deep brown skin glowed against ornate blue robes with pink swirls over the front.

He studied me as a woman came up from behind him, with skin so pale it was almost pearlescent. Another man with pale skin followed her as well. They wore robes of yellow with orange flame overlays, and the gemstones on their fingers matched.

The furnishings in the room were also beautiful. Tapestries in bright colors hung on every wall, and the room was shaped like a hexagon, each side about fifteen feet long.

At the center sat an ornate wooden chair with gold leaf along the frame and a blue silk cushion in the center.

The man with black, blue, and pink robes sat in it, crossing his feet and showing off elaborate silk sandals.

His eyes were vibrant periwinkle, gorgeous and vivid. His features were elegant, and his ears were elongated and came to delicate points.

No wings, though. I had always wondered if the fae would have wings.

The two other fae stood behind him, their hands clasped in front of them.

“I am Zarris,” the man in the seat said, cocking his head at us. His long black hair was tied into a simple ponytail, and he appraised me with those startling purple-blue eyes that were soft like velvet but glowed, almost as if they were backlit. “High priest of the fae of the East Barren.” He waved elegant fingers behind him. “These are my attendants, Vera and Soris,” Zarris said. “Do not make any overtures. They are gem bonded.”

“Gem bonded?” I blurted out, too curious to stay still.

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