Page 61 of To Hunt a Demon King

“While we are here, I think it’s best we not advertise that you are a witch,” Carnon said as we entered the city proper and began to wind through the neatly paved streets. A few people were up and about, and Carnon pulled up both of our hoods to keep us anonymous.

“Why?” I asked, trying to take in as much of the city as I could from my place on the horse.

“Let’s just say that most demons feel the same way about witches that you have been taught to feel about demons,” Carnon replied. “And there will be many more demons here than in the previous towns we have visited.”

I nodded, trying to keep my hood up as Carnon wove through the streets. He must know the city well, for before long we were outside a shop that appeared to be a farrier, like the one we had visited in that first village.

“We’ll have to leave the horse,” Carnon said, swinging off the saddle and helping me down.

“More walking?” I asked, groaning a little at the stiffness from sitting on the horse all night.

“Just a little,” Carnon said with a laugh. “Wait here.”

For once, I listened as Carnon went around the building to knock on the back door. I heard faint voices and chuckling before he returned, tying the horse’s reins to a post outside the building.

“He’ll be taken care of,” Carnon assured me, holding out his hand for mine. I took it, waving goodbye to the horse, who neighed skeptically as we walked away.

A hoot from above startled me, and Artemis flapped down to land on Carnon’s shoulder.

“Where’s Akela?” I asked, looking around for the big wolf. Artemis narrowed her eyes at me, as if annoyed I hadn’t asked after her. “I beg your pardon, hello Artemis,” I added.

She gave another disgruntled hoot and tucked her head under one membranous wing.

Carnon chuckled at the exchange. “Akela is probably already asleep at the house,” Carnon said. “We’ll be staying with a friend of mine, until we can secure you an audience with the king.”

“A friend?” I asked.

“A good friend,” Carnon elaborated. “I have known her for many years.”

“Her?” I asked, feeling a sudden ridiculous stab of jealousy.

Carnon chuckled, lifting the back of my hand to his lips and brushing a kiss to it. “Relax, Red,” he purred. “She is happily mated. I assure you, she’s not interested in me the way you are.”

“Mated?” I asked. I had never heard the term used to describe a relationship before. “Do you mean married? And how do you know I’m even that interested in you?”

Carnon laughed again, leaning in to brush a kiss against my neck. “That’s how I know you’re interested,” he purred, brushing his nose against the goosebumps that erupted in the wake of his kiss. “And I do mean mated,” he added, “but the explanation will have to wait until later. We’re here.”

Chapter 23

We had arrived at a little house that was similar in build to Carnon’s house in Asterra, although this one looked a bit older and a little less grand. Its walls were made of plain gray stone, not moonstone, and I surmised that we must be in a part of the city where demons or humans of average wealth resided.

Flowers lined the path to the blue front door, and Carnon knocked expectantly, pulling me close to him as we waited. Artemis squawked, flapping away to perch upside down on one of the window ledges.

“Are these friends…demons?” I asked in a hushed whisper. Carnon had said “mated,” and I didn’t think that was a mortal practice.

“They are,” he replied quietly. “And they’re perfectly kind. I suggested they glamour themselves so as not to startle you.”

“Startle me?” I asked. Carnon just smirked as the front door opened and a petite, dark haired woman opened it, a bright smile on her face.

“Come in, come in,” she said, stepping back and ushering us inside. “I didn’t expect you to be here so soon, but everything is ready.” She had a lilting accent similar to Carnon’s, and she studied me with big brown eyes as Carnon removed my cloak and hung it on a peg next to his. She was delicate and very pretty, and again I felt an unreasonable stab of jealousy over whatever her history was with Carnon.

“You must be Elara,” she said, holding out a delicate hand to shake mine. Her smile was wide, lighting up her face and eyes. “I’m so pleased to meet you. Carnon was somewhat vague in the note Artemis delivered. Akela is already asleep by the fire, the poor thing, and I’ve had the guestroom made up for you both. You must be exhausted.” All of this was said in a rush as the woman went from shaking my hand to ushering us into a small but comfortable kitchen.

“Sit, sit,” she insisted, practically pushing me into a chair. She was uncannily strong, and I sat heavily, Carnon grinning stupidly as he watched this scene unfold.

“Thanks for letting us stay with you, Cerridwen,” Carnon said, gratefully accepting a steaming mug of something from the demon woman. She looked normal enough, but I supposed she would if she were glamoured. I didn’t see any horns or tail or fangs or skin like a snake, just mocha skin and curly brown hair that matched her eyes. She looked a little like Vera, actually, and I wondered what the magic was hiding as I accepted a mug of the warm drink. It was bitter, but I drank it anyway, not wanting to be rude.

“Where’s Herne?” Carnon asked, sipping the bitter beverage. Cerridwen put a loaf of bread on the table and began carving slices of it, handing one first to me, then to Carnon.

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