The only light came from a lone candle, balanced precariously atop a pile of books. Judging by the pristine, smooth surface of the wax, it had just been lit. Had he done that specifically for her? The flames that flickered atop the candlestick were tinted with a familiar purple hue.
The princess was sitting on the edge of a soft bed. Though the bed would be large enough for two people to share, she noted curiously that there was only one set of pillows laid out. Clearly Raxx did not have a regular stream of bed mates like some of his companions and Faye found that endearing.
“You like to read, hm?” she asked quietly, noting that almost every flat surface was piled high with thick, leather-bound books; all in an array of conditions. Some looked to be brand new, with elaborate golden designs painted down the spine, pristine and clean. Others were clearly ancient; faded, cracked and well-thumbed.
“Unfortunately, there are no filthy romance books amongst them. Sorry to disappoint.” Raxx replied.
“Well, I don’t know why anyone would waste their time reading anything else,” Faye joked, feeling her cheeks flush. She turned to heave a large, dusty tome off a nearby pile. She opened it on her lap and began flicking through the pages.
The book appeared to be written in some form of ancient language. She didn’t understand it, but found the mysterious texts and diagrams fascinating. It was some sort of textbook – definitely fact, not fiction.
“You can read this?” she asked.
“I can.”
Faye rolled her eyes and smirked. She should have known better than to expect an explanation.
Clattering from across the room drew her attention and she glanced up to see Raxx striding towards her.
The demon held out a warped metal plate with a selection of cheeses and fruit, and a glass of wine.
“Better than bread and water.”
Faye’s stomach rumbled loudly in the quiet room. She closed the book and placed it back on the pile she had removed it from before taking the offering from the demon’s outstretched hands.
She took a long, hearty sip from the wine glass. It was sweet, rich and delicious.
“Thank you, this means more than you’d ever know. Won’t the guards notice I’m gone?” Faye eagerly popped a cube of cheese into her mouth.
“I’ve left a minor enchantment behind. The cot will have a body-shaped lump in it until you return. If the guards enter the cell, they will notice you’re missing but from the doorway and in the dark, it will be impossible to tell.”
“Clever,” Faye mumbled through a mouthful of cheese.
“I try.” Raxx shot her a disarmingly handsome grin.
The princess swallowed and glanced around the room. “So, I assume it’s just you that lives here? There’s no Mrs Raxx?”
“Just me.”
“Interesting. Your home is not how I imagined it to look, but now that I’m here I don’t really know what I expected.”
“You’ve spent time imagining where I live?” Raxx asked with a cocked brow.
“Notlike that! I just figured youlived in a dark, damp cave somewhere, with the other nocturnal beasts,” Faye teased.
“Oh, I do. This is just where I bring the ladies.”
Faye snorted, nearly choking on her mouthful of food.
The shadow demon moved to sit beside the princess on the bed, his wings tucking in at his back, so as not to jostle her. He bent to pick up another large book from the floor.
“Has Lori told you any details of her and Lephas’s escape?” he asked, opening the book and flicking through the pages nonchalantly.
“How do you mean?” Faye asked, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
“Anything that stood out as unusual?”
Faye’s stomach churned. She knew what Raxx was referring to – her sister’s mysterious outburst of majick. She chewed her food for a long moment whilst she debated how to answer.
