Page 81 of To Hunt a Demon King

“There is nothing to discuss,” I replied, sitting up a little taller in an attempt to be haughty. “You are my enemy. The enemy of all witches. And I’m leaving, end of story.”

“You are not leaving,” Carnon replied, sounding tired already. “For many reasons, but primarily because I am not your enemy. Since you have invoked the protection of the Horned God, I am honor-bound to keep you under my protection.”

My jaw dropped. How he thought he would get away with this lie was beyond me. “I did no such thing,” I argued. “I told you I would do it when I arrived, and now I will absolutely not be doing that.”

“There will be no more lies between us, Elara,” he said, raising a brow at me. “You did. Granted, you probably didn’t realize you were doing it, but you looked me in the eye and said ‘I invoke the protection of the Horned God.’ All that is required to invoke it is the words spoken in earnest to the Demon King. To me.”

“I didn’t say that,” I argued, growing frustrated.

“You did,” he replied. “When we arrived in Mithloria. Outside the Bloodwood.” I racked my brain, thinking back to that moment.

“I told you what my mother told me to say,” I replied, remembering his shocked expression when I’d told him. “I didn’t mean to invoke anything! I don’t even believe in the Horned God!”

“You should believe,” he replied calmly. “And it’s done. Protection invoked.”

“Then I un-invoke it,” I said, glaring at him as he calmly sipped his coffee. “You told me I have that power.”

“You did,” he conceded. “Before. You don’t now.”

“What do you mean I don’t now?” I asked, standing and raising my voice.

He smiled, calmly putting down his cup and standing as well. “If you won’t eat breakfast, then you should get dressed. We have a lot to do today.” I gaped, incensed by his cavalier attitude.

“Nothing has changed since last night,” I growled, taking a step closer. “I still hate you.”

“No, you don’t,” he said, also taking a step until we were almost touching. “Especially not if nothing has changed.” He gazed down at me steadily, and my cheeks flushed as I remembered my confession.

“That…what I said last night about my feelings for you is no longer true” I said, trying to contain my fury. “I un-invoke your protection, or whatever,” I added. “I want nothing to do with you.”

Carnon sighed, dropping his face so close to mine that I thought for a panicked second he might kiss me with that forked tongue. He didn’t, stopping a hair’s breadth from my lips.

“Then it’s a shame for you,” he replied in a deep rumble, “that I want everything to do with you.” He stepped back, making me sway a little at the loss of his presence. “Now get dressed. I really don’t want anyone other than me seeing you like that.”

Chapter 30

Carnon refused to let me leave his room, but he granted me the courtesy of not barging into the bathing chamber as I dressed. I braided my hair back and pulled on the clothes he had given me, wishing I could burn them just to spite him. When I emerged fully dressed, he looked me up and down, frowning.

“We will have to add seeing a dressmaker to the list of things to do,” he said, staring in a way that made me very self conscious. “You can’t be presented at court like that.”

“Like what?” I asked, embarrassed and annoyed. “You didn’t seem to mind my clothes before.”

“Things have changed, R—my Lady,” he said, biting off the title in frustration. I would miss him calling me ‘Red,’ but this distance between us was for the best. Seeing my anger, he smirked.

“If it makes you feel any better, what’s under the clothes is still perfection,” he purred. I made a sound of disgust and he laughed. It was so like before that it hurt a little, and his laugh died when he saw my face.

He sighed heavily. “I have to take care of a few things,” he said, moving to the armoire and strapping on his dagger, as well as sliding a black ring I hadn’t seen before onto his middle finger. “Kingly things. You’re to stay put in the castle.”

“Stay put?” I exclaimed. “Am I your prisoner, then?”

“Not at all,” he replied, striding toward me and putting his hands on my shoulders. “I told you, Elara, I am not your enemy.” He bent as if to kiss my forehead, and I jerked back, eying him warily. He sighed, pursed his lips, and let go of my arms, putting some space between us.

“I never meant to hurt you, Elara,” he said gently. “And I promise, I’ll make this right.”

“Like I should believe anything you say,” I snapped. “And what am I, if not your prisoner?”

“For now?” he asked, straightening to his full height and frowning down at me. “An honored guest. And someone under my protection.”

“Honored guests don’t have to stay put,” I pointed out, crossing my arms angrily.

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