“I am simply making conversation.” I smile lazily at him, turning back to his brother. “Won’t you tell me more about your magic, Claren? It’s fascinating. I was so impressed when you used it to help me yesterday. You’re so talented.”
Tauren scoffs. “He is not?—”
“I was talking to Claren.” My tone is so sharp that he flinches.
“Please do continue.” I smile at the boy. His eyes dart between Tauren and I, but they’re filled with too much pride to let him stop now.
Tauren better have a good reason for being so cold to his brother. He’s an absolute sweetheart.
“Most demons don’t have magic like we do,” he explains eagerly. “Most can just about manage to disguise themselves as humans or shift into shadow form – which is like turning invisible.”
“We become one with the night,” Tauren cuts in, keeping his gaze on the window.
“Yes.” Claren nods. “Like I said, we’re creatures of the night.”
“What about eating souls?” I ask. “I’ve read books where demons do that to unsuspecting maidens.” The demons are always eight feet tall and packed with muscle.
I read a lot of romance...
Claren chuckles. “That’s very old-fashioned, and not to mention if we made a habit of it, I’m sure the human kingdoms wouldn’t be very pleased. We do a lot of trade with humans. Most crops won’t grow on our withered soil, nor will our grass feed cattle. We need to feed our people.”
“But you can… eat souls?” Fear edges into my voice.
“Are you offering yours?” Tauren glances at me, a wicked glint in his eyes. “I bet it’d taste delicious.”
Before I can launch the empty chocolate tray at his head, Claren continues. “We can’t just eat a human’s soul,” he explains. “There has to be a bargain made first – their soul for something they wish for. With a strong soul, even the weakest demon can make almost anything come true.”
“Anything?” I press.
“Well, they can’t raise the dead.” He shrugs. “But enough riches to buy the realm, healing a loved one, or making someone fall head over heels in love with you were apparently quite popular choices.”
“Wow.” I pause, wondering if I’ve ever met anyone who’s made a deal with a demon. “How can you tell if someone has had their soul eaten? Would you know?”
Tauren’s gaze turns colder than winter. “They become wicked. Heartless. Any love they may have felt for their loved ones fades away, and they become selfish, greedy people. That’s why I’ve banned soul bargains from my court. It’s an ancient, barbaric practice. Any demon with even the slightest whiff of a human soul on them will spend the rest of their miserable lives in the dungeon or in exile.” His voice softens. “So you do not need to be afraid while you are here, Dahlia.”
Something warms inside me. Ignoring it, I grin at him teasingly. “Oh, I wasn’t afraid. I’ve got Claren here to protect me. He’s the most powerful demon I know.” I blow a kiss at the boy, who blushes, while his brother looks downright murderous.
“Tell me more aboutyourmagic, Claren” I coo. “I want to know everything about you.”
The carriage pulls to a stop about an hour later, and all three of us file out, Pumpkin yapping excitedly at our heels. Ignoring Tauren’s outstretched palm, I slip my arm around Claren’s while passing him my sweetest smile.
On the journey here I got to learn so much more about him, much to Tauren’s displeasure.
Claren is twenty-four years old, since demons age normally until they’re around twelve, then age half as fast as humans do. While his brother, who looks around thirty, is really almost fifty!
Which makes Tauren far too old for me, and I made sure he knew it.
“Fifty-year-old men have no business marrying twenty-three-year-old princesses,” I’d told him with a smirk in the carriage.
“It’s a good thing I’m not a man then, I’m ademon,” he’d grumbled back, but I was too busy pretending to fawn over Claren to spare him a glance.
If I ever manage to escape, I’ll be setting Claren up with one of my sisters. Heather or Iris would love him. Human age aside, he’s about seventeen in demon years and much sweeter than any prince Father would force upon the girls back home.
Speaking of home… “Are we on a tight schedule?” I toss the question at Tauren while he converses with the carriage driver. We’re in a thick moonlit forest, but I can hear the distant hustle and bustle of a crowd, so we must be near the markets. “I’d love for Claren to show me around if we have the time?”
An escape plan formed in my mind on the journey here. A weak one. But it might work if I can distract Tauren and convince Claren to remove my collar.
“We’re not,” Tauren says gruffly. “But Claren will not be showing you around.Iwill.” He leaves the driver and drags me away from his brother before I can protest. “Claren, watch the pup,” he orders.
