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He didn’t say anything else to me, just shoved his hands into his pockets and walked away. The dejected look ate at my insides and when Aziel turned his sour expression my way, I threw my hands into the air.

“What? Am I not allowed to react when I’m fucking targeted and attacked? I was here alone, Aziel! I was handling it until my dad showed up, but I might not have been that lucky if someone as big as you came, causing trouble. I never actively turned people away. I just didn't question why none ever showed up,” I snapped defensively.

He considered me for a second, but I couldn’t tell if he agreed or not from the look on his face. He was comically blank, and it irritated the hell out of me. I spun on my heel, storming back into the shop, only to come up short with him right in front of me. I jumped, whipping my head around to where he’d been standing before and back to him. Fucking teleportation.

“Real funny. Can you just–”

“Do I scare you?”

My head jerked back, surprised. “What?”

“You heard me. You got attacked once and never tried again. Are you afraid of all paranormals? Do I scare you?”

“No! I’m not afraid of paranormals! I’m just cautious! That doesn’t mean paranormals shouldn’t be treated fairly!”

I didn't know why I was shouting. I never had to defend this to anyone else before. My dad was the only one who saw it happen. And Ben came after the attack. He never questioned why we didn't tattoo paranormals. But saying out loud that I was glad paranormals couldn’t see my shop made me sound like a jackass and I hated myself for it.

“I believe you.”

Stunned, I gaped at him. “I’m sorry, what?”

He still didn’t look pissed. A little defensive, maybe, but the look of understanding wasn’t forced.

“You stood up for me and my brother in the park when you didn’t even know us. And other than when we showed up to confront you, you’ve never treated him poorly, even after the fight with Ollie. I wish there were more humans like you, so I didn't have to worry so much about Dante. If you don’t want to invite paranormals into your work because you feel you can’t defend yourself, I won’t judge you for that. I don’t think less of you for it.”

The comment about me not being able to defend myself dug a little. I scowled at him, but I was more mad at myself. I never wanted to discriminate. But I let one bad experience set the tone for how I interacted with paranormals from then on. I’d gotten into way more fights with humans in school than I ever did with paranormals. It just felt more dangerous. I could hold my own against humans. If someone bigger than the witches came after me, I might not have been so lucky.

“It’s not… It’s not that I don’t want them here. Honestly, when I first opened this place, I’d been interested in learning how to tattoo paranormals. I believe in inclusivity. And it’s not like I’m making enough money to be able to turn people away. I just… In my experience, once bullying starts, it takes a fucking fight to stop it. I didn't think I could hold my own if that happened.”

“You don’t have to change things here.”

I made a face. “Yeah, but it’d be a little hypocritical of me to fool around with a paranormal, but not be willing to work around them.”

A mischievous expression crossed his face. “Well, we could always keep fooling around until you’re more comfortable around paranormals.”

I huffed out a laugh. “I won’t say no to that. Shop doesn’t open for a few hours. Wanna go upstairs?”

I needed a distraction, and Aziel’s offer seemed perfect to me. I’d re-evaluate my stance on paranormal tattoos later. Right now, I wanted a repeat of last night.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

AZIEL

I feltstupid showing up at Declan’s shop to ask for a relationship. I didn’t do relationships. But Athena drilled it in my head that if I wanted things to get better, I had to trust in my mate. She wouldn’t tell me how she knew Declan was my mate, and I wasn’t entirely sure I believed her, but I was desperate for a change. And she promised he and Ollie wouldn’t get hurt. She was sending reinforcements to put wards on Declan’s shop, and there were a few charms in my pocket for him and Ollie to keep them safe.

I was worried about how this would turn out. Athena was a great oracle, and it was rare that her visions didn’t pan out. But she couldn’t control the future and she wasn’t infallible. Declan, Ollie, and Dante’s safety was my priority. I’d test the waters, but if it became too dangerous for any of them, I’d walk away. I wasn’t going to put them at risk just for a chance to make my life better. I wasn’t my uncle.

I could see how conflicted Declan was. He either didn’t realize he was discriminating, or he was reconsidering it now that he knew other paranormals outside of the ones who attacked him. I’d be finding those little shits sometime in the future. I wasn’t going to force Declan to open his shop toparanormals, but I got the feeling he would anyway. He didn’t like the idea of being part of the problem for paranormals.

To distract him, and myself, since I was still raw after my discussion with Athena, I agreed to go upstairs. I wanted that feeling back, where my brain shut off to everything but pleasure. I needed it.

I liked how straightforward he was about it. There were no stupid games to get what we wanted. He offered, I accepted, and we were naked in his bed ten minutes later. I appreciated that about him.

His tongue tangled with mine, his body pinning me to the mattress despite the weight difference. I could overpower him, Athena said the submission bullshit didn’t have anything to do with sex. I just… didn’t want to. I’d never do this kind of thing again if things didn’t work out with him. I wanted to enjoy it while it lasted. And I trusted Declan not to ridicule me about it.

His fingers were teasing over my hole when his phone went off. He looked irritated as he pushed up on one hand, twisting enough to grab it off the nightstand.

“Sorry. I gotta check it. It might be–” He rolled his eyes. “Yep. My parents are on their way.” He tossed the phone back onto the nightstand. “We gotta make this quick. Shower sex?”