The sound that echoed through the Demon Palace was not regal.
It was not dignified. It was not the kind of sound one expected from the ruling family.
It was the sound of someone being strangled.
"YOU ABSOLUTE MORON!" Malvoria bellowed as she had her younger sister in a headlock, one muscular arm wrapped tightly around Lara's throat as they both stumbled into the royal salon like a pair of drunken gladiators.
"I SAID I TRIED TO RESIST—!"
"YOU DON'T TRY TO RESIST A CELESTIAN PRINCESS UNDER HEAT-SPELL SMOKE, YOU RUN!"
"I TRIED TO PROTECT HER!"
"WITH YOUR PANTS DOWN?!"
Furniture toppled. A decorative sword fell off the wall. The staff peered from around corners with wide, horrified eyes.
Elysia sat serenely on the couch, sipping tea while Kaelith gnawed on a fireproof rattle in her lap, kicking her feet like a content baby dragon.
"She's going to kill her," said Thalor, watching from the other couch.
