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Page 18 of King’s Obsession (Obsessions #5)

Dougal

“Put simply, babe, you’re pregnant.” Dougal wanted to laugh so hard, but really, Asmodeus wasn’t going to take that well, considering he was looking at Dougal as if the sky had fallen and hit him on the head.

“It’s a very simple process in nature, and among demons, too, most likely, that when two people love each other… ”

“Don’t give me that shit. How did I get pregnant?” At least with Asmodeus flinging his arms around, he added some magic, cleaning up the puke. Dougal would live with dung on his face for the rest of his days if it absolutely made his mate happy, but the cleaner air was a welcome relief.

“How about you come through to the living room, and I’ll make you some tea,” he suggested, taking Asmodeus by the elbow. “I’ll add some ginger. It will settle your upset stomach.”

“So, it’s not a baby. It’s an upset stomach.

” Asmodeus jumped on his words like a frantic fiend.

“Someone was trying to poison me, weren’t they?

It must’ve been while we were fighting at the party.

Someone who was very sneaky, biding their time because they knew we would win the fights.

Oh, I know who it was. Someone—I bet it was Vito’s wife—used me as the tool to kill her worthless husband and then snuck around the server’s back, sticking something nefarious in my food. ”

“Sit down, babe.” Dougal took Asmodeus over to the couch and got him settled before going over to his cauldron.

A few whispered words, and some added ginger and his cider became tea, which was far more suitable for a pregnant person.

Pouring two mugs of it, Dougal went back, sitting down beside his mate, and handing him a cup, before taking a sip of his own.

“You’re not saying anything,” Asmodeus grumbled. “I’m right, though, aren’t I? I’m the demon king. Tell me I’m right.”

“That would be a little difficult to say when you’re wrong. Mates don’t lie to each other.” Dougal leaned back against the couch, and lifted his legs, resting his heels on the table. “First off. I killed Vito, not you.”

“You or me, didn’t make any difference. Vito’s wife still got what she wanted—a dead husband.”

“Secondly. You and I shared food from the same trays at the party.” Dougal flicked his hand between the two of them. “How did you get sick when I feel fine?”

Asmodeus brooded for a long moment. Dougal didn’t mind.

His mate was a very intelligent demon, even if he did tend to overthink things.

He’d work it out, eventually. It’s not as though a pregnancy was something he’d be able to ignore for long.

Dougal yawned and covered his mouth with his hand.

The forest was a peaceful place in comparison to the demon realm.

“There must be something.” It was as if Asmodeus was making a proclamation involving finger-wagging and firm tones. “We’ll check with Rote. He can research it. With all the poisons there are in the world, there are bound to be some that would only harm demons.”

Dougal scratched the end of his nose. “I don’t think so, babe. Agreed, there are millions of poisons and potions, but face it, anything that can take out a demon would take out any other creature just as quick.”

“You’re not taking this seriously. Look at you all laid back like it was any other day. How can you be so casual about someone trying to kill me? I thought you loved me. I was sick!”

“I love you with my entire being and have done for centuries,” Dougal said calmly.

“I am not worried because I know that you are pregnant. You made a mess in the bathroom this morning because your body will take a while to adjust to the additional hormones that are now flooding your body as it readies itself to nurture and grow the life form before it’s born.

“In the human world, that sickness is known as morning sickness, because a high percentage of pregnant people usually feel sick when they first wake up. However, some people report that they can get sick at any time of the day. Certain foods can trigger it or smells. From what I understand, toasted bread with honey can help, after you’ve stopped throwing up, of course. If you don’t believe me, ask Rote.”

Slamming his mug down on the coffee table, Asmodeus rolled around, climbing onto Dougal’s lap, straddling his thighs. “I was sick—deathly ill. Vile shit erupting from my mouth as though it were a volcano. That does not happen to a demon king.”

There were times when Dougal thought Asmodeus could do with a tap around his ears. But he still looked pale, and Dougal couldn’t escape the worry in his dark eyes. “Okay,” he said gently. “Have it your way. What would you like for breakfast?”

