Demon Puppet

Chapter 12

I groan and sit up, running my fingers through my hair. Hero snorts and grumbles something under his breath before pulling me back down again, tucking my back into his chest and spooning my body against his. I blush deeply, feeling his hot breath on the back of my neck. When did we fall asleep last night?

I yawn and blink, looking up at the trees above us. As my eyes adjust to the sunlight, I spot something laying on the forest floor not far from where we slept. My eyes widen, and I quickly scramble up, tucking Hongbin's doll back into my jacket before Hero had the chance to wake up and spot it. That was close...

I stretch my arms over my head, hearing my back pop in several places. God, I miss having a bed... This was the first night I haven't had nightmares, though. Hopefully it stays that way.

A warm pair of arms wrap around my waist as Hero scoots closer. "Good morning, princess," he purrs in my ear, nuzzling the back of my neck. "Sleep well?"

"My back hurts."

He chuckles. "Next time, you can use me as a pillow." I close my eyes as his palms press against my shoulder blades, rubbing small circles into the sore muscles of my back. He pauses for a moment and rests his chin on my shoulder. "Your heart is pounding. Why are you so nervous?"

I swallow thickly and wrap my jacket tighter around me. "Well...we're going to the Imitators today, aren't we? I'm going to see my... my..."

"Your parents," he finishes, standing up and holding out his hand. He smiles warmly. "Don't worry, Noelle. They are your parents. They will understand—they know you've been gone a long time."

"What are they like?" I ask as he pulls me up to my feet.

"They are the leaders of your clan," Hero murmurs. "They are very powerful, even for our kind, but they are fair. Your father is intimidating, but your mother is very kind and soft-spoken. I'm sure that they missed you very much."

"And your family?" I say quietly, looking away. I have no doubt I'll be meeting them, too...

He laughs and pulls me close. "Don't worry about them quite yet. One thing at a time, princess." He leans forward, his lips gently pressing against mine.

"Wait!" I protest, laying my hand on his chest to push him away. "I have one more question."

He sighs but waits, his red eyes boring intensely into mine.

"What... What happened to me in the wolf's den?" I whisper, closing my eyes and remembering the red haze over my vision and the flicker of fear in the pack's eyes.

Hero pauses for a moment, nodding slowly. "That was your instincts kicking in," he replies quietly. "When I probed your mental walls, you saw it as a threat and attacked me. You lost control, but only for a moment." His eyes narrow. "You never explained what that wolf meant, by the way."

"And you never apologized for 'probing' me," I growl, taking a step back.

He chuckles and raises his hands in surrender. "Fair enough. All right, princess, I apologize. Would you like to explain to me what the alpha meant when he said you don't trust me?"

I look away and grumble under my breath, "Not really..."

"Don't make me probe you again," Hero rumbles playfully, a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

I raise an eyebrow. "Do you want me to lose my composure again? Don't you Imitators have rules against invading the privacy of another person's mind?"

"I never said I would probe your mind."

My face turns bright red, and I fold my arms across my chest. "Now that is highly inappropriate."