Blossom eyes the chocolates suspiciously.
“They’re definitely poisoned.” I help myself to another handful. “And they’re all coffee flavoured,” I lie. “You wouldn’t like them.”
Blossom rolls her eyes before popping one into her mouth. “Stars… these are divine!”
“And they’re also mine.” I take a seat in an armchair, sliding the tray into my lap. “Get your own demon husband.”
She scoffs, but manages to pinch another chocolate anyway. “What’s in the envelope?” Chewing, she takes the seat beside me.
“Looks like an invitation.” I unfold the paper to reveal a gold-foiled invitation to a garden party. “To celebrate the safe return of Lord Tauren’s beloved wife Princess Dahlia,” I read out loud.
“Seems like he’ll beveryopen to letting you leave him,” Blossom says sarcastically.
“The party is in two nights.” I nod, folding up the invitation. “Give me until then to reason with him. Then, if he still won’t let me go, we’ll escape together after the party.”
She arches a brow. “You’re sure?”
“Yes.” I pop the last chocolate into my mouth. Caramel bursts in my mouth, melting over my tongue. But it’s not enough to overpower the bitter thoughts in my mind. Like, would it be so bad to stay married to a monster? And why have I felt more at home in a castle full of demons than I ever felt in Father’s palace?
34
DAHLIA
After spending until midmoon devouring romance novels with Blossom in the library, a servant arrives to escort me to the conservatory. Nerves flutter like butterflies with each step through the tall hallways.
I don’t know how Tauren is going to take me wanting to leave. If it goes anything like last time, I’ll be tossed over his shoulder and whisked away to his tower, except this time my rear will be as red as my blushing cheeks after he spanks me a dozen times.
Warmth stirs in my core. It’s been a few days since he last whipped me. I wouldn’t be totally opposed to him doing it again. Just once more, before I leave. Then I’ll go back to my sisters, my cream-walled bedchamber, our palace library that’s barely bigger than a parlour room…
I was thinking, while Blossom and I were choosing books in the demon library, that maybe our library isn’t so small just because Father is selective with his titles, but that perhaps it is small because he doesn’t want us to learn any more than he deems necessary. I hadn’t even known demons were real before I came here. What else has Father been hiding from us all these years?
My escort stops in front of a stone door and knocks twice, the sound pulling me from my thoughts.
“Enter.” His voice turns the warmth in my core to fire. The servant pushes open the door, standing aside to let me through.
I gasp at the pretty room. Glass makes up the walls and ceiling, set in huge iron-framed panes like a greenhouse. Vines creep up the walls, but they’re not like the vines at home. These vines are black and withered. From them hang little blue lanterns that light up the feast below.
And, Stars, it’s a feast.
There’s roast meats, vegetables, golden potatoes, and gravy. Beside them, a rack of cakes, biscuits, colourful fruits, cupcakes, and?—
“Tell me that’s melted chocolate.” My jaw drops. On the table is a small three-tiered fountain, but it’s not spurting water like the fountains back home. This liquid is thick, chocolatey, and smells divine.
I can’t help it – I sprint.
“It’s called a chocolate fountain.” Tauren beats me to it. He’s wearing a white puffy shirt with dark breeches, looking almost as delectable as the feast as he dips a fruit skewer into the chocolate fountain. “I thought you’d like it.”
“How does it work?” Damn the skewer, I grab a spoon.
“Ah ah ah.” He catches my wrist, swiping the spoon out of my grasp. “Eat some real food first. Dessert comes at the end of the meal. That was your rule, wasn’t it?”
“I said no meal is complete without dessert.” I can’t look away from the gushing chocolate. “Doesn’t matter when I get to eat it.”
Ignoring me, he pushes me down into a seat and picks up my plate. “The fountain uses faerie magic,” he explains, filling my plate with ‘real food’. “It’s enchanted to keep the chocolate melted and flowing.” He places my loaded plate in front of me.“And you can enjoy it once you’ve finished your meal.” He winks before patting my head.
“I’ll do anything you like if it means there’s one of them at every feast.” I dig into my food. It’s delicious as always.
“Good princesses are rewarded.” His grin makes me blush while he takes his own plate. “You know the rules.”
