Chapter 418: The Obedient Demon

Mailah sat completely still, her heart aching so deeply for the annoying, pink-hoodie-wearing girl sleeping upstairs. She finally understood why Chloe snapped her gum, why she complained about secondary private jets, and why she was so deeply obsessed with designer clothes and iced coffee.

The luxury wasn’t just a preference. It was her armor. It was the only thing that made her feel safe, valuable, and seen in a world that had thrown her away.

"Grayson..." Mailah whispered, tears sparkling in her eyes. "That’s heartbreaking."

Grayson looked at Mailah’s tearful face, his eyes instantly softening into pure concern. He leaned up, his long fingers gently wiping a tiny tear from the corner of her eye.

"Do not cry, my love," Grayson murmured softly, his deep voice rich with sweet comfort. "It is in the past. She is a full-grown demon now, even if she acts like an uneducated teenage human."

"She acts like that because she never got to be a real child!" Mailah said, her voice full of fierce warmth. She grabbed Grayson’s hands, squeezing them tightly. "Grayson, we have to be nice to her. We have to show her that she doesn’t need to shout or wear sparkling gold dresses just to be cared about!"

Grayson looked down at Mailah’s small, warm hands holding his. He looked into her gentle, loving eyes, feeling that familiar, overwhelming wave of devotion wash through his entire soul.

How did I get so lucky? Grayson thought to himself, his heart swelling so much it felt heavy in his chest.

Grayson leaned up, pressing his forehead gently against Mailah’s.

"If that is what you wish," Grayson whispered, his dark charcoal eyes glowing with sweet, swoon-worthy love. "Then I shall try. For you, Mailah... I will tolerate her noise. I will let her stay in our home. I will even allow her to eat Mrs. Baker’s stew without making cold comments."

Mailah smiled warmly, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. "Thank you, Grayson. You are the sweetest demon in the world."

Grayson gasped playfully against her neck, holding her tight against his broad chest. "Do not call me sweet! I have a dark reputation to uphold!"

"You’re a giant softie," Mailah teased softly, pressing a kiss to his jaw.

"I am a terrifying prince of darkness," Grayson corrected haughtily, though he was holding her so gently and tenderly it completely proved her point.

By four o’clock in the afternoon, the quiet peace of the estate was broken by a loud, tragic crash coming from the main kitchen.

CLANG! BANG!

"AAAHHH!" a shrill voice screamed. "The shiny metal machine is shooting water at me! Help! It’s an attack!"

Mailah and Grayson instantly stood up from the sunroom sofa. Grayson kept his arm securely around Mailah’s waist, supporting her weight as they walked quickly down the hallway toward the kitchen.

When they pushed open the kitchen doors, the scene before them was pure comedic chaos.

Chloe was standing in the middle of the kitchen, soaking wet. Her oversized pink hoodie was drenched, her hair was plastered to her face, and she was holding a wooden spoon like a sword, pointing it aggressively at the open dishwasher. Water was spraying out in a small stream onto the polished tile floor.

Beside her, Mrs. Baker was standing completely unbothered, calmly holding a dry towel.

"It is not an attack, Lady Chloe," Mrs. Baker said smoothly, her voice completely calm. "You pushed the door open while the wash cycle was running."

"It ambushed me!" Chloe shrieked, wiping water from her eyes. "This human house is possessed by evil water demons! Grayson! Destroy this machine right now!"

Grayson stepped into the kitchen, his eyes taking in the wet floor, the wet cousin, and the completely normal human appliance.

His jaw twitched. His dark pride screamed at him to make a cold, sarcastic comment about her intelligence. He opened his mouth, ready to tell her that even a human child knew how a dishwasher worked—

Then he felt Mailah’s hand gently squeeze his arm. He looked down and saw Mailah giving him a soft, warning look.

Grayson swallowed his cold words with immense, agonizing effort. His broad shoulders went rigid. He closed his eyes for one second, taking a deep, heavy breath to control his dark temper.

He opened his eyes, stepped forward, and took a clean, dry dish towel from the counter.

With stiff, forced aristocratic dignity, Grayson held out the towel toward Chloe.

"Here," Grayson rasped out tightly, every muscle in his face strained as he tried his absolute best to follow Mailah’s order to be nice. "Take this fabric. Use it to dry your... soaked hoodie."

Chloe stopped screaming. She stared at the towel in Grayson’s hand, then looked up at Grayson’s stiff, terrifyingly polite face. Her eyes went wide with complete, utter shock.

"Grayson?" Chloe whispered, stepping back cautiously. "Are you sick? Is your dark aura broken? Why are you handing me a towel instead of threatening to throw me into the ocean?"

Grayson’s jaw tightened so hard a vein popped on his temple. "I am being... hospitable. Because my wife possesses a saintly heart and requested that I treat you with... familial care."

