Page 37 of The Demon King's Unruly Mate

“Just... interesting.” He waved a hand dismissively. “Anyway, we’re talking about you. What’d you get her? Jewelry? Lingerie?”His grin widened. “Or are you the gift, all wrapped up with a bow on your?—”

“If you finish that sentence, I will personally ensure your next assignment is babysitting duty.”

Another shrug. He went back to flipping his knife. “Might not be so bad. Maybe I’ll find my own princess.”

“Actual babies, Zane. With diapers, and puke.”

Zane laughed, the sound echoing through the room. “Cruel and unusual punishment, Your Majesty.”

The door to the tech room opened, and Malak emerged, his hair disheveled and eyes bloodshot. “Thought I heard your voice,” he said, nodding to me. “Good timing. I’ve got something.”

I followed him back into his domain, a maze of screens and equipment that made my head hurt just looking at it. Zane trailed behind us, clearly having nothing better to do.

“I tracked their communications to a port near the border, but that’s where they go dark,” Malak said, pulling up a satellite image. “The warehouse, though, is in a flurry of preparations for something big next Tuesday. Not sure what yet, but based on the security they’re arranging, it’s valuable.”

I studied the zoomed-out building and its empty lot. Malak tapped a few keys, bringing up a different image. The same lot, now very packed. “Could it be for another client?”

“They have no other clients. Not that I’ve found yet, that is.”

“Dig in, and let’s get surveillance on the site. Good work,” I said, clapping him on the shoulder. “Keep me updated.”

I checked my watch again. Still time, but cutting it close.

Malak swiveled in his chair. “Got something important tonight, boss?”

I narrowed my eyes at his benign tone. “Something like that.”

“Does she know you approved Zane’s request for a flamethrower last week?” Malak asked dryly.

I froze, staring at him. “I thought that was a joke.”

“It was,” Zane laughed. “But you signed it, anyway. And now I have a flamethrower, sucker.”

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. “Is there any other business we need to discuss, or did you just want to give me shit?”

“Little of both,” Zane admitted. “But mostly the second thing.”

The familiar banter loosened something in my chest. Despite everything that had shifted in the past year, this remained unchanged. My clan. My family. The people who’d fought at my side through political storms and literal fire. The ones who’d followed me into battle against Emil without hesitation. The ones who still treated me like their pain in the ass brother instead of their king.

Rava strode in from the training room, her tail whipping behind her. Her eyes lit up when she saw me. “Look who finally remembered we exist.”

“I was here last week.”

“Ancient history.” She grinned. “Shouldn’t you be preparing some grand romantic gesture? Diamonds? A weekend getaway? Or are you just going to set something on fire and call it a day?”

“I am,” I growled. “Or I would be if my family would let me get back to it.”

Her expression softened. “Anything I can help with?”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not taking romantic advice from someone who mated an orc because he ruined her mission.”

“Hey, that’s oversimplifying a complex series of events.” She crossed her arms. “And Zral did not ruin my mission. He enhanced it.”

“Is that what we’re calling it now?”

“You know,” Rava said, her voice gentler than usual, “a year ago I wouldn’t have believed we’d be here.”

The room quieted. We all knew what she meant. A year ago, we’d been fighting for our lives, for the throne, for a future that seemed impossible.

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