Page 4 of King’s Obsession (Obsessions #5)

Asmodeus

At the beginning.

The inner ache would not abate. Nothing worked, his human side was irate and giving his demon half a headache.

You left him in the woods alone.

Yes.

Don’t “yes” me in that tone. You assured me we would go to the historians and gain knowledge of what this is between us and the troll. Yet you have not done it.

He threw up his arms in frustration. What do I ask of them?

What? I can no more explain what I was doing in the human realm, when no one knows I can go there.

It is a dangerous time for us. More so for a troll who would have no defense against those who would seek to destroy him to get to me.

He stomped about his chamber, his gut and mind churning.

Because he knew deep inside that he needed his troll.

Every fiber of his being had become attuned to the troll.

It scared him, not solely for himself, but for a troll who knew nothing of the life that was cast out in front of him.

Excuses, his human snapped like a whip. Ask them to read through the scrolls. Give them a reason to search. You’ll figure it out.

He wasn’t so sure. It had been barely seven sunrises since his crowning, and thirty more since he had touched the troll, it was like an eternity. Easy for you to damn say. You aren’t asking.

I can—

Hell, no.

Then do it now.

His robes swished over the stone floor as he swept about and stomped out of his chamber, ignoring those he passed. His mind was in turmoil.

Arriving at the sacred scrolls' room where the historians resided documenting their history, Asmodeus took a breath and released it in a hiss. His hand trembled as he opened the door and barged in, using the mask of his role to disguise his discomfort.

“Your Highness,” Rote murmured, bowing at the waist, his black robe shifting over his thin frame. “This is unexpected. What do you require?”

The two other demons remained silent and watchful from the chairs they sat on behind tables scattered with ink and parchments.

They all wore the same black robes, Asmodeus assumed to prevent the ink from staining their other robes.

These demons had been the historians—the teachers—to demons for the last two centuries.

Asmodeus cast a hand wide over the thousands of shelves stacked with scrolls that went back thousands of years. “The history of the demon realm, it is within these scrolls?”

Rote’s head bobbed, and inky black strands of hair that had been tucked into the collar of his robe fell around his face. “It is believed that, yes, the full history of the realm is within these shelves.”

“Within that, it includes family bloodlines and merging bloodlines, yes?” Another head bob. “Are they separated out?”

His dark brows drew together, and Rote frowned. “Separated out how, Your Highness?”

Asmodeus’ pulse gave a nasty leap. “If one was looking for information about bloodlines and true connections… how easy would that be?”

The frown deepened and Asmodeus didn’t need magic to foretell his request was not a simple one.

“Are you referring to ‘blissful ones’?”

Was he? The teaching he could recall had cast a more romanced version of bloodlines merging.

The urgent desire to touch, wasn’t that how they put it?

It wasn’t urgent what he’d experienced, it was uncontrollable.

Made him act differently. How could that mean what he had with the troll was a blissful connection? Nothing about it was blissful, nothing.

He had also never met a soul who claimed to have a blissful one.

Except, this gave him the opportunity he needed to get them to search.

“No, this was not what I meant. But now you have mentioned it, I’m intrigued.

When you teach of a blissful one being part of a demon’s soul, yet why have I never encountered a demon who claims to have one? ”

Rote looked at the others, wrinkles appearing, as he rubbed a finger over one brow. “I could see where it would be difficult to believe without the evidence.”

“Exactly. I believe if we are teaching young demons of this concept, then it must be based in fact.” Warming to the idea, he waved a hand once more at the scrolls. “You will need to search through the scrolls. Go through our history and find me the proof.”

Mouth open, Rote made a noise that suggested Asmodeus had asked for the impossible. He arched a brow, giving the demon in front of him a hard stare. “Is there a problem?”

“T-there are tens of thousands… more… scrolls, Your Highness. It could take a very long time.”

Asmodeus had nothing but time. “Then you best get started.”

Coughing came from the other two demons and Asmodeus gave them a stern look that caused them to fall silent. “When you find any mention of a blissful one, I want to know immediately, do you hear?”

“Of course, Your Highness,” Rote murmured.

“Good, I will leave you to it.” He swept out of the room and had taken no more than four steps before his human half started to complain.

Did you see how many scrolls there were? This could take forever! I can’t wait to see our troll. No. That is not happening.

You are a pain.

Don’t. You feel what I feel. I need to see him. Have the choice to see him whenever I need to.

He growled, his teeth clacking together as he headed in a different direction to his chamber. Going to the one place that would allow them to go to the forest. See, I knew you’d understand.

Understand what?

If you refuse to bring our troll here where he belongs at our side, then leaving him with half of a pair of our viewing crystals will do for now. We can give it to him, and keep its matching half in our chamber so we can see him anytime we want. It’s a solution for now.

He wanted to argue with his human half, he did, except he didn’t. Would it allay the feelings of separation, the ache? He wasn’t sure. For now, until he understood more of why he felt this way, it would keep his human half happy…

And you. Your excitement at seeing him is the same as mine.

There was no point denying it. It was the first time he felt more than the crushing weight of responsibility and loss. The loss of his father was one thing, but the loss of not being close to his troll was equally burdensome.

He cast a glance about, checking he was alone before he went into the room where the portal was. He found a pair of crystals and imbued them with magic, using incantations to strengthen the connection between them.

When he was finished, the two stones, when touching, formed a glow of light that warmed his hand. Would his troll feel the power of it? Feel him?

Come on, get on with it, his human side muttered impatiently.

Sometimes I wish I could separate myself from you!

You are such a ridiculous demon.

Asmodeus walked to the portal and checked before he stepped through and into the dusky forest. The sky above held the dying rays of sunlight, casting hues of orange and red over the leaves. Bold colors made everything appear alive as he glanced around, getting his bearings.

He inhaled deeply. The scent of the air held the growth of the plants and the rain that had not long fallen. So much fresher, and there was a flutter on the breeze of their troll. He transformed into his human half, naked, holding the crystals they roamed into the woods, searching.

“You returned,” a voice murmured softly behind him as a hand slipped around his waist. Skin to skin, Asmodeus inhaled the richness of his troll's scent and the ache he’d held in his heart disappeared.

“I didn’t expect to see you so soon.” His lips brushed his throat.

The soft caress set Asmodeus’ pulse racing, except with it came a calmness that swept over him, conflicting with the arousal jutting out from his body at the gentle hold.

“I came with a gift,” he rasped, lifting his clenched fist in front of him.

He sensed interest even as his troll didn’t move, his mouth grazing his skin. “A gift? What would I need a gift for when I have the greatest gift of all in my arms?”

The words wrapped around his soul, leaving Asmodeus with an ache in his eyes as he blinked, hating that he would have to leave. “So, you can see me, and I you when I return to my realm.” It sounded so feeble when the emotions between them were there, zinging around them.

The enormous chest pressed to his back trembled but for a second. “Is that how it is to be?”

He swallowed hard enough his throat clicked as he worked to force the words out of his mouth. “For now.” To himself, he swore it would not be forever, even when he couldn’t utter the words aloud.

“Then show me how your gift works,” he replied gruffly, his arms tightening their hold.

Asmodeus gave into his need and laid his head on the large shoulder.

Bringing his hand closer, he took a crystal and laid one on his troll's palm. As he did, he sent out hope for his historians to work fast to get all the facts, and a way to know he could protect his troll in his realm. Because wrapped in those arms as he was, he’d do anything to protect him. That was all that mattered.

Tell him that…

But Asmodeus didn’t dare. Using his lips for other things was so much easier in that moment. And for the many more moments that were to come.