A Ruin of Roses (Deliciously Dark Fairytales 1)

“If you touch her, I will kill you,” Nyfain stated, his voice even and confident. It wasn’t a threat—it was a statement of facts. My small hairs stood on end.

I peered around Nyfain again as the demon spread his hands with a sly smile. “You are losing, Mr. Alpha. You’ve lost all your prized people. Your ability to protect anyone has diminished. Soon that girl will realize she exchanged her body for empty promises.”

Nyfain flinched but didn’t comment.

“When that happens, she will turn to us,” the demon went on. “And when that happens, we can grant her safety from your…wrath. Or whatever it is you do to her.”

“Are you done?” Nyfain asked, turning slightly and pulling me out from behind him, still keeping his body protectively between the demon and me.

“Mr. Alpha is so proud,” the demon said with that oily smile. “So delusional. One day I will enjoy watching the light dull from your eyes. You are on borrowed time. You will die, and your kingdom with you.”

10

Nyfain wrapped an arm around me and gripped my hip possessively, keeping me close. I glanced back as we continued down the hall. The demon stood in the middle of the space with his robe now open, showing his hairless and shiny nude body. Tendrils of his magic fluttered across me, making my skin crawl.

“Well, that guy was a charmer, huh?” I said with a grimace.

Nyfain glanced down at me. “You don’t find him attractive?”

I studied his flat expression. “I can’t tell if you’re kidding.”

He looked straight ahead, not noticing the two people ahead of us—one dressed like a tiger, the other like a rabbit—getting busy between two dragon statues.

“I also can’t tell if they are joking.”

The tiger with the large, fuzzy head stood behind the bent-over gray rabbit with floppy ears. The tiger growled as he thrust, making the rabbit mew happily.

“Wrong sound for a rabbit,” I said, aghast, as we passed. “Won’t that get the costumes all gross? There’ll be jizz and juice all over the place.”

He chuckled softly. “It’s been a long time since someone…rational was in this castle after dark. I can’t imagine what this must look like to you.”

“I’ve seen a lot in one day. That’s for sure.”

“I doubt you’ve seen much of anything. I once walked in on an entire room filled with people in costumes like that. There was so much fur and movement that I just backed out. A woman trying to give a blowjob through a hole in her squirrel mask… My brain wouldn’t make sense of it. I didn’t push the issue.”

“Does their sexy magic affect you? The demons?”

“If I let it.”

“But you never give in?”

“No,” he growled. “Never.”

“You have a strong will, then?”

“A strong will and a large stubborn streak.” We reached the door leading outside, and he stepped forward to open it for me. He guided me through, his hand still on my hip.

The chilled night air greeted me as I stepped out. “To answer your question, no, I did not find that demon attractive. Wait…”

He paused, his hand snaking around to my belly to keep me at his side.

“No, I meant wait, as in halt the conversation.” I tried to pry his hand off me, but he slid it back to my hip. Apparently, he wanted to keep up the possessive pretenses when in public. It couldn’t hurt with the strength of the demons wandering around. I huffed and gestured him on. “Keep walking. I was telling my brain to wait. You’re too literal.”

He resumed his unhurried walk toward the everlass field.

The supplies I’d need rolled through my head. I’d need to grab something for transporting the leaves, as well as check out the setup to work with them.

“Wait,” I said.

He kept walking.

“No, this time… Would you just…” I twisted and spun to get away from his hold, then put up my hands. “Where will I be drying the everlass? It needs to be done in the evening tomorrow, and the leaves should be kept flat and wet—”

“We have a large station for working with the plants,” he said, hooking his thumbs in his belt loops. “You’ll have at least two of everything you need, with enough room for multiple people to work with you. If you want.”

I looked around. “And who would that be?”

Was it just me, or did his body language scream uncomfortable?

“I was hoping you’d let me shadow you. I realize we…have our differences, but I could be of use. Also, it’s been a long time since I worked with someone knowledgeable. It would be a special favor to me.” He paused for a moment. “That I would be willing to trade for.”

I nearly waved that away, rather enjoying the idea of having some help, but stopped myself. “Okay, fine, but you better hold firm on that trade, the terms to be decided later.” I immediately thought of talking to my family. “What about something to hold the leaves as we pick and then transport them back?”