Chloe looked past Grayson to Mailah, who was standing near the doorway with a warm, encouraging smile.

Chloe snapped her pink chewing gum nervously. Her cheeks flushed a bright red. She snatched the towel from Grayson’s hand, quickly wrapping it around her wet shoulders and looking away haughtily to hide her embarrassment.

"Whatever!" Chloe muttered, her voice dropping its shrill tone for a second. "I didn’t ask for your help anyway. This kitchen is stupid."

"It is a very modern kitchen," Grayson noted, his voice strained as he fought against his urge to argue. "And if you wish... Mrs. Baker can show you how to operate the coffee device without causing a flood."

Chloe blinked, looking at the sleek espresso machine on the counter, then back at Grayson. "Really? The oat milk one?"

"Yes," Grayson grumbled through gritted teeth. "The oat milk one."

Chloe pouted, but a small, hidden spark of quiet relief shone deep in her dark eyes. She pulled the towel tighter around herself, stepping away from the dishwasher. "Fine. But only if Mrs. Baker makes me a hot pastry too."

Mrs. Baker let out a quiet, amused chuckle. "Of course, dear. Come sit at the counter while I mop the floor."

As Chloe sat down on a high barstool, quietly watching Mrs. Baker prepare a hot cup of tea, the loud, defensive tension around her seemed to soften just a little bit. She didn’t snap her gum. She didn’t complain about the estate. She just sat quietly, enjoying the warmth of the kitchen.

Mailah smiled warmly, leaning her head against Grayson’s broad shoulder.

Grayson wrapped his broad arm around Mailah’s waist, pulling her close to his side. He looked down at her, his eyes burning with an intense, quiet devotion that made Mailah’s heart feel completely full.

"I was nice," Grayson whispered close to her ear, his deep voice full of quiet, dramatic pride. "I handed her a towel. I did not mention her terrible dark magic once. Admit that I am the most obedient husband in all realms."

Mailah giggled softly, turning her face to press a sweet, lingering kiss against his sharp cheekbone. "You were wonderful, My Lord."

Grayson’s sharp lips curved into an impossibly handsome, swoon-worthy smirk. He leaned down, brushing his lips softly against hers right there in the doorway, completely unbothered by the world around them.

"Remember this victory, my love," Grayson murmured, his dark eyes glowing with endless warmth. "Because tonight... you belong entirely to me."

"Ew! Gross!"

Chloe’s shrill voice cut through the sweet moment like a sharp piece of glass. She was leaning over the marble counter, holding a steaming mug of oat milk coffee in both hands, making a dramatic gagging face.

"Can you two please not do that right in front of my fresh pastry?" Chloe complained loudly, snapping her gum. "Human romance is deeply disgusting! My eyes are burning!"

Grayson slowly turned his head, his dark charcoal eyes narrowing into dangerous slits. "You are sitting in my kitchen, drinking my expensive coffee, and eating Mrs. Baker’s warm baked goods. If you do not like the view, you are free to cover your eyes or step into the rain."

"I’d rather go blind!" Chloe declared dramatically, taking a tiny, cautious sip of her coffee. Her eyes lit up with instant delight at the rich, sweet flavor, but she quickly forced her face back into a pout. "It’s... acceptable. I guess. The human barista machine isn’t totally useless."

Mailah bit her lower lip to keep from laughing out loud, burying her face against Grayson’s chest.

Grayson let out a haughty scoff, but instead of starting another fight, he simply wrapped his arms around Mailah and lifted her off her feet in one smooth, effortless motion.

"Grayson!" Mailah gasped softly, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I told you, my leg feels fine!"

"You have walked enough today, my love," Grayson stated flatly, turning his back on his cousin with ultimate aristocratic dignity. "My arms were created to carry you. Do not deny me my greatest purpose."

"Don’t forget my luxury shopping bags need to be carried to my room!" Chloe yelled after them from the counter. "And make sure my silk dresses are hung up properly!"

Grayson didn’t even bother replying. He carried Mailah out of the kitchen and down the quiet, dimly lit hallway, using his foot to gently push open the heavy oak doors of their master suite. He kicked the door shut behind them, instantly cutting off the noise of the rest of the house.

The large bedroom was warm, smelling faintly of cedarwood and fresh linen. Outside the tall glass balcony doors, the soft evening rain tapped a rhythmic, soothing melody against the glass.

Grayson walked over to the massive king-sized bed and set Mailah down on the soft duvet as if she were made of precious crystal.

He knelt on the dark rug before her, his long, elegant fingers reaching up to loosen his silk tie. He pulled it free and tossed it onto a nearby chair, unbuttoning the top two buttons of his crisp white shirt.