It had been a long while since the last time and having Lori around just served to remind him of that.
CHAPTER SIX
Though being draped over a shoulder wasn't the most comfortable position, Lori couldn't bring herself to be too annoyed. She was warmer tucked against Lephas and, if she was honest with herself, was rather enjoying having his muscular arm wrapped around her thighs. Even if he was a bit handsy.
Lori took in details of the other demons from her new vantage point. She marvelled at how different the group of soldiers also looked from how she had always envisioned demons.
One of them was older than the others, one was bearded, another was shorter and more muscular... Yet none of them were as handsome as Lephas. Apparently, his good looks were a trait specific to him, not to demons in general.
She began wondering what demon women looked like. She couldn't recall ever seeing any mention of them in any of her father's books.
Why was that? Because they had no cause to mention them, or because a female monster would be less terrifying and less of a deterrent for three young faerie girls?
As the terrain flattened out, Lephas began to move more easily beneath her. It wasn't long until he came to a halt and Lori felt him carefully lower the shoulder he had her perched over. She made sure she had a solid foothold in the snow before finally letting go of the demon.
“Alright now?” he shouted to her over the wind.
“We'll see,” she replied honestly, taking a few tentative steps through the snow. The spikes on her boots instantly gripped now they weren't contending with an icy slope.
Clearly satisfied she could walk unaided, Lephas turned his back and began striding ahead. Lori waddled along behind, tethered to him like a naughty puppy.
The demons made it look so easy, trekkingthrough the snow like it was nothing. Lori huffed breathlessly as she fought to keep up, sweating underneath her thick fur jacket despite the icy conditions.
There was little opportunity for talking as the wind howled around them. The demons kept their heads tucked down against the onslaught.
Left, right, left, right...Lori instructed herself as she placed one foot in front of the other. With her hood obstructing her peripheral vision, she didn’tnotice Karn appear beside her.
The wolf nudged her with his snout, and Lori leapt forwards with a squeak. Lephas glanced over his shoulder briefly, his pace slowing.
Lori kept her eye on the large wolf, who stared back in turn. The creature appraised her with his intelligent eyes.
“What areyoulooking at?” Lori asked and shuffledaway from him warily.
Karn simply shook the snow out of his thick fur and moved in closer still.
“Get away!” she hissed and trotted a few steps ahead.
The wolf followed suit, sniffing inquisitively at her. The commander glanced over his shoulder once more.
“What does he want?” Lori shouted.
“He's just curious. He's trying to get to know you.”
The demon held out a gloved hand to the wolf. Karn turned his snout and his long, pink tongue licked at the leather affectionately; once, twice...
The wolf turned his attention back to Lori and tentatively lapped at her gloved hand instead. Lori pulled it away.
Lephas looked her up and down with his dark eyes. “He likes you. You don't need to be frightened of him.”
“Easy for you to say. He didn't ragyou around like you were a chew toy!” Lori scowled.
“Trust me, I understand all too well. He went through a real nippy phase when he was a pup. I’ve got plenty of scars to prove it.” Lephas laughed.
Karn nosed Lori's legs again, nudging her behind her knee. She stumbled gracelessly, and Lephas darted forwards to catch her before she fell.
“Karn! Stop messing about. Go on, get!” The commander whistled sharply, and Karn obediently trotted away.
The wolf turnedto look at Lori over his shoulder with his mouth open, panting. Lori narrowed her eyes. No, not panting... Smiling.