“Now you’re humoring me.” Asmodeus slapped down hard on Dougal’s chest with both hands. “Stop making fun of me. Tell me what’s going on!”

“Keep your slappy hands to yourself, if you’re going to be like that.” Dougal grabbed Asmodeus’s wrists and lifted his mate’s hands off his skin. “You’re pregnant, not sick, dying, or poisoned.”

“Someone’s tried to poison me. I’m certain of it.” Asmodeus wiggled, trying to get out of Dougal’s grip.

“You’re pregnant!” Dougal wasn’t letting go. If his mate needed a meltdown, then it was Dougal’s job to make sure that worry and frustration didn’t hurt anyone else. “Having a baby, bun in the oven, growing a seedling, whatever you want to call it, but you are pregnant.”

“I can’t be pregnant.” Asmodeus tried thumping down on Dougal’s chest, and when that didn’t work, he slumped his chest down, so they rested together. “I can’t be.” Asmodeus’s voice broke. “People will see me.”

And that was the crux of the matter. Dougal wasn’t silly enough to think Asmodeus’s fears were going to disappear overnight, despite their mating, the fighting, and the successful party afterward.

In the heart of his demon was a child who never believed he was good enough and who worried about how he looked to others constantly.

“It’ll be all right,” Dougal soothed, releasing Asmodeus’s wrists and making long stroking motions down his back with his palms. “It will be ages before you even start to show, so it’s not like you need to tell anyone just yet.”

“There’s never been a pregnant king. In our entire history, there has absolutely never been a pregnant king.” Asmodeus shuddered and then buried his face in Dougal’s neck.

“Just imagine how powerful that will make you and your family bloodline,” Dougal said with a smile, keeping his tone soft as he continued to stroke his mate’s back.

“Rote will be writing entirely new scrolls about the mighty King Asmodeus, someone who ruled the demon realm with a fair heart and a firm hand. With his troll blissful one by his side, King Asmodeus was so keen on ensuring his bloodline could never be disputed, he willingly carried his first-born child himself, and never missed a day in his rule, despite that.”

Asmodeus’s shoulders tensed. “Are you taking the piss?”

“Nope.” Dougal made sure his mate could hear his honesty.

“You said yourself no other king has done this, so turn it into an advantage, not a weakness, which it definitely isn’t.

How many demons screw around on their partners?

It’s not like they’ve bonded with blissful ones.

Why do you think Scott got bullied so badly when he was little, by his own family?

His skin was a lighter blue than what his family was used to, or expected.

Are you going to tell me there hadn’t been a shit ton of fights between his parents about the origins of his genetics because of it?

You, as the king, would set a strong example for future generations. ”

Asmodeus didn’t say anything for a bit. Dougal kept his touches firm and quietly hummed.

“You’re happy about all this nonsense, aren’t you? Even though I sprayed your bathroom with toxic sludge, you’re still happy about a baby.”

“I am over the moon ecstatic about this,” Dougal agreed, giving his mate an extra squeeze.

“Our love has endured so much for so long, I never dreamed this day would happen, and yet, here we are. I’m so proud and I couldn’t love you more than I do—you mean everything to me.

That love has finally created a new life—a baby you and I will share. ”

Asmodeus groaned into his neck. “What am I meant to say to that?”

“You don’t have to say anything at all. No one’s making you.” Dougal chuckled. “Did you want to try some toast and honey?”

“I suppose so.” Asmodeus’s stomach rumbled. “How long will this sickness business go on for? I don’t want to be waking up like that too often.”

“As long as it takes, babe, as long as it takes. We might need to speak to Rote about that when you feel up to sharing our happy news with others, but in the meantime, let’s just take one day at a time. Are you going to let me get up so I can get your food?”

“No.” Asmodeus clicked his fingers, and a wide plate filled with crispy toast and honey appeared. “I like it here. Your heartbeat comforts me.”

Not exactly a resounding acceptance of the pregnancy or the baby, but Dougal would take what he could get.

The baby was going to come on their own schedule, and no amount of huffing, puffing, or claiming kingly status was going to change that.

He reached for a slice of toast and munched into it, not even worrying about the crumbs in his beard. Life was good.

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