It was late morning before Angelica pulled herself out of bed. It did not seem worthwhile to pray this late in the morning, so she dressed and headed down to get breakfast. She had just reached the top of the stairs when she heard a voice call out.

“Dylan, you bastard. Where the hell are you?”

She glanced down to the front door where a bug-like demon stood. He spotted her immediately and clicked over to the bottom of the stairs.

“What’s this? Don’t tell me he picked up another human.”

Angelica hand itched for a sword as she descended the stairs and walked past the stunted demon.

“I don’t suppose you killed Dylan?” he asked.

“What if I did?” Angelica asked dismissively over her shoulder.

He cut in front of her, just an inch or so taller than she. Not enough to be intimidating. “Well then of course I’d have to kill you.”

She stepped to the side, only to have the bug demon step in front of her once again. “I didn’t kill him,” she sighed in annoyance. “Now get out of my way.”

“You have fire, human. I like that.” He reached up with a claw like hand.

“Don’t touch me.” Angelica stumbled backward, a sudden chill running through her body. She had gotten so used to Dylan’s pacifistic attitude that it had completely slipped her mind that this was a demon standing in front of her.

“Trenir. I wasn’t expecting you.” She heard Dylan’s voice behind her, and she glanced at him over her shoulder, relieved.

“Dylan! Sorry to see the human didn’t finish you off.” The stunted demon pushed past Angelica, and embraced the blue haired demon.

Dylan laughed at what seemed to be a joke. “This is Angelica, my guest. Princess, this is Trenir, an old friend.”

The princess curtsied even though she was wearing pants and a scowl. Trenir looked amused. “Hey wait a minute. Angelica? Don’t tell me that’s the Renegade Princess. Heh, there was a rumor that she might have been kidnapped.”

“Well I was, not that anyone there cared.” Angelica soothed her ruffled nerves. “Maybe you can get this demon to tell you why he bothered to kidnap me in the first place.”

“I wanted the pleasure of your company,” Dylan replied sweetly.

Angelica turned on heel and continued on her way to the kitchen. She had not expected a real answer. Dylan had always used that response whenever she asked, no matter how many times she asked it.”

“So have you tasted her yet? I hear that-”

Angelica tensed slightly, but did not stop walking. Dylan must have hushed Trenir because she did not hear another word from the two of them.

After lingering in the kitchen over breakfast, she headed toward the library. Dusty was coming out, shutting the door behind him as he did. A frown marred his freckled face.

“I don’t like Master Dylan’s friend,” he said bluntly.

Angelica was not sure how to reply.

“I never have. Would you like to do some sparring practice?”

She could hear loud voices and laughter coming from the library, and decided that she would rather not be in there. “Sure.”

Dusty’s skill had improved immensely, even in just the week she had been instructing him. She credited it more to natural skill than to any sort of amazing training. She simply showed him what she had been shown.

They worked on swordplay for most of the day, stopping for a leisurely lunch, and by the time dinner should be, Angelica was thoroughly exhausted. She and Dusty headed to the dining hall, planning to wash up in the kitchen. As they entered, Dylan and Trenir were already dining on a meal of roast animal, steaming cabbage and plenty of bread.

“Good evening you two.” Dylan said after he had emptied his mouth.

“Good evening Master, Del Trenir.”

The stunted demon nodded at them.

“Del?” Angelica asked as they entered the kitchen.

“It’s a title demons can earn. It means they have their own land or territory.” Dusty explained as they cleaned their hands and faces.

“So Dylan has the same title?”

“Technically he should, but part of having a title is other demons accepting said title. You can call yourself whatever you want, but if other demons don’t think you deserve the title, then you don’t really have it.”

“So why doesn’t he?”

“He hasn’t done enough to earn it in the eyes of other demons.” Dusty shrugged.

Angelica sat down across from Dylan, with Dusty next to her. She served herself from the plates in front of her, and began eating silently, as Trenir and Dylan continued chatting.

“And so of course she claimed I had miscast,” Trenir shook his head. “As if somehow I’d suddenly forgotten everything I learned. So of course the human called for help, and will you believe it, some angel showed up. Must’ve been traveling nearby. Well Jenal and I made pretty short work of him, but by that time the human had gotten away.”

