Stolen by Her Demon King Mate

Chapter 4: Tricked

I scurried to the window and moved the blinds. Dawn sunlight shone into the room. I was worried about why someone would be on the roof near the window. The weight that was in their voice made me even more worried. There was a teenage girl maybe a few years younger than me at the window. I unclasped the window so I could pull it open.  

“Thanks.” She appeared completely fine. She climbed through the window and jumped down onto the carpeted section of the wooden floor. She started inspecting the room.

“I thought you were in trouble. What did you need from King Grayson? He’s in a meeting.” I trod on her heels as she walked around the room.

Once she started laughing in a way that made mischievous apparent I had the feeling I messed up. “He’s not in a meeting. He’s talking to Delilah.” The last statement was said in a mocking tone. “His next actual meeting isn’t scheduled for a few days.”

Jealousy crept around my heart. “So you asking for him at the window was an act?”

“Yeah, I knew you’d let me in.” She started looking through his drawers. “One of Gray’s advisers let it slip that you were following him to his room yesterday. I had to see if the girl from the prophecy was really in here.” She had referred to him so casually.

She had long straight hair and horns coming out of her forehead instead of the top of her head. She had two sets of fangs but not as prominent as Graysons. Unlike Grayson, she had small wings. Grayson didn’t have wings at all. Wings on demons were rare. “I don’t know if he wants anyone to know.” He probably wanted everyone to assume I was still inhabiting a cell in the dungeon. I couldn’t stop thinking about the days I spent in that cell. 

She chuckled nervously. “Well I won’t tell but there are rumors going around the castle anyways. A few guards told other employees there was no one in the dungeon anymore.” They all knew I was done there. “They knew you hadn't been killed yet. A few other employees noticed a female scent on Gray so they’re putting it together.” She grabbed a few things out of his drawers. 

“Why are you taking stuff?” I asked. I was frightened that I might have let a thief in. 

She shook her head assuringly. “These are my things.” In her arms were a phone, tablet, and a few thongs. At first, I thought she was too young to be involved with Grayson in any way but he had her thongs. That was if she was telling the truth.

“So you know him personally? Are you guys…” I trailed off not being able to complete my sentence.

The girl’s expression and body language came across as highly discomforted. “Ew no, These thongs have never been worn. He took them when he looked through my bags after I came back from shopping. He says I’m too young to be wearing them. He only still hasn’t them because they were recently taken from me unlike the phone and tablet. I took the opportunity to take my s**t back.” She clarified.

“Sorry, I get it now.”

“Don’t worry, I guess I would have assumed the same thing.” She turned her phone on and various notification sounds went off. “Yes!” She started scrolling and texting. “I probably have a while with my stuff before Gray notices it’s gone. Damn I’ve missed so much.” She walked to the door and looked up from her phone at me. “I should go but I’m Vaness. I can give you my number now that I have my phone back.”

“I'd like it but don’t have a phone.” Talking to someone like her made me feel normal. She had this warmth about her. “I’m Aria.”

“That’s okay, I’ll still see you around, Aria,” She said before she left. 

Just like that I was alone again. It was short lived excitement. I walked to the window and closed it then locked it with the latch. I strolled around the room. He had a laptop sticking on his desk, a few books, and even something that looked like a journal. There was a calendar above the desk. One close day was marked ‘Delilah’ while others were marked “Family time’ or‘Court Meeting’ Another entry for a date that caught my eye was ‘Execution’ for tomorrow. I wondered if that was supposed to be my execution date or someone else’s.

My head whipped around to look at the door when Grayson came back. He looked worked up and soul-suckingly sexy. “You let someone in the room?” he asked in a harsh tone. “It was Vaness, wasn’t it? She’s the only one who comes in through the window.” Guards must have seen her come through and let him know.

“Why do I have to tell you anything?” I was put off by him lying to me about being in a meeting when he was really with another woman. The same woman he was planning on doing something with in less than a week.

He scrunched up his eyebrows. “Because I’m your mate and I’m in charge of your safety.” In charge of my safety? He was concerned about someone being in his room because he was concerned about me.

“Yes, it was Vaness.”

He sighed but didn’t seem relieved. “f**k,” he swore. “Of all people.” I wondered who Vaness and Delilah were to him. “What did she want?”

“To see if I was really in here. She tricked me into letting her in.”

“I’ll have to announce finding my mate to the staff soon.” I wanted to confront him about lying but I wasn’t sure how much I cared. He walked closer to me. “Don’t let anyone else in this room when I’m gone.”

“All you’re doing is pushing demands on me.”

“That’s because our situation requires delicacy.” He clenched his fists. “We have to be careful because not everyone will accept you as Queen. I’m having difficulty doing that myself.” I didn’t even completely have his approval.

