Page 2 of Her Demon Daddy

Perhaps his large size metabolized it faster than the others, but I can see I don’t have long.

Especially as he mutters, “Where are we?”

My eyes sweep the crowd and I see that he is not the only one taking in our surroundings. The shock is wearing off, and they are starting to register their surroundings. And they don’t seem as thrilled as I am.

Not as one of the matrons blink, looking over the edge nearest her with wide eyes. “Where…is the ground?”

I stare at the jagged edges of what I’ve realized is indeed an island – and it seems to be a floating one. There is no other land in sight, nor water. Instead, there is only the thick shroud of the storm, blocking out all sunlight and charging the air until my skin is prickling with the power at my fingertips.

How could they not love everything about this island? It’s as if it was built for demons – and I suppose it was.

But when no one answers their questions, it seems to hit me. Their eyes are onme,theone who ushered them through here, the one who conjured the portal that saved them. They are my battalion, yes, but now, it has become more than that.

I am responsible for them, more so than I have ever been. I’ve worked hard to protect those in my charge, but guiding them to a new home is a step I never thought I would get the chance to take.

And it’s time I give them the answers they so eagerly seek, lest they find them on their own. This is my chance.

I draw myself up to my full height, straightening my shoulders. My face is shrouded by my hood, which I pulled up to protect myself from the onslaught in the sky before we entered the portal, and for that I’m grateful.

“I am your King,” I announce with as much authority as I can muster. Scanning each face, I see not an ounce of recognition as they nod along. Good. “I’ve brought you here to escape our ravaged planet. I have saved you from the environmental annihilation of our home.”

As the nod, I start to pace, my voice picking up in volume. They truly remember nothing, and because of that, I will tell them everything they need to know.

“Our planet has been lost to us.” I realize how wounded some of them look, and try to circumvent any follow-up questions by adding, “We survived the final attacks that the world dared to rain down on us, and now we are what’s left of our race. For our strength and courage, the gods have blessed us.”

I turn, sweeping my arm toward the city. “Welcome to Galmoleth, our new home. A gift from the Seven for all that we have endured in their name – and we will treat it as such.”

With my proclamation, excitement runs through the crowd. Murmurs grow until they turn into cheers – for me or the gods, that I do not know. All I know is that they are starting to come back to life, and they are eager to see this new world I’ve promised.

I step back, ushering them toward their new home, as the skin along my back prickles. It feels almost like I’m being watched, all the muscles in my body going tense.

A chill races up my spine, and a cold sweat breaks out across my skin.

“Very clever,” a deep voice rumbles in my ear, and I turn my head, checking behind me in my peripheral vision. But just as I suspected, no one is there.

In fact, it almost feels like that voice came from inside of my head. I’m trying not to spin all the way around so as not to draw attention to myself. The last thing I need is any other demons noticing my behavior.

But then the necklace resting against the dip between my collarbones starts to warm, and it hits me all at once. That voiceisinside my head – and for good reason. I gulp as I realize the kind of scrutiny I am under.

Especially as he whispers, “Now let’s see how long you can keep this up.”

His vicious laughter fills my head and frays my nerves until that’s all I can hear.

And his question continues to echo through my mind long after the presence leaves me.

How longcanI keep this up?

PRESENT DAY

2

ASMODEUS

Istand frozen as the walls and floor beneath me shake. I know if I feel it here, on one of the top floors of the castle, it must have been bad.

But I don’t know why I’d expect anything less. They’ve been growing stronger with each passing day, and I can only ignore it for so long.

Others are starting to take note. More than once, the concern has been raised to me. It seems that people don’t take kindly to a floating island shaking as if it is going to drop out of the sky.

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