Chapter 79: The Bite That Never Came
Chapter 79: The Bite That Never Came
I held on to Zorathys like letting go would somehow trigger the end of the world—and maybe it would actually trigger the end of the world.
My fingers were clenched into the fabric of his clothes, my grip tight enough that I was vaguely aware I might be wrinkling something expensive—or ancient.
What I did know was that the fabric was soft, softer than many other fabrics in Aelthryn—and don’t even get me started on the scent that surrounded me.
But I wasn’t going to focus on that because there was something more important for me to focus on—like the huge snake that wanted to swallow me whole.
Just remembering it again made me clutch Zorathys’ clothes harder... don’t ask me how I did it or how it was possible.
Zorathys didn’t complain though. He instead held me calmly. His arms stayed where they were, solid and unyielding, as if he had decided that I was not allowed to fall apart any further than I already had.
"Okay, I’m ready," I said, even though I absolutely was not.
My voice sounded steadier than I felt, which was frankly impressive considering my heart was attempting to escape my chest.
"Are you sure?" Zorathys asked me.
"As sure as the sound from a broken record," I told him.
Zorathys chuckled. "I don’t know how that relates to this situation, but okay, I’ll take it that you’re ready."
I nodded.
"It’s not going to hurt, firefly. Just relax," he said softly.
I would have listened—or maybe I tried to...
I shut my eyes anyway. I shut them tight, extremely tight. It was as if my eyelids could somehow protect me from being eaten by a snake demon who looked like a child and spoke like one too.
The air changed then.
I felt it immediately—magic stirring, thick and heavy, pressing against my skin like an unseen tide. It wasn’t violent, but it was powerful, ancient in a way that made my bones feel small. Azerion’s presence shifted, growing denser, older. The office itself seemed to hold its breath.
I braced and waited for the pain that was to come—for the teeth that would bite me, for something sharp, crushing, and final. But I didn’t feel anything.
There was nothing at all. A second passed, and I stayed with my eyes closed, just waiting. But then another second passed, then a minute.
Confusion crept in before relief did.
I hesitated, then cracked one eye open.
I was still standing.
Still upright.
Still very much not dead. Still very much in Zorathys’ arms... they were nice arms, by the way.
"You can open your eyes, firefly," Zorathys said to me.
I blinked and opened both eyes fully, my gaze dropping immediately to my hands, my arms, my body. I twisted slightly, half-expecting blood or burns or... something. Anything.
There was nothing.
No pain.
No wounds.
No horrific aftermath.
I was whole.
Alive and... breathing.
Azerion stood in front of me, staring up with a wide, brilliant smile like he had just completed a very difficult task and was extremely proud of himself.
I stared at him.
Then at myself.
Then back at him.
"I’m... alive," I said slowly, disbelief thick in my voice.
Behind me, Zorathys exhaled like this had been the most predictable outcome imaginable.
"I don’t feel anything," I added, patting my arms again just to be certain. "There’s no pain. No injury. Nothing."
Azerion nodded, utterly unsurprised. "Of course not."
I looked at him sharply. "Of course not?"
He nodded again, more firmly this time. "I am not going to hurt you."
I noticed his speech was better—just like what Morthen had said.
"I will never hurt you," he added.
Something in my chest tightened painfully.
I slowly loosened my grip on Zorathys and stepped away from him. He didn’t try to stop me. He only watched, eyes half-lidded, expression unreadable but attentive in his own way.
I crouched down in front of Azerion, bringing myself to his height.
He watched me carefully now, as if unsure what I might do next.
Before I could overthink it, before fear or logic could interfere, I wrapped my arms around him.
He stiffened in surprise.
Then he hugged me back—like I might disappear if he didn’t hold on hard enough.
"Thank you for not hurting me," I told him.
Azerion smiled. "I’m never going to hurt you," he told me.
Behind us, Zorathys scoffed.
I glanced back at him. "What?"
He didn’t answer the question.
"Since you are finished now, clearly alive and intact without any injuries on your body, that means I can leave," he told me.
"Leave?" I asked him with a frown, and he nodded.
"Yes. Today was my off day, but you brought me into the office to work," he grumbled out.
"You didn’t work," I said.
He paused and looked at me, unimpressed. "I’m in the office, you asked me questions which I answered... that’s work."
"That is not work."
"Maybe not to you, but it is to me."
I rolled my eyes. "You’re unbelievable."
He yawned, long and unrestrained, like a creature who had never once felt shame in his life.
"I thought today was Ignivar and Naviel’s off day," I told him.
"It is," he said to me. "And that means it’s my off day too."
"That’s not how that works."
"It absolutely is."
Before I could argue further, the air behind him rippled.
A door appeared. At this point, I wasn’t even surprised.
Azerion jumped back with a startled noise. "What—!"
Zorathys smirked at him. He opened the door and stepped through.
The moment he disappeared, the door vanished with him.
Silence followed.
Azerion turned to me, his expression suddenly serious. "I don’t like him."
I blinked. "What?"
"I don’t like that demon," he repeated.
"Why?" I asked.
He shrugged. "He wants to steal you from me."
I stared at him.
Then I laughed.
"No one is stealing anyone from anyone," I said, still smiling as I shook my head.
But I should have known that wouldn’t be the case when it came to me.