“So, Zelrus is bigger than you?” Lori gaped.
“He is – both in height and physique. He's quite the domineering figure.” The demon nodded, passing over more fruit.
“I bet.”
“But he's kind and very well respected. You will eventually see for yourself, if we ever get out of this hellhole.” Lephas gestured to the woods around them.
“Demon royals aren't forced to marry then?”
“No, but there is a myth that some of them were 'mated'.”
“Mated? What does that mean?” she asked.
“Essentially, they aren't completely free to choose who they partner with. Some drive, like a mysterious force of nature, compels them to pick a mate that is well suited for carrying on the royal lineage. But I don't know how true that is.” Lephas laughed.
“That's spooky.” Lori chewed thoughtfully.
“Whilst I respect the king, I am not envious of him. I don't think I'd be able to live my life happily if I thought there was some pre-destined mystery woman out there, waiting for me. What if she died before I got a chance to meet her? Or our paths never crossed? No, I prefer to just take every day as it comes.” The commander shook his head.
“So, there's no Mrs Lephas back in Banesteppe then?” Lori giggled.
“Alas, there is not.”
“I wouldn't have thought you were the type to be kissing strange faerie women in the woods if you had a wife waiting for you at home anyway.”
“Hey,youkissedme. I didn't start any of it,” Lephas spluttered.
“I didn't see you fighting me any great deal over it.” Lori said tartly.
“Well, no.” He paused. “I'm not an idiot. I'll take a good thing where I can get one.”
“So, you thought it was good?” Lori teased.
“I think you know as well as I do that it was.”
“Yeah...You want to give it another go?” Lori grinned and hopped to her feet.
“That's not what I–! We've got to get going!” Lephas stuttered.
“Spoil sport.” The faerie pouted playfully.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Though the weather conditions were undeniably easier, Lephas and Lori travelled at a much slower pace.
Lori watched the large demon in front of her. He was holding his side again. That broken rib was really slowing him down, but she wasn't complaining. For oncethe commander was walking at a comfortable speed for her significantly shorter legs to maintain.
They had been trekking onwards all morning but it felt like they had gotten nowhere fast, though Lori supposed that may have been down to her general incompetence at navigation.
Everything looked the same to her. She marvelled that Lephas somehow seemed to be able to navigate his way around despite not really knowing where he was. Before they'd set off, he had scouted around to get his bearings and figured out which way was the most logical for them to head off towards.
Lori had sat with her legs crossed, studying her nails lamenting how many she had snapped and the dark dirt underneath them.
She was extremely grateful that she had been picked up by the demon, more so than she would ever let on. Lori doubted she would have survived the night without him.
It was a strange feeling, to be indebted to the man who held her captive. He was currently leading her towards the uncertain life of a prisoner of war and yet she didn't feel frightened in the least. Instead, she was frightened at the prospect of going home to Awrelwood.
Lori shook her head. Her eyes stung and she blinked away tears. No, today she wasn't going to think about it. She just had to get her head around the realisation that she no longer had a father; though Lori supposed she never really had anyway.
