Chapter 78: The Calm Before the Bite
Chapter 78: The Calm Before the Bite
Elyn stared at Azerion.
Her eyes were wide, her body frozen, her brain very clearly refusing to cooperate with the rest of her.
"You..." she said slowly, voice brittle. "What did you just say?"
Azerion beamed at her like he hadn’t just told her the most bizarre thing ever.
"I hafta eat you," he repeated happily, like he’d just announced snack time.
The silence that followed was loud.
Then Elyn shot to her feet so fast the chair screeched backward.
"Are you insane?!" she demanded, spinning toward Zorathys. "Are you okay? You didn’t tell me this was what was going to happen. What is wrong with you? You know, if you want me dead, you could’ve just said so and I’ll gratefully give you my dead body and maybe even serve it on a platter for you instead of letting a snake-child threaten to eat me!"
Zorathys watched her calmly as she began pacing the office like a trapped animal, hands flailing, breath coming too fast.
"There are so many ways to die in this realm," she went on, voice rising. "Fire. Claws. Ritual sacrifice. Maybe even shock from seeing someone who looks uglier than Morthen—"
Morthen released a shocked sound, his hands flying to his face, but Elyn ignored him and continued her rant.
"—I was prepared for those. I was not prepared to be eaten alive by a five-year-old snake!"
Azerion frowned. "I not five."
"That is not the point!" Elyn snapped, pointing at him.
Zorathys’s lips twitched faintly as he watched her. She looked cute flailing around the office.
She didn’t notice, though. She was too busy spiraling.
"This is absurd," she muttered, dragging her hands through her hair. "This is actually absurd. I wake you up, I drag you to the office, and now I’m about to be eaten. How is this my life now?"
She turned back to him, eyes wild. "Say something. Please tell me you’re not just standing there letting this happen."
Zorathys sighed.
He glanced toward the others lingering awkwardly near the walls—Morthen hovering like he wanted to faint, Vaelory stiff with concern, Rin watching the situation with far too much interest but also fear.
"Out," Zorathys said calmly.
They froze.
"All of you," he added, waving a hand lazily. "Leave us alone."
The relief on their faces was immediate.
"Yes, my lord," Morthen squeaked, already halfway to the door.
Vaelory followed quickly, and Rin—after casting one last glance at Elyn—shifted into her raven form mid-step and fluttered out through the open doorway.
The door shut behind them immediately after they left.
The office was suddenly very quiet.
The only sound came from Elyn, who was still muttering to herself.
"Eat me," she repeated under her breath. "He said eat me. I can’t believe this."
Zorathys rubbed his eyes.
It had only been a few days since Elyn had arrived in the demon realm, and yet he’d done more work than he had in years. Possibly decades.
He stood up from his chair and leaned back against the edge of the desk, watching her pace.
"Firefly," he said.
She didn’t stop.
"Firefly," he called again.
She spun around. "What?"
"Calm down."
She stared at him like he’d just insulted her ancestors.
"How," she demanded, "am I supposed to calm down when that—" she jabbed a finger at Azerion "—just said he has to eat me to imprint on me?"
Zorathys pushed off the desk and walked toward her.
Azerion immediately stiffened, blue eyes narrowing.
Zorathys ignored him.
He reached out and took Elyn’s hand.
She startled but didn’t pull away.
He guided her closer, gently but firmly, until she was standing between his legs, his back once again resting against the desk. His hands closed around hers, grounding, warm.
Azerion scowled openly now.
Zorathys pretended not to see it. The boy hadn’t imprinted on Elyn yet, and he was already being possessive of her.
"Breathe," he said softly.
Elyn’s chest rose and fell rapidly. "Don’t tell me to breathe."
He lowered his head slightly, eyes meeting hers. "Breathe," he repeated, quieter.
Something about his tone—steady, unbothered, certain—made her pause.
She inhaled.
Then again.
Her shoulders dropped a fraction.
Zorathys noticed. He also noticed her scent, faint but unmistakable, curling into his senses now that she was this close.
He liked it.
He liked her being close.
The realization surprised him—not enough to show, but enough to note. He might like her almost as much as he liked sleeping and slacking off.
Azerion huffed.
Zorathys ignored him.
"How am I supposed to calm down," Elyn said, her voice lower now but still tight, "when he just told me he has to eat me?"
"You’re not listening," Zorathys replied. "You’re panicking."
"I have every right to panic!"
"Yes," he agreed mildly. "But panicking won’t help."
She glared at him. "Then help me out. Do you have a better solution?"
The words came out sharp, grumpy, demanding.
Zorathys chuckled softly.
"No, but I can explain better," he said.
She folded her arms, though she didn’t step away from him.
"Then explain."
"He’s not going to eat you the way you think," Zorathys said. "Not like a predator devouring prey."
Azerion nodded enthusiastically. "Not dat way."
Zorathys continued, "Yes, he’ll transform."
Her eyes widened.
"And he’ll open his mouth," he added.
Her face went pale.
"And he’ll try to swallow you."
She sucked in a sharp breath.
Zorathys immediately raised a hand. "That’s it."
"That’s it?" she repeated faintly.
"That’s it," he confirmed. "No digestion. No death. No harm."
"That," Elyn said, her voice strained, "did not make me feel better."
Zorathys rubbed his eyes again. As much as he liked her scent, he wanted to go back to sleep.
"You’ll be fine," he said. "I promise."
She studied his face, searching for mockery, for deception.
She found none.
"...Will you stay?" she asked suddenly.
He blinked.
"What?"
"While it happens," she said quickly, eyes darting to Azerion and back. "Will you stay?"
Azerion frowned. "No need. I do it alone. I not hut you."
Zorathys glanced at the boy. "Quiet."
Azerion crossed his arms, sulking.
Elyn tightened her grip on Zorathys’s sleeve. "I’d prefer it," she said. "If you stayed."
Zorathys considered her for a moment.
Then he nodded. "Fine."
Relief washed over her face so quickly it startled him.
She swallowed and looked at Azerion, then back at Zorathys.
"Hold me," she said softly. "While I get eaten by the snake—and don’t even try to sneak off."
Zorathys’s lips twitched. "Yes, ma’am."