Page 13 of Her Demon Daddy
“My liege,” the servant says. He waves them off and stands up as they close the doors behind me.
“Did you sleep?” he asks in his dark, brooding tone.
“Barely,” I reply, crossing my arms. “But at least I didn’t have nightmares about my soul being stolen. that was nice.”Fuck.I think as the words exit my mouth.Maybe being so aggressive right now is not the best idea.
“I like your banter,” he says, much to my surprise. “It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed a back-and-forth with someone.”
“I’m being held captive. this isn’t really a back and forth.”
“That’s what I mean,” he replies slowly before sitting back at his desk.
He motions for me to sit in one of the chairs in the library, and I do skeptically, paranoid he might have booby-trapped it. I try not to let my fear show, though he has to think I’m not afraid of him.
The doors to the library open, and I turn around to see servants walking in with trays of food. I look back at the King, confused, as a plate is put in front of me and the other before him on his desk. He waves them off again, and I look at the food skeptically as he begins eating, the fork disappearing into the darkness of his hood.
“You’re not hungry?” he asks between bites.
“How do I know the food isn’t poisoned?” I ask flatly, crossing my arms again.
He laughs a low, dark chuckle that sends shivers up my arms. “If I wanted to kill you, you’d already be buried.”
He’s not wrong. He could have yesterday or today before the food arrived. Since I’m starving and I’ve been held captive for days, I deserve a treat. I spear one of the pieces of meat on the plate with a fork and put it in my mouth, rubbing my tongue over it, trying to detect poison as if I knew how it tasted.
He chuckles again. “It’s been good weather today.”
I look out the window and see cloudy skies. I guess demons don’t care much for sunny skies. Moreso, I frown and take another bite, wondering why he’s talking to me about the weather.
“How are the girls?” he asks lowly.
They’re being held captive in a dungeon. They’re starving and terrified and want to return to their families.
“They’re fine,” I reply in a dull tone. I can’t help myself. His audacity makes me irritated. “You know, living the lives of captives.”
He chuckles again. “And what’s that like?”
“Oh, that’s right!” I smile as I chew my food. “You wouldn’t know what that’s like, right? You’re just the kidnapper.”
“I’m much more than that.”
“Then why do you wear that hood?”
He freezes, his arm hanging over his plate as he holds a fork full of meat. My heart begins racing, thinking I’ve gone too far. He slowly stands up from his desk, and I remember how tall he is, only adding to his intimidation.
“Excuse me?”
I gulp, but I can’t walk my words back now. Besides, I want to know. “Why do you wear that hood if you’re an all-powerful King? Why disguise yourself?”
He remains silent and turns around to look out the window, holding his arms behind his back. I look at his hands, seeing his light gray skin for the first time. I put my fork down and close my eyes, damning myself for my smart-ass mouth.
“I am badly scarred,” he says darkly. “From the events that brought my people and me to Galmoleth. I don’t wish to see them on myself, much less for others to see.”
I close my eyes and fold my lips. “I’m…I’m sorry. It must have been difficult to have gone through that. I mean, opening a portal, losing your home planet, and then reigning over this one? That’s a lot of pressure.”
“Yes,” he whispers as he slowly turns his head over his shoulder. “It has been quite taxing.”
His whispers intimidate me more than his yelling. It’s like he has many secrets underneath that hood instead of a face. At first, I thought the hood was an intimidation tactic, but now I feel guilty for assuming. I also feel guilty for feeling guilty. Why do I empathize with a tyrant trying to steal young women’s souls?
I watch him skeptically as he walks in front of his desk and begins to pace before it. I look at his stance, pondering and brooding. I can vaguely make out the shape of his body beneath his robes. He’s big yet lean. The robes are baggy, enough to hide any sign of muscles, but I can tell he barely has any fat on him.