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Her smile was genuine this time. A vacation did a lot for her, apparently. I still questioned sometimes whether I should be helping them as much as I do, given how they treat me, but Ollie was worth it. My little brother was going to take on the world. I wanted to be there when he did.

They left just as someone knocked on the shop door. I locked up behind me and headed toward the front, holding the door open for Manny to duck inside. He looked uncertain and a lot uncomfortable. He pointed out the door, his voice gruff.

“You got rid of the spell.”

“I did. I realized I was letting one unpleasant encounter define my entire experience with paranormals, and that was unfair of me. I’ve made paranormal friends since then, and I’m even mated to one.”

His bushy eyebrows shot up. “Really? Congratulations. Is, uh… Is that why you called me here?”

“No. I came to offer you a chair.”

He frowned, and I chuckled as I gestured to the couch. I sat on my favorite stool facing him to explain.

“I just found out my apprentice is moving back home to be closer to his family. That means a chair is open here. I remember Hendrix saying you’ve been struggling to find some place to work. If you’re interested, I’d love to work with you here. We’d be partners, no one would be in charge or anything, and any changes to the place would be decided on together. I’d still love to learn to tattoo paranormals, but I figured an expert in house might give us a boost in business.”

He stammered a bit, his mouth opening and closing like he couldn’t figure out what to say. “I, uh… I mean, are you– I…”

When I grinned at him, he snapped his mouth shut and scowled at me. “Shut up. Are you serious?”

I nodded once, fighting back a laugh. “Completely serious. I’m gonna be gone this week, my mate is at a healing center in the Other Realm and I want to be with him, but when I get back, I’d love for us to sit down and iron things out. Are you interested?”

“Hell yeah, I am!” he shouted. When I raised my eyebrows at him, he coughed and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “I mean, yeah. That sounds good. Just send me an email on when is good for you.”

Laughing, I offered him my hand. “I get the feeling I’m gonna like working with you.”

CHAPTER THIRTY

AZIEL

I spentpart of the time at the healing center learning to reorient myself. I struggled with spatial awareness and bumped into things a lot. Mama Malatesta said I’d get better with time, and after she was certain the poison was out of my system, she released me to my mate. Felix teased me when I rolled my eyes, saying it wasn’t as effective with one eye all cloudy. He got punched for that, but he was cackling and, honestly, I didn’t hate him joking about it. Teasing was better than pitying looks. He treated me like normal and I appreciated that.

Since my apartment had more space, we decided to stay there for the time being. Less for me to bump into. It wasn’t going to be forever. After Manny became Declan’s partner at work, he suggested expanding into the empty shop next door so there was room for bigger paranormals. There was space upstairs in that one too, and Declan was already making plans with Brandon and his boss on how to upgrade it. It’d be pricey, but between me, Declan, and Manny, we got covered for a loan big enough to pull off the job.

Declan had been teasing when he said I’d be his bodyguard at work. I didn’t know what I was going to do with myself for work, especiallywith my vision all messed up. Luckily, the paranormal government gave grants out to new families living in the human realm and Melvina said I qualified as a new parent since I officially adopted Dante. I could’ve just remained his guardian, but I talked to Dante about it and we both agreed it was better to have things be more stable with me as his official parent. I wasn’t going to pretend to be his dad or anything, he was still my cousin, but at least he knew I loved him and wanted to be around for the future.

Letting out a heavy sigh, I walked down the hallway again and turned into the kitchen, just barely bumping into the door frame. I growled in frustration. My room was easier because it was on my left side coming down the hall, but turning right was a pain in the ass.

“Don’t take your frustration out on the door frame. It’s already costing an arm and a leg to update the shop.”

Swinging around, I followed Declan’s voice. He and Manny were supposed to be meeting the contractors right now. He wasn’t supposed to be home yet.

“What are you doing here so early?”

“Lunch break.”

I made a face. “It's ten thirty.”

A smirk pulled at his lips, and he shrugged. “Okay, so I took an early lunch because I’m horny and I figured I could distract you for a little while.”

I huffed out a laugh, running my fingers through my short hair. Mal suggested the shorter cut would draw less attention to the broken horn. It actually worked better than I thought it would and I didn’t hate it. Dante cut his hair to match, and it made me smile every time he stood next to me in the bathroom to style his hair in the morning.

“You’re lying, aren’t you? You knew I’d be climbing the walls without something to do.”

He hummed, striding across the room with a heated grin. “Or… I was hoping for an afternoon delight before Dante got back and we had to be quiet again.”

Out of everyone, Declan refused to pity me. He was supportive and comforting when I needed it, but he didn’t make my injury the focus of our daily life. He could pull my head out of my ass no matter how badly Ispiraled, and I sought him out, my nose bumping his before I found his lips.

It went from steamy and soft to demanding and rough in a flash. Declan was still aggressive with sex, and I still loved it. I let him push me onto the couch, groaning when he dropped on top of me and ground his hips against mine.