Page 15 of King’s Obsession (Obsessions #5)
Asmodeus
Asmodeus really wasn’t sure if Dougal was joking about the baby, but his belly had been out of sorts ever since the conversation.
He had to agree that the little girl was the most adorable thing he’d ever seen.
She had clutched his finger so tightly that he’d felt it tug at his heart.
He was going soft, that’s what it had to be. A blissful one made him… gooey inside.
When Peni had left clutching the little girl in Merihem’s arms, he had been… disappointed. His early annoyance at Merihem calling him a fucker had long since fled with the gift he had bestowed on them being present at the child’s birth.
The enormous sigh brought a look from his blissful one, who was tugging on the collar of the dress shirt Asmodeus had laid out with a black silk suit earlier on Dougal’s bed to dress for the ball. “You haven’t changed your mind, have you?”
Nothing about the way he said it let Asmodeus know what his thoughts were on the subject. Asmodeus had purposefully not given the ball any thought because it would be boring as hell and nothing his blissful one would enjoy in reality.
It was a means to announce to the demon realm he had a blissful one, show Dougal how proud he was, and show the other noble families that he had no issue with mixed matings.
Their stuffy ideas were antiquated and needed challenging.
The realm needed to understand that demons who didn’t venture beyond the realm would not find their blissful ones.
Dougal was right, only those who ventured beyond the realm received the blessing.
It was time to reveal the proof of this.
He walked to Dougal and cupped his jaw, holding his gaze. “I was thinking about the gorgeous demon—goat baby girl. And no, I’m not having second thoughts, but you might the second those snobby assholes start with their nonsense.”
The chuckle was dirty and gave Asmodeus other ideas about what they could do instead of attending the ball.
He moved in to kiss Dougal who raised a hand, pressing in firmly against Asmodeus’s chest, stopping him an inch from his lips.
The twinkle in his eyes promised that later they’d get naked.
“You can get me out of this garb later. Right now,” he glanced at the tiny clock on the dresser, “we’re going to be late. ”
“I’m the king, I can be late to my own ball if I want to be,” he muttered, miffed at not getting the kiss he wanted.
“You’re pouting.” Dougal moved away, his chuckles turning to deep laughter.
“I never pout.” He didn’t look in the mirror because he didn’t want to be proven to be a liar when it felt like he was pouting.
“If you say so.”
Shit, I am pouting.
You aren’t even human right now.
Do be quiet.
Don’t worry, I won’t let you forget about this.
A groan came a second later from Dougal, distracting him from the argument with his human side. “I think you might need to help with this thing.” Dougal waved the red silk cravat ends at Asmodeus.
“That thing is a cravat.” Asmodeus’s lips quivered at how Dougal was going cross-eyed, trying to look down at his neck.
He knocked Dougal’s hands away and quickly fixed the cravat, then stood back to admire his blissful one.
“You scrub up well.” He stroked a hand over the broad chest, admiring the fit of the black shirt and the red cravat that was just the right touch of color for an outfit entirely of black.
It gave Dougal an air of sophistication that caused some conflict inside Asmodeus because this wasn’t his blissful one. The one he’d fallen in love with.
He shook off the disconcerted feeling and stroked down to the waist of Dougal’s slacks, then slipped his hand around to cup a globe of his meaty ass, giving it a firm squeeze and a saucy wink. “Later, I’m going to peel these off you and bite this.”
Dougal’s arousal scented the bedroom before he groaned and shook his head. “You don’t play fair.”
He gave him a toothy grin. “Maybe you should have given me that kiss.” He glanced down at the bulge in the front of his slacks. “Now we both have something to think about besides the stuffy party.”
His smile remained all the way back to the demon realm, right up until he entered the ball and felt the atmosphere inside. Hostility.
His gaze swept the room, masterpieces hung from the walls from many realms. Priceless and displayed to show the wealth the king's family had acquired over the centuries.
The tables and chairs sitting around the edges of the room were full of demons having already started in on the humongous tables laden with food and beverages at the end of the ballroom.
More demons dressed in white, circulated with trays of champagne.
Dougal clutched his hand. You sure know how to put on a show and don’t let them spoil your evening with their envy.
Since they’d had sex in their true form, they now shared a mind link. His blissful one was right. He brought their joined hands up to his lips and brushed a kiss over Dougal’s knuckles, enjoying how he blushed, paying no attention to those who were staring at them and not hiding their interest.
“So, you have graced us with your presence,” Vito snipped from behind him.
Asmodeus heard a few indrawn breaths as he slowly turned with Dougal, not letting go of his hand.
He eyed Vito, and those who stood with him with undisguised contempt.
As he suspected, Randal was with him, along with Bryson, Nicholas, and Peregrine.
The most outspoken of the demon nobility families.
