The day he asks her to marry him was the same day her mother baked an edible cake (which was promptly eaten the next day, but that's not the focus of this chapter.)

And, in all honesty, it wasn't so much of a "Yako, will you marry me?" but a "Louse, you are my mate." This statement was promptly followed by the placement of a leather cord necklace that wound around her neck twice, then draped down on a third loop in to a golden triangle, similar to his hair ornaments, that rested at her collar bone.

It was warm against her skin, and she could feel his power inside it. Surprised, she met his gaze, which was for once not mocking.

"When the time comes, we shall travel to the Demon World for our bonding ceremony, plus your coronation, then come back and have your human celebration. It is customary to wait some time, is it not? We shall wait a few months, then. I suppose we'll have to rely on your mother, and your friend, what was her nam-"

"Woah, woah, wait, slow down. What? Mate? Demon World? Bonding ceremony? Coronation?" She looked at him, confused. "What are you... I... huh?"

Her head was twisted near 360. "My, louse, you seem denser than normal today. Yes, I said mate. Or, 'wife', as you humans call it. And yes, 'coronation'. It's only proper for a demon of my stature to present his mate to his people, is it not?"

"Stature? Present? People?" She righted her head when he let go, cracking her joints to get them back in to place. "They have etiquette in the demon world?"

An elbow to the head. "Ahhhh, you simple creature... of COURSE we have etiquette, status, rank... less congealed than your human ladders, as it's more defining, and bribery and money mean nothing. The strong, naturally, are those who are leaders for the weak and train them..."

The pressure was released, and suddenly she found herself pressed against the office wall but a tall, blue suited (and rather well-muscled... hubba hubba) body. "And, naturally, as the strongest, I am at the top." Her eyes widened as his finger ran along the leather strand. "This pendant symbolizes you as mine. Its scent, its shape, its composition, and its aura are all made specifically so that there is no mistake, and any other demons that see you will immediately know who you are, and will obey accordingly. If not..."

The grin on his face was so malicious and sadistic that she flinched, even though it wasn't directed at her.

"They will understand how I came to be the Demon Emperor."

"Eh... heh... wonderful, Neuro..." She smiled nervously. "You also mentioned something about a bonding ceremony...?"

"Ah, yes... this will prove interesting..." He brought himself nose to nose with her, eyes spinning. "But, we can talk about that later. I'm hungry."

"Oh, well, let's go out an-"

"Mate, you know that's not what I'm craving."