Page 7 of Sent To A Fantasy World and Now All the Men Want Me 7

“You can always try.” Maddox’s hard expression didn’t waiver.

“We will leave before week’s end,” Draven said, answering Maddox’s question.

“Oh.” I turned to him. “You could always just stay here. No reason to rush off so soon.”

“Our mission has been completed,” he said. “We have no further reason to stay.”

“Uh oh. There he goes again.” Rowan hopped up on the counter. One leg dangled down while he leaned against the raised knee of the other. “Making that sad toad face.”

“I’m not a sad toad.” I stuck up my nose. “Nope. Not at all. If they want to leave so bad, then whatever. It’s not my business.”

“It’s not that we don’t wish to stay here with you, darlin’,” Reign said, though his normally flirty tone seemed a touch heavier. “Things are just… complicated in the kingdom.”

“Complicated how?” I asked.

“War is on the horizon.” Draven’s thick accent was raspy. “Prince Cedric has ruled in his father’s stead only briefly, yet he’s already begun preparations to march against Haran.”

My gut coiled. “War? Really?”

“Aye.” Reign nodded. “And he’s using the king’s death as a catalyst for it, claiming that Haran sent you to infiltrate as part of the assassination ploy. He’s been clever in his strategy, carefully placing the pieces on the board and moving them at just the right time. Many believe his lies and are supporting his cause.”

“What about Prince Sawyer?” I asked, sick to my stomach. “Where is he in all of this?”

“He has little say in regard to Cedric’s actions,” Reign answered. “Though it’s clear he doesn’t agree with them. He risked punishment by speaking in your defense, insisting you were innocent. Many others spoke of your innocence as well. Sir Noah and several of the castle guards amongst them.”

“Ban?” My heart squeezed at the thought of him. Eyes the color of rain and an endearing blush in his cheeks whenever I gave him his favorite cookie: snickerdoodle.

Reign nodded. “He didn’t speak, but he stepped forward when Finnian and August did, each of them defending your character.”

Tears stung my eyes. “But I’m assuming it didn’t do much good?”

Draven shook his head. “Cedric dismissed them from the throne room, warning that any further defense in your name would result in them being marked as traitors and imprisoned.”

Just the fact that they had tried touched me deeply.

“What of Thane?” Briar asked, sitting rigid in his chair. “My apprentice. Is he well?”

“Keeps to the clinic mostly,” Reign answered. “Cedric chose a different physician to oversee the king’s condition in his final days. More than likely someone who would do and say what Cedric ordered them to.”

Briar seemed relieved at that and gave a subtle nod, taking a drink of his tea.

“Evan!” a cutesy voice came from the hall. An equally cute female demon pranced into the kitchen. Nina was a type of snake demon, with golden wavy hair and bright yellow eyes. She bounded over and hugged my arm. “Nina found you.”

When she spoke, it caused a pang in my heart. Because it reminded me of Kuya. He spoke in the same way, referring to himself in third person. I missed my cat boy bestie more than I could put into words. And I hated not knowing if he was okay or not.

“Good morning,” I greeted her, trying to shove down that sadness. “I hope you’re hungry. Breakfast is nearly done.”

“Can Nina have muffinsss?” She gave me a toothy grin before frowning and lifting her hands to lightly pat her cheeks. She didn’t always emphasize her ‘s’s but she got self-conscious when one slipped out. “Bad Nina.”

“Ah, don’t do that,” I told her. “I like it. Makes you unique.”

Her face lit up before she retook my arm, hugging it like we were going to prom. A faint shimmer traveled across her skin, as though dusted with glitter. Or covered with thin, serpent-like scales. She spotted the tray of muffins and took off, an excited little grumble in her throat.

“You should be working, not frolicking around,” a different female voice rang out as Cyan joined us in the kitchen. Vibrant blue hair fell past her ears, and her eyes of the same color narrowed as she crossed her arms. Her long black tail flicked, as though agitated.

Normally, she was bubbly and fun. But right now, she looked annoyed.

A similar expression flickered across Maddox’s face as Nina bounded over to the tray of muffins and grabbed two of them, one for each hand.