who happily reassured me that they won't be hunting me down since I posted the last chapter (I hope that stays true!)

"Would you like to try riding Benny Princess?" Aidan's tail wagged furiously as he waited for my answer.

I looked up at Benny as he huffed, staring back at me.

"Maybe it would be wiser for her to try petting him first." Nadia hits Aidan as she turns to smile at me. "You do not have to do anything if you choose."

"I-i want to p-pet him."

I clenched my hands as I felt her gaze on me until she opens the door, the smell of straw drifting into my nose. I stayed close to Nadia as Benny tilted his head to the side, staring me down.

"It's alright." She bent down besides me and places dried meat in my hand. "Keep your hand level and wait for him to approach you."

I did as she asked, kind of feeling like I was offering up my arm to Benny and closed my eyes. Soft fur tickled my palm followed by a smooth, cool sensation before a hot sticky thing licked off the meat.

I lowered my hand as my eyes opened, freezing midway as I saw Benny extremely close to me. It's eyes seemed to have a light deep within, almost like Grandpa's.

Suddenly, I didn't feel as scared anymore.

Benny lowered his head and gently nuzzles against my cheek, as I realized his beak was what I felt earlier.

"Benny likes you Princess!" Aidan seemed a surprised. "You never treat me like that..." He mumbles to him causing Benny to snort before nuzzling me once more.

"He hee." A bubbly feeling filled my chest as I lightly reached out to touch Benny's face.

"Princess! You laughed!" Aidan and Nadia looked stunned. "I should of recorded it for his Majesty!"

Aidan hit the palm of his hand with his head with that statement as Nadia shook her head in amazement.

"Do not worry." She pulls out a small ball from her pocket attached to her hip. "I have a recorder."

"Nice Sis!"

The two of them huddled together over the ball as Benny bumps his head against my side; calling for my attention before kneeling down.

I stared for a few moments, not understanding until he gently grabs onto my sleeve and pulls me under his wing to stand besides his body.

"Y-you want m-me to climb up?"

Benny slowly blinks to my question.

"H-how?"

I looked up to his back, it still much taller than me even with him kneeling. Benny folds his front legs under him, the one closest to me sticking out like a step.

I lift my foot, setting it onto the bird-like foot and used his body for balance; I was now able to crawl up onto his back.

I grabbed onto the spot where fur and feathers combined as Benny stood up, making me much taller than Nadia and Aidan. He glanced back to make sure I was holding on before walking past the two beastkin and into the large walkway before heading towards the other door.

"Princess?!?!"

I could hear Nadia and Aidan shout in surprise as they noticed I was gone.

"Wait Princess!"

I turned to look towards them as we passed under the door frame and saw the concerned looks before Benny flapped his wings and took off.

"W-wait!" I start to cry out to Benny, but I quickly closed my mouth to avoid biting my tongue as he leaps up into the air- his wings pounding against the breeze.

I held on tightly as I felt Benny moving beneath me and squeezed my eyes shut until his movement became smoother.

A brush of cold air surprises me which I open my eyes to and carefully look around; not realizing at first that we weren't on the ground anymore.

The first full view I had of the world was beautiful. Trees dotted the ground below as fluffy clouds slowly drifted along the sky.

Everything seemed so small.

I could see the barn and gardens, rivers and lakes with my home right in the middle of it. The grey stones looked dark with the clouds that hung over them and green plants growing up the sides of the towers but at same time, it was comforting.

I looked towards the mountains that surrounded that reminded me of knight statues that lined the gardens, seeing white caps that showed how tall they were.

'Would Benny be able to fly over them?' I wondered as he circled around the castle. We flew past large windows before I noticed that we were near Papa's office.

"B-benny." I patted his back. "C-can you s-top here?"

Benny glances back and blinks once more and flaps his wings to slow down but the windows to Papa's office swing open as we passed with Papa leaning over the frame.

"SORAYA!!!"

