Chapter 355: The Kiss

Elyn’s POV

My eyes were wide.

There was something wrong here. My brain felt like it had stopped. Like it had come to a screeching halt. Like someone had pulled the emergency brake on every single thought I had ever had and now I was just… floating.

Zorathys was kissing me?

Zorathys was kissing me??

Zorathys was kissing me???

How long had I dreamt of this? For a while now, especially after the introductory ball. I had thought about it more times than I cared to admit. I had imagined what it would be like, what his lips would feel like, whether he would be gentle or demanding or somewhere in between.

But I had never actually expected it to happen.

I had told him to surprise me. I had expected something dramatic—maybe a grand gesture, maybe some ridiculous display of power anything at all.

I certainly had not expected him to kiss me.

My heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. It was pounding so hard I was certain he could hear it. His lips were so soft. Very soft. Not at all what I had expected from someone who was made of shadows and laziness and barely concealed power.

For someone who spent most of his time looking as though he had just woken from a hundred-year nap, he was surprisingly good at this.

Actually…

That thought wasn’t helping.

Not at all.

I could feel the warmth spreading across my face, and I was almost certain my cheeks had betrayed me completely.

Then he pulled back.

He stared at me.

I stared back.

His ruby eyes were half-lidded, patient, watching me with that familiar lazy intensity.

I didn’t say anything.

I couldn’t say anything.

My brain was still trying to process what had just happened.

“Firefly,” he began. “I’m…”

I didn’t let him finish, I grabbed the front of his clothes and pulled him back toward me.

He blinked in surprise, his eyes widening slightly, and I leaned forward, my lips brushing against his as I whispered,

“That wasn’t nearly enough to surprise me.”

Then I kissed him again.

This time, it wasn’t just a touch of lips.

This time, it was deeper. Slower. More deliberate. I felt his surprise, felt the brief moment of hesitation before he responded, and then his hands were on my neck, pulling me closer, and I could feel him smile against my lips.

He opened his mouth, and I opened mine, and our tongues met in a way that made my breath catch in my throat. The kiss deepened, and I had no idea when I released a soft moan—I only knew I was enjoying it.

In all my years of being alive, no one had ever kissed me like Zorathys did.

Maybe it was because he was a demon. Maybe it was because he had had centuries of practice. Maybe it was simply because it was him.

I didn’t care.

I just wanted him to keep kissing me.

For once, there were no children interrupting us.

No questions.

No arguments about food.

No one demanding to be taken somewhere.

It was just the two of us.

And somehow, that made the moment feel even more unreal.

I had spent so much time teasing him about being jealous that I hadn’t considered what would happen if he actually got what he wanted.

Apparently, this.

A private room.

A quiet moment.

And the Demon King kissing me because I had asked him to surprise me.

Perhaps I should have been more specific.

Although, if this was what happened when I wasn’t specific, perhaps I should continue being vague.

That thought made me smile against his lips.

Then someone gasped.

It was a loud, dramatic, unmistakable gasp. The kind of gasp that shattered the moment like glass.

We pulled apart immediately.

I turned toward the doorway, my face burning, and found a small crowd of demons standing there.

For several seconds, no one spoke.

I stared at them.

They stared at me.

Then I looked at Zorathys who looked at them.

His expression was blank.

The staff member who had led us to the room was at the front, his hands over his eyes—though there was an obvious gap between two of his fingers, through which he was very clearly watching.

He was not alone.

Dracolthar was right behind him, staring unabashedly, his four eyes wide and curious. He didn’t even try to hide it. He just stood there, watching with an expression of pure fascination.

I couldn’t even blame him.

He had four eyes.

Apparently, he intended to use every single one.

Velira and Thalira were next to each other, giggling behind their hands. Velira’s wings were fluttering with excitement, and Thalira’s light blue hair seemed to be practically glowing with delight.

Vaelory stood slightly apart, her eyes wide with shock, her mouth hanging open. She looked like she had just witnessed something she would never be able to unsee.

Aziren was bouncing on his heels, a bright smile on his face, his flames dancing with excitement. He looked like he had just received the best news of his entire life.

Zayrion had a smirk on his face, his glasses slightly askew, his tails swaying behind him with barely contained amusement.

Brixton’s face was red. Very red. His ears were burning, and he was looking anywhere except at us.

And Retheris had turned to Vaelory.

“See?” he said, his voice carrying a note of triumph. “That could be us if you’d just date me, VV.”

Azerion looked annoyed.

Zorathys groaned.

Before I could say anything, shadows surrounded the intruders.

They rose from the floor, dark and sudden, and pushed the entire group back.

The staff member stumbled. Dracolthar’s four eyes widened in surprise. Velira and Thalira squealed as they were shoved backward. Vaelory finally closed her mouth. Aziren laughed as the shadows lifted him gently and deposited him further down the corridor. Zayrion adjusted his glasses as he was pushed away. Brixton’s ears somehow got redder. Retheris protested loudly. Azerion fought the shadows…no surprise there.