“I would watch your tone if you do not wish me to flay the skin from your bones.” His smile was pure evil, his intent to do exactly that in the look he cast down Vito’s suited body.
Vito coughed and choked on the sip of champagne he had taken, which Asmodeus had timed to perfection with his comment.
Asmodeus guided Dougal through the group, making a point to give each demon a look they could not fail to understand. Their cards were marked. He would see how brave they were in his chambers when this was over.
He moved unhurriedly towards the appointed throne seats in plush red velvet, which he had ensured were in the most prominent position in the room. They could see anyone approaching them. Asmodeus was not taking any risks with his blissful one.
“There you are, King Asmodeus. So, is it true, you have found your blissful one?” A vapid female asked, her over-large breasts nearly spilling out of her fitted gown. She placed a hand on Asmodeus’s arm, red talons taping on the sleeve of his formal wear.
Dougal eyed the hand and then the female, his smile held no warmth, and Asmodeus waited to see what his blissful one would do. “He has. And if you know your lore, touching a mate, particularly mine, could result in the loss of a hand.”
The woman sniffed indignantly but moved the hand off his arm pretty sharpish.
As much as Asmodeus wanted to grin and puff out his chest at Dougal’s possessive show, he nodded at Lady Flora.
“Yes, as you can see, Dougal, my blissful one is a little tetchy about personal space and boundaries.” He ensured his voice carried, so that word would spread quickly through the room. “As am I.”
He inclined his head and continued on through the room, the crowd parting, giving them space much to Asmodeus’s amusement.
Holding his head high, ensuring he towered over everyone, he walked slowly, meeting everyone’s gaze as they passed. He nodded politely and stopped occasionally to introduce Dougal to those he had more tolerance for.
When they reached the seats, Asmodeus got the sense that he’d made a huge miscalculation.
The families with ‘true’ bloodlines had banded together on one side of the room.
Asmodeus never took his eyes off them, even while assisting Dougal into his seat and sitting himself after getting drinks for them both.
The official announcement would take place in the next hour and already Asmodeus wanted this over with.
His senses were screaming at him, regardless, he could not leave and show a sign of weakness, not now with all the posturing going on from Vito.
The orchestra played in the background, the music not loud enough to force anyone to shout. He could see that everyone there had come dressed in their finery, showing off their wealth in the expensive jewels they wore. Many wanting to gain one-upmanship on others, much like demons loved to do.
“Is this what all balls are like?” Dougal asked, the glass held in front of his lips concealing them in case anyone attempted to lip read, his eyes narrowing as he glanced about.
A clever move, one that Asmodeus copied. “I don’t hold them often, but yes. If you look about, you will see the alliances within the realm.”
“Vito, he is with a large group of demons. Are they the snobby ones?”
Asmodeus masked his chuckle, pretending to take a sip as he eyed Dougal with amusement. “They are.”
A demon approached and bowed. “Your Highness. I would like to thank you for the invitation this evening. I’m so happy for you. A blissful one is what we all wish for,” he said in an excited voice.
“Why Nir, thank you. It is indeed an honor, one that you may be blessed with, too, if you choose to venture beyond the realm.”
Nir’s eyes widened and got a feverish light. “You think so, Your Highness.”
“Yes. Dakata, Merihem, Christa and Scott, all demons who have ventured beyond our realm, all have found their blissful ones. That is not a co-incidence.”
His response, he ensured, was loud enough for many to hear. Heads turned, and he didn’t miss the interest, just as he had hoped for.
“Is that so?” Nir asked excitedly, forgetting himself in his eagerness.
“Yes. Demons who remain fixated on keeping bloodlines pure are missing out on the opportunity of finding their blissful one.”
“You spout nonsense,” Vito hissed, having moved through the crowd, knocking those blocking him out of the way. His human features flushed, his eyes glinting with malice.
“I believe you forget yourself, Vito, once again. Remember who you are addressing,” Asmodeus growled menacingly, rising off his seat, placing his glass down on the tray of the server stood to his left who visibly shook.
“I think it is you who forget yourself. Saying such drivel about demons mixing with other species. You have weakened yourself with this… troll . The bloodline should remain pure to give strength to our realm. To our kind.”
He kept his gaze on Vito, sensing that the stupid demon would not back down. “Is that what you think?” His glacial tone made the air snap with its chill. Those close by took a step back.
Dougal came and stood right by his side, his presence reassuring, but also worrisome if Vito and his cronies attacked. The hostility, Asmodeus could taste, and he prepared, drawing his power to him.
“It is. You are no longer fit to rule this realm. Your troll weakens you .”
Asmodeus roared, just as Dougal did, his troll emerging. He didn’t have time to enjoy the ‘oh fuck’ look on Vito’s face because all hell broke loose.