Page 20 of Her Demon Daddy

I stand up and pace around the room, biting my fingernails as I think about my outburst in the dining room. I wonder if I’ve ruined everything. Have I pushed him too far?

A knock at the door makes me jump. I sigh, collecting myself before I open it. it’s probably Drar'ran, ready to dress me for the day. I hope he’ll give me instructions to meet Asmodeus somewhere. Maybe he’ll want to speak to me.

I open it and don’t look at him. I turn around quickly and sit on the bed, looking at the wall pitifully. When I hear loud, long strides, I look up and see Asmodeus walking into my room. I sit up straight and gulp as I look at him, expecting him to reprimand me for my actions last night.

“Will you indulge me with a walk in the gardens?” he asks lowly.

I squint my eyes, and my brow furrows. I nod and watch him walk out of my room. I roll my eyes and rub my forehead with my hand, exhaling as I think about what I will say to him. Standing up, I adjust my shirt and exit my room, preparing for the worst.

Opening the door to the gardens, I breathe in the fresh air. The castle is vast and open but can still get stuffy, especially with so much tension floating around. Asmodeus is standing in the center of the gardens, looking into the distance.

I walk toward him and glance at the flowers blooming. It’s impressive they can withstand the electrical storms of this planet.

Once I reach him, I stand beside him, look at the horizon, and wonder where his mind is. We turn our heads to each other, and I glance at his hood awkwardly before he starts walking. I pace beside him slowly and feel the silence kill me every second.

I can’t take it anymore. I have to say something.

“I’m,” I begin.

“Listen, Siara,” he says at the same time.

“Oh.” I smile awkwardly and look away from him. “You go ahead.”

“No, you can.”

“Oh…” I pause and clear my throat. “Well, I was just going to apologize for last night. I feel that my behavior was rude and…”

I see a blonde-haired woman walking in the gardens in the distance. The more I glance at the woman, I recognize her.There’s no way,I think as I leave Asmodeus’ side and walk toward her.

As I get closer, I see her walking with a demon. Asmodeus calls me from the background, but I disregard him as I walk closer to the pair. They’re holding hands, and discomfort rushes through me as I approach them.

“Trinity?” I shout.

Trinity lets go of the demon’s hand and whips around, flushed and glancing around with her mouth slightly open before half-heartedly smiling at me. “Siara!” She brushes her hair behind her ear and walks toward me, rubbing her arm. “What are you doing here?”

“What areyoudoing here?” I ask with a concerned look.

She looks over my shoulder, and she and the demon simultaneously bow. I turn around and see Asmodeus approaching, his slow gait giving him that intimidating air about him.

“Your Majesty,” the demon says with a gulp.

The demon’s eyes flicker to me, and I sense tension and suspicion coming from him. Rightfully so, I feel the same about him and Trinity. I grab Trinity’s arm and drag her aside, looking back to see Asmodeus and the demon watching us walk away.

“What are you doing, Trinity? Walking with a demon in the gardens?”

She looks over my shoulder and smirks. “I could ask you the same thing.” I maintain my concerned gaze, and she sighs and rolls her eyes. “Listen, I found a way to survive and get myself out of that damned dungeon, I appreciate everything you taught me, but my ways just work…” she pauses and winks in the demon's direction. “A little differently.”

“But I…”

“Siara,” Asmodeus calls out, interrupting my sentence.

“I’m fine,” Trinity says as she takes my hands in hers. “Don’t worry about me. Go.”

I turn around and walk back to Asmodeus with Trinity beside me. Asmodeus turns his head, watching the two walk off into the gardens together. I watch them, too, wondering if she knows the danger she’s putting herself in. How did she even manage to seduce a demon?

I admit part of me is jealous as I see them intertwine hands again, and she rests her head on his shoulder. I remind myself that she’s doing this to survive, it’s not real love, but I still feel that ugly twinge of envy in my chest.

Asmodeus sighs deeply and turns his head toward me. “You shouldn’t do such reckless things.”