When Angels Fall (Demon Lord) Read Free Page B

Stay.”
    “I am not lying abed all day.”
    “Why not?”
    “I will be bored. I have things to do, even if you do not.”
    “You will not be bored.” He opened his eyes again and smiled.
    She giggled. “What do you have in mind?”
    “Something interesting.”
    She slipped her arms around his neck. “Do tell, My Lord.”
    “I would rather show you.”
    Mirra’s smile widened as he drew her closer, then a shriek of girlish laughter shattered the peace, and he winced. His eyes flicked to the door through which the sounds filtered as a thud and another shriek followed.
    “What is Ethra doing here?” he enquired.
    She shrugged. “She is probably talking to Mithran and Grem.”
    “What are they doing here?”
    “You said we were going to visit Kayos and Sherinias today.”
    “I did not mean at the crack of dawn.”
    “It is far past dawn.”
    He grunted. “It feels like dawn to me. If they do not be quiet, I will make the sun go down again.”
    She giggled. “Ooh, how very godly of you, My Lord.”
    “Do not be cheeky.”
    “Or what?”
    “I…” Bane winced again as more shrieks came from the kitchen. He raised his head. “Ethra!”
    Murmuring followed, then scraping sounds and more giggles. He met Mirra’s sparkling eyes.
    “I do not think they can hear you,” she said.
    “Yet I can hear them. How is that possible?”
    “Probably because they are making so much noise.”
    “And they should know better.”
    An ear-splitting shriek was followed by gales of giggles and softer male chuckles.
    “What are they doing?” Bane asked.
    She shook her head. “I have no idea, but it sounds like fun.”
    “I had other fun in mind, and they are ruining it.”
    “I do not think that is their intention.”
    He groaned as more shrieks and giggles came from the kitchen. He scowled in that direction. “Ethra! Be quiet!”
    “Do not spoil their fun,” Mirra chided.
    “They are spoiling mine.”
    A crash made him start and glare at the wall, annoyed.
    Mirra murmured, “Bane… do not.”
    “Why not?”
    “It is rude.”
    “They are being rude,” he said. “Why can they not go and make that ruckus elsewhere?”
    “They are waiting for you to get up.”
    “Then they should do it quietly.”
    “If you silence them, they will be in here in a flash.”
    “No, they will not.”
    She snorted. “Do not be such a spoilsport.”
    “And they are not?”
    She clasped his face and kissed him. “Grouchy.”
    “Irritated.”
    “Grumpy.”
    “Annoyed.”
    Thuds and scrapes came through the wall, along with shrieks and chuckles. Bane raised his head again, and silence fell.
    Mirra grinned and shook her head. “Peevish!”
    The door handle rattled, and then a fist pounded on it. Bane groaned again and rolled onto his back, rubbing his eyes.
    Mithran’s worried voice came through the door. “Bane! Something’s happened to Ethra! She can’t speak!”
    Bane massaged his temples, muttering, “I know. I know. I know.”
    “You have only made it worse. Take it off,” Mirra said.
    Mithran shouted, “Bane! You need to come out here. Ethra is…” His voice faded somewhat. “What? Him?” His voice rose to a bellow again. “Bane! Stop this at once!”
    “Your father has spoken,” Mirra murmured.
    Bane grunted, still rubbing his eyes, and sighed. In the kitchen, Ethra’s banter resumed, along with fresh gales of giggles.
    Mithran thumped on the door. “Bane! Get up!”
    Mirra giggled, poking him. He brushed her hand away, hiding his smile behind his other arm.
    She murmured, “Come along, Lord Grumpalot, obey your father, like a good son.”
    “I should have silenced him, too,” he growled.
    She gave a mock gasp. “You would not dare!”
    He removed his arm and opened his eyes. “It would not have stopped him banging on the door, unfortunately.”
    Mirra rose, slipped her dress on and threw his trousers at him. “Get up.”
    He sat up, raking back his hair. “You lot are getting far too bossy. Why