Papa uses magic to float up and quickly rushes over to Benny, reaching out for me. I reached back to him instinctively as he pulled me into his arms and stopped in midair.

"Soraya! Are you alright?" Papa looks me up and down, his eyes shining as his hair moved against the wind.

"I-i'm fine Papa...!" I sneezed, now noticing that our temperatures were different; Papa was really hot against my back.

"Bring Aidan and Nadia here now." Papa's voice was cold as he casted magic around me and slowly floated down to the garden below.

"Princess!!" The two beastkin suddenly appear, looking panicked as they jumped over a hedge. "How could you fly off like that!"

They froze as they made eye contact with Papa before instantaneously kneeling down on the group, their head touching the stones.

"Your Majesty!!!"

"It seems that the two of you do not take my words seriously."

I couldn't see Papa's expression but his tone caused all three of us to flinch. Papa patted my head gently as he stared down Aidan and Nadia while an unknown pressure surrounded us.

"Is that true?"

"No your Majesty!"

"Then why was Soraya flying by herself on a griffin? An act that could severely harm or even kill her if she happened to fall?"

"We have no excuse, you Majesty!" Nadia cries out, unable to lift her head in Papa's presence. "We had looked away for one moment and failed to make sure that the princess is safe."

"It is obvious now that the two of you are not suitable to protect my daughter." Papa starts to raise his hand, only stopping when I grabbed his sleeve.

"Papa!" I looked up into his eyes as I spoke. "D-don't blame th-em! I-it's my fault!"

"Soraya?"

"I-i climbed up B-benny and didn't t-try to stop him o-or tell him to go b-ack down."

I didn't want Nadia and Aidan to get into trouble for what I did; but it was really hard to keep myself from shaking, I always got hit whenever Daddy was angry- what if Papa did that too?

"No! It was our fault!" Aidan quickly states. "I was the one who suggested that she ride Benny-"

"Silence."

That one word made Aidan close his mouth, his ears down.

"Soraya."

I flinched, my hands tightening on his sleeve.

"Do you know why I am angry?"

"B-because..." I couldn't get my voice be louder than a whisper. "I f-flew with B-enny?"

"No." Papa sighs. "It is because you could of been harmed. I made you the promise that nothing would harm you here; but going and looking for danger would make that promise useless."

"I-i'm sorry P-papa." Tears started to run down my face. "P-please don't be m-ad."

Papa's long fingers gently lift up my head as his thumb wiped away a tear about to escape.

"I am not mad. I was worried." He spoke softly, as the pressure disappeared. "Please never allow me to experience that again."

Papa rest his forehead against mine as his arms tightened around me; his heart beating hard against my ear.

"I p-promise Papa." I reached up to touch his face.

"Good."

He raises his head to look at the two beastkin and Benny who had landed before walking towards us.

"Adian. Nadia."

"Yes, your Majesty!"

"The two of you will be punished with three days in confinement with one meal a day."

"We will obey!"

"The griffin will be restricted to staying in the stable for the same amount of time."

Papa stares down Benny.

"There will be no second chances."

"Thank you, your Majesty!!"

I couldn't but sneeze once more.

"And you Soraya." Papa looks down at me. "Three days of bedrest."

"Y-yes Papa."

Hey ya'll!! So I have a fun idea!! Why don't I do a Q&A session? I mean so many people have been loving my story so far (if 26.3k views of the past 12 chapters is any indication🤯🥳... You all must have questions!) Of course, it doesn't have to be just questions- it can be statements as well!

I'll pick the best ones and post a Q&A at chapter 16. If life is any indication with my posting that should be 1 to 2 months for everyone to ask any questions they like! (of course as long as they are appropriate)

I'll post chapter 16 after the Q&A session.

I hope everyone has been staying safe and that you all have been enjoying 'The Demon King said to call him Papa'!

Thanks for reading and Love all of you!!🥰🥰😘😘