Free Prince of Demons 3: The Order of the Black Swan by Victoria Danann Page A

vanished.
    Dart scratched on the door and poked his head in. He looked around. “Where’s the ditch?”
    “What?” Brave wasn’t in the mood for games.
    “Litha. She said she’s half demon, half witch. Right? Or I guess she could be a wemon, but that would sound silly.”
    “And you think ditch doesn’t sound silly?”
    “I guess you want to be left alone?”
    “Thank you for going on the mission, Dart.”
    “What are friends for?” He left without expecting an answer.
    Brave was happy to be alone with Lana in a room that was silent except for the sweet sound of her breathing. He knew in his bones that she would recover and, one day soon, she would blush at something he said or laugh about some human thing he either didn’t know about, or got wrong.
    As she slept, he studied the way her lashes lay against her cheek. The way her chest rose and fell. The way her hand in repose looked tiny compared to his.
     
     
     
    She slept away most of two days, only waking for soup and drink. On the third day she said, “I want something real to eat. I hope that didn’t sound ungrateful or demanding, but I’m really hungry and tired of porridge or whatever they’ve been giving me. Maybe it was gruel. I don’t really know what gruel is, but I’ll bet it’s similar.” Her stomach rumbled. “See?”
    Brave laughed.
    She looked him over. “You look better than the last time I saw you. What was wrong with you? You passed out on me and wouldn’t wake up.”
    It felt to Brave like it had been months since then. “Had a concussion. A bit of potion, a bit of glue, and all’s well.”
    “Are you the son of Roanald?” Lana asked.
    “What did the Reinlitegen say to you?”
    “They asked me where the son of Roanald was. Is that you?”
    He sighed. “Seems so. I’ll tell you everything. I’m sorry you’ve been caught up in this, Lana. I never would have brought you here if I’d known.”
    “Caught up in what, Brave?”
    The door slid open and a large demon walked in shrouded in an unmistakable air of authority and wearing an expression so compelling it was impossible to look away.
    “Dad,” said Brave. “Uh, I mean, Regent.” The demon nodded to Brave and then to Lana. “This is Atalanta Ravin. She goes by Lana.” Brave turned to Lana. “Lana, this is Abide, Regent of the Callii.”
    “Your foster father,” Lana added for clarity.
    “Well.” Brave looked away and didn’t say more.
    Abide stared at Lana for a few seconds while she decided that demon kings might not have any manners, but Texas girls certainly do. “I don’t know your customs well enough to know how to greet you. So. Hello.”
    Brave chuckled. “Isn’t she perfect?” When Abide looked at Brave like he was crazy, he became defensive. “Don’t look at her like that. You can’t imagine what she’s been through.
    “While being pursued and exposed to the elements, she took care of me and protected me while I was blacked out. She killed a forswarog with a tree branch while I was out cold. A big one. Male. Tusks this long.”
    Brave held his hands up to indicate the length of the tusks then looked at Lana with pride and love in his eyes. “In her world they would make her a legend for that. Maybe even a goddess! Goddess of the hunt!”
    Lana had to chuckle at Brave’s proud enthusiasm.
    Abide took another look at Lana with a slightly softer expression. “Indeed. A remarkable feat for a human.”
    “Then the Callii took me and left her behind at the mercy of the Reinlitegen, who either don’t know that humans need regular food and water, or don’t care.”
    Abide raked his gaze over Lana like he was appraising livestock, nodded, then turned and left without another word.
    Dart almost ran into the regent on his way in. He was followed by two female demons balancing trays of food and drink.
    “Wow.” Lana stared at the door where Abide had been. “As fathers go, I’ll bet that guy was worth a giant inferiority complex.”
    Brave