Somehow Angelica was not surprised Trenir had helped to kill an angel. Two demons together against even a third Choir angel should have been a tough fight. She wondered if he was downplaying the difficulty.

“And of course offing an angel put Jenal in quite the mood. She was all over me for the entire night, not that I minded missing some sleep. Know what I mean kid?”

Dylan laughed.

“I’m afraid I don’t.” Dusty returned the look the demon had given him with no humor.

“That boy’s plenty old enough by human standards, isn’t he? I mean you’ve got a female right here-”

He was cut off as Dusty rose sharply. “I’m sorry Master. I have several chores I neglected today. I should begin those. Miss Angelica, would you like to accompany me?”

Angelica detested the thought of being left at the table with Trenir, and so she nodded. Dusty walked her back to her room. “I’m sorry. That’s one of the reasons I don’t like him.”

“I’m almost surprised Dylan is friends with him.”

“He says Trenir’s only joking, and they’ve been friends for a long time. Much longer than I’ve been alive in any case. Anyway, enjoy your evening.”

“Thank you, Dusty.”

She went into her room, and turned on the radio. She turned the dial until she found an instrumental music station. The notes danced around her as she knelt by the window. She made the sign of the Heaven. “Thank you for your blessings today, Goddess Lucinia. Dusty is learning so fast, I’m just glad I’m able to teach him.” She then made the sign of the Earth. “I pray you continue to watch over me, God Terranok. I know your blessings are few, and I thank you for any you give.”

Angelica lay back on her bed, listening to the music. Having such a friend really did seem unlike Dylan. She had not known him for more than a week, but even in that amount of time she saw him as a quieter person who would enjoy listening to the wind through the leaves, not loud, boisterous stories.

When she woke up again, the lights had been turned off, but she heard the radio still playing beside her bed. Perhaps Dylan had come by and seen her asleep and turned off the lights for her. She turned over, reaching out to turn off the radio when a figure appeared next to her bed.

“And just what do you think you’re doing in my room?” Angelica sighed, thinking Dusty was unable to sleep for some reason.

“Dylan claims to have never tasted you.” Trenir grabbed her arm with a pincer like hand. “And I think that’s a perfectly good waste of a prisoner.” He pushed her back, climbing onto the bed.

Angelica reached over, grasping for the radio beside her bed. She slammed it into the side of the demon’s head. She heard a satisfying crack before his claw tightened on her wrist, cutting off all feeling to it.

“Not a smart move,” Trenir hissed. “I’ll make you scream before this is done.”

Screaming was not something Angelica had even considered. Dylan was probably turning a blind eye to let his friend have a little fun. But Angelica refused to lay still. She still had one of her hands free, and she used it to her full advantage now. Ignoring the pain in her wrist, she pounded the side of Trenir’s head and tried to poke his eyes. He tried to catch her stray hand, but she kept it from his grasp.

Dylan would not possibly allow this. He was a demon, but he was nice to her. He treated her as his guest. If he knew…surely if he knew.

Trenir ripped her nightgown open and Angelica’s blood ran cold. No! She squeezed her eyes shut. Someone save me…

There was a roar of wind, and the stunted demon flew away from her, his claw ripping free of her wrist. The woman opened her eyes quickly to see Dylan standing in the doorway. His wings were flared out behind him. She had never seen him look so angry or demonic.

Trenir picked himself up off the ground, glaring at his friend. “What the hell was that?”

Dylan’s mouth moved over silent words and the bug demon flew into the air. Angelica blinked in surprise as her captor walked up to his friend, looking him square in the eye. “If you ever think of touching her again, I will kill you.”

“What the fuck are you thinking, Dylan? She’s a human, a damned human. What do you care what I do to her?”

“Ever.” The word was a command. The bug demon flew across the room, out the open door, slamming into the wall beyond. The door slammed shut, but Angelica found herself unable to look away from it until Dylan knelt next to her bed.

Reflecting morning light in gentle waves.” She looked down as the wound that was leaking blood onto her sheets mended itself together, leaving only a smear of blood behind. The human looked up at the demon crouching beside her bed. All that anger and fury from a humanoid demon, and he had used it for her benefit. Even looking as dangerous as he had, she had never feared for her own safety. Not once.

“Thank you for dinner,” she said the only thing of which she could think.

“It was the least I could do.”