“I'd rather not talk about it,” she replied with a sigh.
“Of course. Maybe something a bit more light-hearted. How old are you?”
“Why do you care?” Lori turned, narrowing her eyes.
“Curiosity... And boredom,” the demon answered with a shrug. “We've got a moment to kill before shift change-over and you're left with someone far less entertaining than yours truly. Besides, you're the first civil faerie I've ever really spoken to. Aren't you curious about us too?”
“Not really,” Lori lied, turning back to the fire.
Haros laughed. “My, a bit snippy when we're not concussed, aren't we? I think I preferred you with the head injury.”
“Bite me,” she snapped, but fought a smile.
“Love to,” he all but growled.“But I don't think it'd be looked upon very favourably by my boss.”
“How do you know him? Is he just your commander? You seem friendly with one another,” Lori asked, stretching her legs out and leaning back on her arms once more.
“Oh, I see how it is; I'm not allowed to ask questions but it's fine for you to grill me about Lephas?” Haros cocked an eyebrow.
“I'm twenty-six. Now answer my question.” Lori feigned annoyance, rolling her eyes.
Haros leant his forearms on his knees as he sat forwards.There was a curious gleam in his eyes “Tit for tat – I like it. He was just my boss at first, but we're friends now. Twenty-six...My potentially cradle-robbing friend,” he added quietly.
“Why, how old is he?” Lori asked, tilting her head. Though she had been concussed and not completely clear on the day’s events, she couldn't recall Lephas looking that much older than her.
“Thirty-seven.” Haros chuckled.
Lori nibbled her lip. Eleven years. She should be alarmed, nottitillatedby that!
“I’m thirty-one, by the way.”
“No one asked about you... And that shouldn't count as one of my questions.” Lori raised her chin haughtily, but smiled.
“You wound me, Princess!” he teased. “Alright, alright…Are you single?”
Lori laughed “What is this, some kind of chat up ploy? Why does that even matter?”
“Hey, we need to know if some prince charming is going to arrive, sword in hand, to fight for his betrothed!” the demon replied with a grin.
“Hmph.” The princess paused, her smile dimmed. How should she word this?
Well, I was arranged to be married to some fat oaf I've never met – don't worry, he's probably never even seen a sword, so no competition for you guys – but I ran away before he even had the chance to propose.
She ran a hand through her hair. “You've got nothing to worry about. No betrothal, or prince charming.”
Haros eyed her curiously. “Now that I find hard to believe, but, you're in luck because Lephas is single too. Painfully so. In fact, I think you'd be doing us all a favour taking the cap off that bottle.”
“I didn't ask!” Lori blushed furiously.
“No, but you were going to.” Haros cast her a smug smile and leant back in his chair. He tucked his hands confidently behind his head.
He wasn't totally wrong, Lori conceded. She had desperately wanted to know but she wouldn't have dared to ask.
She wondered what Haros meant by 'painfully single'.If she was remembering Lephas clearly, he had been smoking hot. Men who looked like he did were rarely single – painfully or otherwise.
“I think I deserve another question, seeing as you incorrectly assumed what I was going to ask next,” she argued.
“You're not the one who's in charge here, but I'll allow it.”