I walked to the door. “It won’t be so difficult if I leave like I wanted to do from the beginning.” Before I could reach the doorknob I felt myself being lifted from the ground by him. He gathered me in his arms as I wrapped my arms and legs around him instinctively. 

“Don’t be stupid, you can’t leave. You’re gonna be my Queen and carry the next line of royalty.” He whispered against my ear, sending a quiver down my spine. It was hard for me to not want to be submissive. “We’ll get everything figured out but I need you to obey my orders to ensure your safety and our future.”

I whimpered. “I…” I sighed from defeat. “Okay.” 

He planted kisses down my ear to my neck. I could hear the echoes of the kisses against my ear and feel the vibration of my skin from the kisses on my neck. I started moving my hips against him but stopped as soon as I noticed what my body was automatically doing. 

“You’re smart to stop.” He implied that I was tempting him and that if I continued it would lead to something else if I wanted it to. He tightened the grip one of his big hands had on my ass. I felt his tongue gliding on my neck as he kissed it. “I can smell your arousal.” I held back moans so I wouldn’t provoke him but I knew he wouldn’t do anything unless I wanted it.

“I’m hungry now.” I expressed an attempt to de-escalate the situation.

“Take another shower first, I don’t want anyone to smell your sensual fragrance,” He instructed. The demon royal family had better senses than the average demon. I’m sure members of his royal court also had strong senses. “I’ll take one after you then we’ll go.”

I grabbed some clean clothes and I took a shower as he wanted and it cooled me down. I got dressed and left the bathroom.

While he took a shower I looked through his bookcase. I always loved reading so at least I could do that while I was here. Once he got out we left the room.

As I walked beside him I noticed his demeanor changed. His chest was out, his chin was up and he had a brooding expression across his face. I wondered if it was an act but I don’t think it was. I think being alone with me brought out a different side of him but now he was among his staff. 

An employee was cleaning one of the frames in the portrait but dropped it when she saw him. It didn’t break because it was a strong, expensive material. 

“Name?” Grayson said as we got closer to her.

“K-Kate.” She quickly grabbed the frame and tried to straighten herself up. The expression on her face made embarrassment and nervousness even more evident.

“You’re fired,” he declared unsympathetically.

Kate radiated shock but didn’t question or try to convince him to let her keep her job. Instead, she said, “Of course my King. I’m sorry for my incompetence.”

I glared at him. “Why’d you do that?” I muttered.

He glanced down at me. “My employees can’t be flawed.”

“I’m flawed.” 

He held back a smile. “You’re not under my employment.”

“Yeah but I’m going to be Queen aren’t I? Shouldn’t I be the last person you’d want to be flawed?” If he expected me to be perfect he was going to be disappointed.

“You’ll have proper preparation but I’ll continue to handle the important things. I also don’t think you hold the flaws that would make you a flawed Queen.” I never thought about what I’d have to do as Queen. Everything was happening so quickly I didn’t have time to process all of the recent events and results of those events. “My castle maids are here to improve and uphold the condition of the castle. Dropping expensive possessions that have been in my family for generations goes directly against that goal.” I only hoped Kate could find another job soon. She only messed up because of Grayson’s aura. She probably didn’t see him much since she was a maid and the castle is huge with many rooms and halls.

He opened the door to the dining hall. I walked in and sat down at the extensive singular dining table that was only set for four. I assumed we’d be eating alone. Grayson sat next to me. The dining hall was beautifully decorated. The tapestries on the wall were breathtaking and the dining table’s centerpiece definitely caught my eye. The giant windows had a beautiful view of the rest of the castle and the courtyard. 

I drew my attention to the double doors as Vaness walked in and strolled to sit across from us. Vaness must have been family to Grayson. I was glad to have been able to see her again so soon.

“Are you going to introduce me to your friend Gray?” Vaness asked as if we hadn’t already met.

“You’re not fooling anyone Vaness. Zake saw you crawl into a window to my room.”

Vaness chuckled tensely. “I was looking for you but you don’t have to worry Aria was very welcoming.” She obviously wasn’t ready to give up her things just yet. Grayson didn’t say anything else on the topic even though our stories didn’t match up. Vaness slightly smiled at me because it was clear to her that I hadn’t said anything about her taking her things back. I doubt Grayson would have let something like that go.

I stared at the fourth placement wondering who it was for. Maybe that woman he lied to me about talking to earlier would be who it’s for.

“Daddy!” I heard as a young girl burst through the doors. I was wrong. The placemat had to have been for this little girl who looked so much like Grayson. I couldn’t believe my mate had a daughter.