Read Demons Forever (Peachville High Demons #6) for Free Online Page A

frame. Instead, the chair moved by magic. He bowed as I thanked him and sat down, the chair sliding perfectly under me.
    I cleared my throat, then took a sip of water. My hand trembled slightly, so I gripped the goblet tighter, hoping no one noticed.
    I stared at the empty place next to me.
    "The king is still in the throne room with the head of the council," the woman said.
    "Oh," I said. "Do you think he's still planning to come?"
    "I'm sure he will do his best to spend time with his lovely daughter," she said. She stepped back toward the wall, taking her place beside the other servants dressed in black.
    I placed my hands in my lap and crossed my ankles under the table. It was so strange having all these people here to wait on me. I would much rather have been able to just wear my comfy jeans and meet my dad at some fast food place. We could talk over a milkshake and fries or something.
    I took another sip of water.
    The servants behind me straightened. I looked around, wondering what was going on, then swallowed hard as I saw the king walk through the door.
    With a comfortable confidence, he made his way across the room, eyes trained on me.
    "Harper," he said. He held his hand out to me and I moved to stand. "No, no need to stand, my dear."
    He nodded and the same man who had helped me earlier pulled the chair out. My father sat down next to me, propping his elbows on the table and clasping his hands together.
    "You look beautiful," he said. "How are you settling in?"
    "Great," I said. My voice came out with a weird croak, and I cleared my throat. "Tulianne is very sweet."
    "I'm glad you are getting along fine," he said. "If there's ever anything you need, you just let her know."
    Around us, the servants moved with grace and precision, and in less than a minute our plates were full. I watched my father closely and did my best to copy his actions. When he picked up his fork and started to eat, I did the same. I speared a deep red strawberry. The tart flavor made the sides of my cheeks pucker, but I tried not to make a funny face.
    I was completely out of my league here. I'd never even eaten at an expensive restaurant, much less at a king's table. I didn't want to make a mistake and look stupid in front of all these people.
    I would have much rather spent time with my father somewhere we could both feel comfortable.
    "Have you had a chance to explore much of the city?" he asked. "It's a shame so much of it was damaged in the attack, but everyone's been working nonstop to get things back in order."
    I finished chewing, then brought my hand in front of my mouth, hoping I didn't have any strawberry seeds stuck in my teeth. "Not yet," I said. "I've mostly just been in my rooms."
    A smiled tugged at one corner of his mouth. "I hope you're pleased with your accommodations."
    "Are you kidding?" I asked. "They're amazing. The balcony is my favorite part. I love the view of the gardens. I can smell the flowers all the way up in my bedroom."
    I wanted to mention the white roses. To ask him about my mother, but I remembered Jackson's advice and took it slow. Small talk might be driving me crazy, but at least we were talking.
    "That's wonderful," my father said.
    "There was a really nice breeze last night," I said. "But how exactly does that work? If the dome keeps everything out, how come I can feel the wind?"
    "The weather here inside the dome is almost always perfect. When it storms outside, we can still hear the thunder and see the rain falling against the barrier, but nothing gets through," he said. "The wind and even the warmth of the sun are actually spells cast to make everyone feel at home here. Every once in a while, we will cast a rain spell that only rains in the gardens and grassy areas to they get properly watered."
    Nothing gets through. I winced as I remembered those drops of black acid falling through the crack in the dome. Could I ask him about that? Or would that put too much tension in the whole conversation?
    I