Demigod Lover: Ari (special preview)

“I insist.” Mila turns to my parents and walks away with them, tending to other business they’ve brought with them.

I show Maradon, Ariston, and Ari to the tea room where the maid’s are already getting it ready. 

“Taya,” I go up to one of the maids. “I’ve got company today, I’ll need an extra tea pot, please.”

“Of course, young lady.” Taya smiles at me. “I’ll fetch some extra treats while I’m at it.” Her eyes glance to Ari. “They’re very cute,” she whispers to me. She then giggles and leaves to fetch the extra tea pot and snacks.

“Please have a seat,” my voice squeaks as I say this.

Ari takes a seat beside me and swings their legs under the table. They lean on the tabletop, reach out and snatching petit fours from the top of the desert tray. 

“Ari,” Ariston gives them a warnng look.

Ari plops back down in his seat, double fisitng the peitit fours. “Sorry Papa. They just looked so good.”

“And after we lied and said you had manners.” Maradon smirks at him. They then turn and look at me. “Thank you for inviting us to your party, young Vaska. I’ve been so excited to visit the Polar again. Last time I was here I had such a wonderful time.”

“Zaza nearly destroyed the cathedral,” Ari whispers to me.

Maradon gives them a harsh glare. “Don’t out me like that, baby. I will throw you out the window.”

Ari giggles and continues munching.

I look down at the table. “I’m sorry,” I murmur. “I didn’t invite you, Mila did. I actually didn’t invite anybody.”

“Did you mom tell you not too?” Ari asked in shocked.

I shake my head. “I don’t really know anyone my own age.”

“What’s that?” Ari asks.

I glance up at them, looking into their big, bright eyes. “What’s what?”

“Your age,” Ari leans forward. “How old will you be?”

“I’ll be twelve,” I squeak.

Ari’s grin is radiant. “Me too!” They grab my hand and shake it. “You know me now. That’s better than before right?”

I smile shyly back at them, squeezing their warm hand in mine. “It is,” I say with a soft nod. 

That evening, after having shown Maradon and Ariston to their room, I go back to my own where I study. My mother had brought home a bunch of books from the Kobold schools they had gone to. Both my parents wanted me to become a doctor, but I wasn’t too sure how I felt about it. Blood made me feel queasy and I got really nervous around strangers. I don’t think any of that is good for becoming a doctor.

I yawn and rub my eyes as I read, wanting to find Taya and sneak a hot cocoa before bedtime. I hear something tapping on the glass of my room and I turn to see Ari’s face. I nearly scream and I rush to the window and throw it open.

“Did I scare you?” Ari asks, leaning in on the windowsill.

“How are you doing this?” I gasp. I look out the window and down. I then look up at Ari who is floating in the air. “Get inside before you fall!” I grab Ari’s hands and pull them inside.

“I won’t fall.” Ari lands with a soft thud onto the floor. “I have never fallen.” They grin proudly then look up at me. “I just wanted to see you.”

“But how?” I gasp. “You were flying?”

“My Zaza is a god, which makes me a demigod.” Ari points their thumb at themself. “Since my Papa is human I can’t do everything that Zaza does, but I can fly whenever I want.”

I gasp softly, imagining how amazing and fun that must be.