Chapter 353: The Jealous Demon King

Elyn’s POV

Zorathys repeated what he had just said.

“We’re leaving,” he said again. “I’m tired.”

I stared at him.

“Is there something wrong?” I asked. “Obviously, you’re always tired, but I don’t understand what’s wrong right now.”

Zorathys shrugged.

It was a small shrug. A lazy shrug. The kind of shrug that was meant to dismiss the question entirely.

I shook my head.

“Don’t try that with me,” I said. “Not right now.”

I stood up and took his hand in mine.

Every eye was on us but I ignored all of them.

I turned to the staff member who was still hovering nearby.

“Can you give us a private room?” I asked.

The demon blinked.

“Of course, Your Majesty,” he said immediately. “Right this way.”

He led us through the establishment, past tables of curious demons who had been watching us since we arrived, until we reached a stone wall. I assumed we had reached a dead end, but the demon pushed against a section of the rock, and it shifted inward, revealing a set of stairs.

I looked at Zorathys.

He didn’t say a word.

That was unusual enough to be alarming. Zorathys hated walking, and he hated walking even more when the walking was unnecessary. He considered it a form of work—which was absurd, but that was Zorathys.

And yet, as we climbed the stairs, he didn’t complain.

He didn’t sigh dramatically.

He didn’t ask if we were there yet.

He just walked.

That was when I really started to worry.

The stairs led to a small room at the top. The walls were made of the same dark polished stone as the restaurant below, and a few Lunacite Stones embedded in the ceiling cast a soft, warm light across the space. There was a low table in the center, surrounded by cushions, and the room had a quiet, private feel to it.

“I’ll make sure you’re not disturbed, Your Majesty,” the demon said.

Then he was gone.

I held Zorathys’s hand and pulled him toward the cushions.

“Sit,” I said.

He sat.

I sat across from him, my hands clasped in my lap, and I looked at him.

“Alright,” I said. “What’s wrong?”

Zorathys looked away.

I leaned forward.

“You should know,” I said, “that if anyone should be annoyed right now, it’s me. I’m the one who has been dealing with missing children, a missing Dracolthar, you pretending not to know who Dracolthar was, and then you dragging us to a restaurant instead of answering my questions.”

He still didn’t say anything.

“So,” I continued, “what exactly is going on?”

Zorathys sighed.

It was a long sigh. A tired sigh. The kind of sigh that carried more weight than words ever could.

“Everyone likes you,” he said.

I blinked.

“Yes,” I said slowly. “I know that. I’m likeable too. What’s the issue?”

He looked at me.

“That’s the issue.”

I paused.

“Everyone liking me is the issue?” I asked.

He nodded.

“Even now,” he said, “the children are with us because they like you. They want to spend time with you. They follow you around like a pack of—”

“Pests?” I offered.

He gave me a look.

“I was going to say loyal followers,” he said. “But pests works too.”

I almost smiled.

“And?” I prompted. “What’s wrong with that?”

“Everyone talks about how much they like you,” he continued. “How much of a demon you are. How likeable you are. How beautiful you are. How—”

“Zorathys.”

He stopped.

I looked at him.

“Everyone likes you too, the children also like you,” I said. “For some odd reason. Even Azerion, who insists he doesn’t.”

Zorathys shrugged.

“I’m likeable,” he said.

I rolled my eyes.

“Now who’s being difficult?” I asked.

He sighed again.

“Can you really not see it?” he asked.

“I don’t understand what you’re getting at,” I told him.

Zorathys was quiet for a long moment.

Then he spoke.

“I hardly ever have time with you,” he said. “Because everyone likes you. Dracolthar likes you. The children like you. The maids like you. Every demon in the realm likes you.”

I paused at that then very slowly because I was obviously trying to understand what he said and not because I felt a little happy at the thought, I asked, “Are you jealous?”

Zorathys nodded.

Unashamedly.

“Yes,” he said. “You should be spending more time with me. Alone. Without anyone else.”

I stared at him.

“I’m spending time with you right now,” I pointed out.

“You know what I mean,” he said. “I’d prefer it to be just us. Without the children. Without Dracolthar. Without anyone.”

He paused.

“You’ve punished me enough,” he said. “We should do everything without the children at all. And I promise not to send them away again without your permission.”

I blinked.

“Zorathys,” I said slowly, “are you asking me to go on an outing with just you?”

“Yes.”

“Without the children?”

“Yes.”

“Without Dracolthar?”

“Yes.”

“Without anyone else?”

“Yes.”

I stared at him.

He stared back.

And I realized, in that moment, that the Demon King was actually, genuinely, completely jealous.

Of everyone.

Including children.

I didn’t know whether to laugh or shake my head.

So I did both.

I covered my mouth as a laugh escaped, but there was no stopping it. The more I thought about it, the more ridiculous it became.

Zorathys watched me with an expression that clearly suggested he did not understand what was so amusing.

“What?” he asked.

I shook my head, still laughing.

“Nothing.”

“You are laughing at me.”

“I’m not.”

“You are, firefly.”

“I just…” I tried to catch my breath. “I never thought I’d see the day when you would admit you are jealous of children.”

He made a face at that. “They are pests, firefly. But I’m the one who asked for this outing in the first place firefly, surely we can do that now?”

I smiled then leaned forward. “What if I say no?”