I Just Wanted A Soft Life, Not A Demon Husband

Chapter 116: The Art of Not Starting a War on a Portal Platform

Elyn’s POV

Grivessa lunged.

There was no warning beyond the sudden surge of water at her feet and the sharp crack of stone beneath her claws. One moment she was trembling in rage; the next, she was moving—fast, violent, both heads snarling as her long arms reached for Zorathys.

I didn’t think.

I just moved.

I stepped directly into her path and threw my hands up, palms out, my heart slamming so hard against my ribs it felt like it might shatter them.

"Wait!" I said, my voice louder than I expected. "Please—stop!"

Grivessa skidded to a halt inches from me, water splashing up around my feet. Her claws hovered in the air, close enough that I could feel the cold dampness radiating from them.

Both of her faces twisted in irritation.

"Move," she snapped. "This does not concern you."

I shook my head, even though every instinct in my body screamed at me that standing between her and Zorathys was a terrible idea.

"I’m sorry," I said quickly. "For—"

I paused, thinking about what I should refer to Zorathys as.

"Your what?" Grivessa asked me.

"My... husband," I said.

It sounded more like a question, but she seemed to accept it.

"There’s no need to resort to violence over words," I told her.

Behind me, I felt Zorathys stiffen.

Grivessa’s nearer face sneered. "He started it."

I nodded immediately. "Yes. He did. And I apologize."

Zorathys made an incredulous sound.

"El—"

I gave him a stern look, and he seemed to rethink calling me by my full name.

He cleared his throat and said simply, "We are not apologizing."

I didn’t even know what I’d gotten myself into.

"The two-headed demon should come for me," he continued coolly. "I’ve been itching for a fight after all."

Grivessa let out a sharp, shaking laugh and turned halfway toward Skelrix, who had frozen several steps away, his many legs rigid.

"Did you hear that?" she demanded. "He called me a two-headed demon."

Zorathys tilted his head. I noticed how the shadows around him seemed to move slightly, as if itching for a fight too. "Two-headed doesn’t quite fit," he said thoughtfully. "Perhaps ’ugly’ would be more accurate."

There was a collective inhale from the growing crowd.

I felt my soul leave my body.

Azerion, traitor that he was, chose that exact moment to speak.

"He’s not wrong," he said cheerfully. "You are ugly. And what’s with all the water? It’s like you’re wetting yourself with pee. Though I guess that makes sense—looks like you were a bedwetter."

I spun on him. "Azrael!"

He gave me a look. "That’s not my—"

"Shut up," I said sternly. "That is your name!"

He opened his mouth to speak, then nodded and closed it.

Zorathys glanced at him, then nodded slowly. "For once," he said, "you’re making sense."

I stared at both of them in disbelief.

Grivessa shook.

Not metaphorically. Her entire body trembled, water pouring from her skin in heavy rivulets as both faces contorted with fury.

"Do you know who I am?" she hissed.

Zorathys nodded lazily. "Yes. You just told us some minutes ago."

Azerion nodded. "You are Lady Grivessa of the Split-Marsh, daughter of Baron Ulreth of the Mirekin Scarab-Beast Demons. Not that I care, though."

Zorathys nodded. "Good job, Az—" He scrunched his face up, trying to remember the name I had given Azerion for the cover, then gave up. "Good job, Az," he said to Azerion, who just scowled at him. Then, turning back to Grivessa, he added, "You know, you should stop making so much noise. You’re not even the baron—just his daughter."

That did it.

The crowd had fully gathered now. Demons lined the edges of the platform, perched on stones, hovering in the air, craning their necks. I saw smiles. Anticipation. Amusement.

And the prickling suspicion that they were enjoying this made me pause.

This was not how things were supposed to go.

My chest tightened.

"I’m sorry," I said again, louder this time, forcing the words out before fear could stop me. "Truly sorry. I should not have been standing in front of you but to the corner so you could walk freely. I should have known you’d need space to move because, well..." I gestured at Grivessa.

I noticed Grivessa take another step forward, and without thinking, I grabbed Zorathys’s hand with one hand and Azerion’s with the other and pulled.

Hard.

"El—" Zorathys started.

"No," I snapped, surprising even myself. "We’re leaving."

I dragged them off the platform with far more strength than I should have been capable of, weaving through startled demons and ignoring the murmurs and laughter that followed us.

Behind us, Grivessa shouted something incoherent and furious, but I didn’t look back.

I didn’t stop pulling until the noise faded and the air changed—cooler, quieter, filled with the rustling of leaves instead of the hum of portals.

We ended up beneath a canopy of lush, towering trees, their thick branches woven together overhead. Strange bioluminescent flowers glowed faintly along the roots, casting soft green and blue light across the clearing.

I released their hands and turned on them both, breathing hard.

Zorathys looked mildly offended.

"Why are we running?" he asked. "You should have let me deal with that ugly demon."

Azerion shuddered dramatically. "I’m going to have nightmares. Two heads, dripping water... I might never sleep again."

I rolled my eyes at that. Azerion’s snake form was even scarier than the demon we had come across, and I didn’t mean that kindly. Even if he was beautiful, he was scary.

I folded my arms across my chest as I stared at the two demons in front of me.

"Did you guys forget what we came here to do?" I asked them.

They shook their heads.

"Oh? Then why were you trying to start a fight with another demon that could very likely blow our cover?" I asked both of them.