Page 35 of King's Obsession

Dougal put a hand into one of his many pockets and pulled out several shiny stones.

Flora couldn’t take her eyes off them, her hands clapping. “I’ll take them all and share them with the ladies.” She came a little closer, peering at them. “Which one is the strongest?”

How Dougal kept a straight face as he pointed to the largest stone, Asmodeus didn’t know but he had to look away or risk laughing in her face.

“Wonderful.” Without another word, she scooped them up and shivered, tucking them into the pocket of her dress.

“Make sure to share now,” Dougal said as Flora pivoted on her heel and headed back out past Baal.

“Of course,” she replied, not even looking back as she hurried off.

“She’s going to tell everyone,” Asmodeus said fatalistically. He beckoned Baal closer. Already considering what he was going to have to do to stop the rumors before they started, and Baal found himself inundated with demons demanding to see him. “You need to send out a decree.”

“I do?” Baal squeaked. “You haven’t done that in a century.”

“Yes. Probably more than one.” He had to stop from snarling, and Dougal was there running a hand up his arm. “Get your notepad…”

Back in the forest not more than twenty minutes later, Dougal guided him to his favorite sitting place. There was Silas, Dakata, Scott, and George who was holding his son, looking like a giant next to the small bundle in his arms. Peni sat next to him with his daughter and Merihem, who was beaming at Asmodeus.

He glanced at Dougal. “You told them!” he mumbled out the side of his mouth.

Dougal just shook his head. “Looks like we got visitors.”

The little baby boy, Remi, held Asmodeus’s attention. He seemed fine. So that had to be a good thing, right?

Scott had only been five months pregnant when he’d given birth. A mixed species baby seemed to go between both gestation dates. What did that mean for him and Dougal?How many months has it been for us already?

Why do you have to constantly think about giving birth?

Asmodeus rolled his eyes heavenward.Because you’ll be doing that part as I’m doing all the heavy lifting now.He added with so much glee he sensed his human half wince.

We’ll see about that.

Chapter Twenty-One

Dougal

Sitting in the sun on a late afternoon, surrounded by their found family, was always one of Dougal’s favorite things to do. The demons had gotten used to being more casual with Asmodeus over the months, and there was a general air in the clearing that all who were there accepted each other as equals.

Which was why it wasn’t at all unusual for Peni and Merihem to be digging into a plateful of food, while Asmodeus was gingerly holding their little girl, Lorelei. She always seemed to shift into her demon form when Asmodeus was near, and it was kinda cute how she held his entire attention.

Oh, if the demons from the realm could see their king like this, they’d be having children in the hundreds.

Dougal wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. Watching Asmodeus’s avid curiosity of the little sweetheart who could barely sit up by herself, when she gripped one of Asmodeus’s finger as if it was a lifeline, was an etched memory—something Dougal could keep.

We haven’t had a lot of lovely memories like that yet—fun ones,Dougal mused as he enjoyed the warmth of the sun stroking his face. Asmodeus seemed focused on being sick, or determined not to be sick, and on keeping the baby a secret from those around them. That was all blown out of the water now that both realms knew about his condition, and in honesty, it was a relief that people knew. Prior visits to the demon realm had been a combination of grumpy Asmodeus while he was there and then utter exhaustion on Asmodeus’s part when they got back to the forest. Between the grouchy moods and the copious sex—because it seemed it was not just Scott who got horny while pregnant—along with Asmodeus’s need to sleep, there hadn’t been a lot of time for him and Dougal to do anything fun by themselves.

There was a part of Dougal that was sad about that, although he was thrilled about their baby. It was just, after wanting a proper relationship with his demon for so many centuries, it seemed their fun or romantic clothed experiences became measured in a blink.

As if he was reading Dougal’s mood, he felt the heat of Asmodeus’s gaze on the side of his face and smiled.It’s fine. We’re fine,he sent through their bond.Dougal didn’t doubt that Asmodeus loved him anymore, and that was worth more than anything else.It just would’ve been nice if we’d been on a date, just the once.

Although looking around at their family, Dougal grinned as he considered that maybe dating was a concept demons weren’t familiar with. He didn’t remember Dakata dating Silas before they claimed each other, although the demon took his blissful one all over the world for singing gigs, and likely that involved taking Silas out for dinner as well. Dakata was well used to living in the human realm before he met Silas, so eating out was normal for him.

George’s idea of a date was beer and chicken wings or burgers at a local bar, and Dougal didn’t imagine Scott was keen on doing that very often. But then George had always been a homebody as well, and now the threat from his father was gone, it was easy to see how much more comfortable the bear and demon were together. Although they both kept an eagle eye on their Remi who was sleeping in a crib tucked under a tree, to keep him shaded.

Merihem had apparently taken Peni out for a meal once and gotten himself into trouble for it. Especially when he mentioned how he thought Peni would look good sitting on his knee looking pretty while Merihem was in meetings. It was highly possible that Merihem didn’t dare suggest another date after that disaster, and now they had Lorelei in their lives, Merihem and Peni both seemed to enjoy their home life, although Merihem still carried out his duties for his king.

Speaking of Lorelei, Dougal ducked his head to the side, away from Asmodeus as the waft of soiled diaper floated through the air. A troll could handle most nasty things, which was why Dougal was able to remain so patient with Asmodeus’s daily date with his bucket. But the smell coming from the diaper was thoroughly putrid, and Dougal wanted to laugh when he realized Asmodeus had caught a whiff, too.

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