Page 10 of King’s Obsession (Obsessions #5)

Dougal

He immediately missed the trees. The moment Dougal’s body reformed in Asmodeus’s realm, it was clear no one gave a shit about greenery.

The room they had landed in was cozy enough.

Dougal recognized it as Asmodeus’s sitting room.

He’d often spied on his mate through the stone, sitting alone in the dimly lit room, staring at the fire which never seemed to need replenishing or ever went out.

“I don’t like the cold,” Asmodeus said, who must have noticed Dougal looking at it. “I like to watch the flames dance.”

“The flames have a life of their own, for sure.” Dougal looked around.

“I have seen you in this room so many times and never imagined I might stand here one day. I dreamed about doing it but never imagined it would happen.” He wrapped his arms around himself and rubbed up and down his arms. “You don’t have trees here, do you?

” It wasn’t a question. Dougal couldn’t feel any of the light and brightness of his forest.

“We have trees,” Asmodeus said grimly. “They don’t tend to the light like yours do.

” He waved his arm around. “Well, this is it. This is my living space. That door there,”—he pointed to a huge black door to Dougal’s right—“that leads to my waiting room, and further on from that, is my reception office and the personal staff. The waiting room is where I see solitary demons or small groups who have something they want to complain about. My throne room is for more organized group and family protests.”

“Are all the walls and ceilings black?” Dougal glanced up. Admittedly, the ceiling was so highly polished he could see their reflections in the marble, but it was all black. “That could be why you feel this room is so cold.”

“They used to be gold in my father’s time. I changed them when he died.”

All right then. Enough said about that. Dougal closed the small distance between them, wrapping his arms around Asmodeus’s waist. His mate was like a statue, frozen, as if he wasn’t sure how he was meant to act, and yet Dougal had seen his mate through the stone ruling his realm for centuries.

“Give me the mini tour,” he said with forced cheer.

“I showed you off to the trees earlier today. Now it’s time to show me your realm.

Show me the areas that mean the most to you. ”

Asmodeus

The nerves would not let go of his stomach and the knots grew painful with each gentle nudge his troll gave him.

See what happens when I listen to you , he bemoaned to his human half, who was in his absolute element and still tickled pink at the playful side of their blissful one.

We get to spend time with our blissful one. He made an annoying sniffing sound that was all indignation. That is what we get. Tell me you haven’t had the best day of your life?

Shut up.

That’s right, you can’t. Now, let's show him the trees. I sense he’s missing his.

Keeping the huffing sigh to himself because he had no wish for his blissful one to think he had caused it, Asmodeus worked on getting his body to relax as Dougal rubbed at the tight spot between his shoulder blades as they exited his quarters.

The conversation happening between the two guards stopped immediately. That was not unusual. What was, was the open mouths and wide eyes as Dougal didn’t remove his hand and gave the two demons an affable smile as they passed them.

“Your Highness…” one of the guards called when they were halfway down the passageway, “is everything—”

Asmodeus lifted a dismissive hand. “Everything is fine,” he snapped hard enough to make the sound of teeth hitting each other the only noise to be heard.

Dougal chuckled and smoothed his hand down until it sat at his waist, giving it a little squeeze. His mouth touched Asmodeus’s ear. “Careful there, or you might need one of the human dentists. I hear tell they are costly.”

Asmodeus stopped in his tracks and whisked his head to look at Dougal, whose lips were twitching, humor dancing in his eyes. “You’re joking with me?” he questioned, unsure how he felt about that when he was here, in a realm where many feared him.

“I am.” Dougal gave him a little nudge. “I thought we were going to visit the places you see as special.”

Maneuvered through the palace with an ease no one had ever achieved before, Asmodeus wasn’t sure how or why he didn’t object when so many took the chance to gawk openly at him—them.

Dougal definitely had a way about him that made it impossible not to do as he wished. A kind of quiet patience.

He needed it with you.

Don’t get snippy with me. He’s here now.

“Why, it’s unusual to see you outside the palace walls,” came a familiar catty voice as they came through the palace gates to head to the sacred garden of souls that sat on the outskirts of the main walls.

Asmodeus swung around, keeping Dougal at his side.

“It must be a very special occasion…”—Vito’s gaze roamed over Dougal with a viciousness that riled up Asmodeus—“or thing , to make you leave.”

Asmodeus placed Dougal half behind him in a protective move that didn’t even register as he met Vito Soren’s sneer with one of his own. Vito was a demon who had a lot to say about how the realm should treat the families of the oldest bloodlines. He was lazy, entitled, and often forgot his place.

“Many things encourage me to leave the palace.” His voice held shards of sharp glass, enough to cut anyone within striking distance as he rose to his full height, continuing to hold Dougal close. His claws extended, ready to protect the one thing he valued over everything.

Vito was an enemy who had made his position clear over the centuries.

He aligned himself with Randal and Olivia, Scott’s family, and Asmodeus was very aware of how they connived behind his back, looking for an opportunity to take the throne.

They had failed up to now because Asmodeus was neither lazy nor stupid not to see what they were after.

Being childless put Asmodeus in a position of weakness, many would see, having no heir to take over the throne after so many centuries, and they all knew it, including himself. His situation with Dougal had prevented him from seeking a demon mate—he just hadn’t known why for a very long time.

“Is that so?” Vito’s gaze returned to Dougal.

“And who is this?” His over-long, hooked nose wrinkled, making his ugliness more apparent when his eyes drew closer together, holding contempt.

“He’s not a demon and clearly in the wrong place.

” The sneer was back as his gaze skimmed up and down Dougal, dismissing him.

Asmodeus was so incensed he found himself mute for a second at the demon’s audacity.

“I’m Dougal.” Dougal held out his hand and Asmodeus had no time to draw the hand back when Vito took it, with a malicious intent in his eyes.

Asmodeus’s gaze narrowed on Vito, witnessing the sharp exhale and gratifying wince as Vito attempted to tug his hand free without success. Dougal pumped the hand he held, the red fingers going a shade of pink that told Asmodeus all he needed to know.

Dougal’s smile never dimmed. “I’m not a thing , I’m a troll.” He nodded towards Asmodeus. “This is my mate, so you be a little more respectful.”