Lilly stood there fixated, trapped between Ace's arm, who was waiting for her to speak patiently, "You know, Lilly, I have all time you need so we can stay here as long as you start talking. Or...I can make you talk if that's what you want," he asked softly, cocking his head to the side.
Hearing something creek she looked at her door worried if it was Rose.
"You have locked the door, cupcake. So what is it going to be?" seeing her gulp.
Looking away from his intense gaze, she spoke, "The gate was open when you were-you know-about to lean and I didn't want to get caught. Both of us could get into trouble," she answered.
"Why is your father part of the Mafia?" he asked in humor.
"Of course not! How could you conclude with just that? Can we please...sit and talk," once he moved his hands away from her, she went to sit on the bed. He leaned over the wall, waiting for her to speak.
"It's a little complicated and you might think I'm crazy," she wouldn't have told a stranger about her family but she liked him and she knew that on some level he liked her too. Because if he didn't, he wouldn't be so bothered wanting to know answers from her.
"You are anything but crazy. I'll keep an open mind to what you say and you don't have to worry about it," he replied seriously.
Wondering how to start, she opened her mouth and then closed before giving him a smile. Her parents had been strict about humans knowing their true identities and it was pure luck that her friends knew about it as they had seen horns on a person's head. She trusted Ace wouldn't tell it to someone and even if someone did come to know, her parents would have them sushed. Not having any easy to tell it, she said,
"My family are demons."
"You don't like your parents?"
"No, not like that. I mean they are demons who are part of another realm," she explained and worried he might have a wrong perception about them, she continued to speak, "They aren't scary though. They are good demons unlike what we humans think. They don't kill humans, that's a totally wrong conception wh-"
"No wonder you smelled different," he narrowed his eyes.
"What?" Was that what he was thinking about? Maybe he took the news well, thought Lilly.
"You are in a demons household. Demons did have another smell. And here I thought you would say something strange," he sighed like it was not a big deal. And something in his words hit her. Oh dear God.
"A-are you a demon too? I thought you were a human," she whispered in disbelief.
"I am," he answered her question, "But how are you a human if your parents are demons? Are you adopted?" she nodded her head slowly.
"What about Cole? Is he a demon too?" she asked him.
"Yes. Just like the others whom you met that day at Ryan's house."
"Wow," Lilly whistled. Gwen was going to have a ball with it. She then saw him walk towards her and sit next to her on the bed.
"Now that we have cleared few things, tell me. Do you like me, Lilly?" he asked facing her.
"I do," and she saw him smile.
"I am glad to hear that. Lillian... I have liked you ever since I first saw you. I feel very different around you, really happy. Things will be easy for us in the future now," he murmured, giving her a tender, sweet smile. Was it a good time to tell what her parents had asked her to go through? Biting her cheek she contemplated what to do, "What's the matter? You don't seem happy," he commented.
"There's a little problem, you see," she wrung her hands nervously, "My parents have arranged a meeting for me with a man. For a possible arranged marriage."
"What do you mean?"
"Right they just want to me to meet him. The demon king arranged for it," hearing this his eyes narrowed and darkened at the same time, "Father said there's no pressure and I still have time before I am to be married."
"Who is it? Do you know his name?" Ace asked through gritted teeth.
"Yes. His name is Tristan. I met him in Spain when I went to attend the wedding."
"I see," he said thinking deeply. He was quiet and she didn't know what was working in his head. His disheveled hair had grown a little that fell over his forehead longer than usual.
"Maybe I could put a word across my parents about you and you could then meet them," she suggested but he replied, "I don't think that's possible. We'll have to try something else," he suggested.
"Why not?" she asked him puzzled to see him scratch the back of his neck.
"Let's say I'm on a run now. I mean we," he said with a yawn.
"Are you running from the demon law?" she asked standing up in shock, seeing him laugh she asked, "Why are you running then?"
"Do keep it a secret. Do you know the king has two sons? The thing is the youngest son-"
"You are the youngest son!!" she exclaimed, both her hands covering her mouth but he shook his head, "No?"
"No, I am not. Cole is the youngest son of the king. Cole is on a vacation run away right now and I am helping him out with April and the others. We want to keep it like this for few more weeks," he explained. Woah, Gwen was dating a demon prince.Ace's phone rang and he looked at the screen before cutting the call, "I should leave now."
"Okay."
"Don't worry about Tristan. I will take care of the situation."
"You know him?" she asked surprised.
"Something like that," he said with a sly smile playing on his lips, "You don't have to worry about anything. Go meet him when your parents ask you to."
"Alright," she replied seeing him jump out the window swiftly.
In the morning after getting ready, Lilly went down to see her father reading the daily newspaper and her mother making pancakes with Rose in the kitchen.
"Good morning, dad," she greeted him, taking a seat in front of him.
"Morning sweetie," her father greeted, placing the newspaper to his side, "How long do you have classes today?" he asked.
"Until noon. Thanks," she said when Rose placed the pancakes in front of her.
"You'll be meeting Tristan tomorrow, Lilly," her father informed her and she did nothing but nod before starting to eat her breakfast. She just had to trust Ace on his words. Going to school and speaking to Gwen who still wasn't aware of Cole's identity, whisper yelled at her in the lunch room,
"How can you just go?! What if this Tristan likes you and gives a yes to the demon king? What, what are you going to do? How can you stay calm?"
"I was told to stay calm. Deep breaths, Gwen. You can do it," Lilly said inhaling and exhaling air into her lungs to show how it was done, "It seems like Ace is already acquainted with Tristan, so it is going to be alright."
Once the classes were done, to her surprise she found Jack, their driver standing in front of their school gates with the car ready for her. She turned around, seeing if Ace was around but he wasn't. Her father would usually send the car to her school if she needed to be home early. Wondering what was the pressing matter, she dropped a quick text to Ace and went towards the car.
"Miss Lilly, your father asked me to pick you up," Jack greeted, opening the door for her.
"Did something happen?" she asked him worried.
"Oh, nothing to worry about. Someone came home to meet you," he said as he started the car, "I think the name was Tristan."
Sitting in the car, Lilly fiddled with her fingers. Her nervousness growing as they got closer to the house. Wasn't it arranged to have Tristan and her meet tomorrow? Did her father reschedule it because she said she had free time afternoon time?