Free Claimed by a Demon King by Felicity Heaton Page B

food.”
    That did not make sense to Thorne. Were all human females as confusing as Sable and Olivia?
    “Food she does not like or food that is decomposing?” His frown hardened. “Is this some sort of self-punishment? Because I will not allow it.”
    “Ah, no, you misunderstand… again .” Olivia smiled, her brown eyes twinkling with it. “I mean food we think is bad for us. Like bacon, eggs, sausages and fried food.”
    He had heard of some of those things but didn’t know what they looked like. That would not deter him though. His female’s friend had given him a way of regaining her smiles and her kindness, and he would not fail in this mission. He focused on his wings, forcing them away, and then his horns. It was shameful to hide them, but he didn’t want to cause a stir. They shrank into his head and he hoped his guards hadn’t noticed. The last thing he needed was them talking about how their king had concealed his horns.
    He stepped onto the semi-circular platform and picked up his white shirt from the table.
    “We have not these things, but I will see to it. Thank you.” He focused on the ground at his feet and dropped into the black vortex that swirled below him, catching Olivia’s gasp as he disappeared.
    Thorne reappeared in the mortal world in the middle of the city they called London. The bustling metropolis was dark, the streets emptying. He slipped his white shirt on and walked along the rows of bright shop fronts towards a store at the end of the road. He had visited this place in the past, when Fargus had desired what the mortals called chocolate. Thorne had tasted the sweet confection the male had purchased. It was not pleasant.
    Fargus’s mate craved the dark bitter variety of it and the male always found time to bring her back some whenever they made a trip to the mortal realm.
    Thorne would do the same for Sable if she asked it of him. He would travel to the ends of the Earth to bring her whatever she desired. He hadn’t understood Fargus’s deep desire to please his female until now. He had his own female to please.
    His own female to claim.
    He waited for the glass doors of the brightly lit store to open and allow him entrance, and then stalked in, a demon on a mission. Mortals milled around the large shop, some in groups and others alone, pushing carts up and down the aisles. He hunted for the cold section, knowing he would find meat there. Fargus had told him that his female had not desired meat when he had pointed it out as a more suitable present for him to give to her.
    The male had spoken of the things his human mate liked. Thorne tried to recount them, desiring to bring them to his female. He should have paid more attention but he had been eager to reach the magic bearer, Rosalind, and hear the future of his kingdom.
    Coffee. That had definitely come up.
    He racked his brain while loading his arms with the things he did know. Bacon. Sausages. Eggs. Bread. Those were easy enough. Coffee.
    Fried foods?
    He looked down at his bounty.
    Were these fried foods? He should have asked Olivia for more information.
    A brunette female passed him, dressed in an impossibly short grey skirt, heeled shoes and a tight white blouse. She glanced at him, raking her gaze over him in a way that made him want to growl at her. He hated it when the court females looked upon him in such a manner.
    “Lost, Handsome?” She turned towards him and fluttered her eyelashes.
    “No. Merely pausing to reflect upon what other food items constitute a cure for… hung over.”
    She sidled closer, clutching a basket in both hands before her. His gaze scanned the contents. Wine. Sable did not require that. Chocolate. What was it with mortal females and that infernal sweet?
    “I tell you what I love to eat when I’m hung over… let’s see. Fried bacon and eggs, which you happen to have right here.” She stroked the packages in his arms and brushed her fingers across his skin too. Thorne barely resisted flashing