Page 24 of Calling Chaos (Demon Bound #3)

23

Cooper

F lames running along the walls. A strangled scream. Chaos, beautiful and fierce and full of rage, all of it for Cooper.

Cooper woke up with the words already on his lips. “Let’s get out of here.”

Chaos jolted upright in the hotel bed, although Cooper didn’t think he’d been asleep. “Out of the hotel?”

Cooper shook his head. “Out of the city. Let’s just…go.”

He’d had enough of this place. The people it housed. The men in it who kept creating trouble for him and the people he cared for.

Chaos flopped to his side, setting his head on his hand as he peered at Cooper. “To your cousin?”

Right. Sascha had offered them a place to rest in Maine, if they wanted it. Cooper shrugged. “Sure. As long as it’s away.”

Cooper needed it. He was pretty sure Chaos did too. Cooper hadn’t forgotten Chaos offering—or threatening, really—to take the whole city down for what had been done to Cooper. His demon’s rage might have cooled with the sweetness of their bonding, but Cooper didn’t want to push it. They could use a little space. Not from each other—Cooper wasn’t ready to let Chaos out of his sight anytime soon—but from everything that had happened.

And for once, Cooper was excited to venture out and away. He could feel Chaos through the bond, that bit of him that was supposedly his soul in Cooper’s chest, and it was…exciting. Like a new kind of buzzing energy, something Cooper had never experienced before. A new kind of bravery, almost. It wasn’t exactly like Cooper had changed overnight but more that he could finally see it. Feel it. The joy Chaos had in exploring the world, in making messes, in being unapologetically himself at every turn.

A little extra courage Cooper could borrow when he needed it.

Cooper might anchor Chaos with this bond, but Chaos… lifted Cooper.

He laughed, suddenly overwhelmingly pleased with everything. “Let’s get the fuck out of here !” he crowed.

Chaos cackled, jumping onto his knees in excitement, bouncing on the bed. “Yes, puppy! Let’s go play.”

The seat belt sign flashed on with a ding, and Cooper belted his obediently, then leaned over to do the same for Chaos, since the demon was busy making “scary” faces at an older toddler who’d been bawling uncontrollably five minutes ago.

Bawling and throwing things and kicking Cooper’s seat. Cooper had been worried, when Chaos turned around and peered over the back of their chairs, that he was going to scold the kid or threaten him with fire or something. But Chaos had been grinning at the overwhelmed child, ignoring the frantic apologies of the parents.

“Aren’t you a wild one?” he’d asked gleefully, and the little kid had been so shocked by Chaos’s approval that he’d stopped crying immediately.

And now he and Chaos were apparently the best of friends. They were taking turns making strange faces and even stranger sounds, and each time Chaos switched it up, it sent the kid into manic giggle fits.

The parents, who had another baby they’d been trying to contend with when their older child was losing it, were looking at Chaos like he was a saint from above.

If only they knew.

Cooper was glad he hadn’t splurged for business class this time. He’d had a feeling Chaos would enjoy the close-quartered jumble of coach, and he’d been right. Plus, with the season approaching midwinter the way it was, the flight was only half-full. He and Chaos could have had a seat between them if they’d wanted, but Chaos had insisted on taking the middle seat, pressing himself against Cooper’s side.

It had been easy to get tickets. After a quick call with Sascha, Cooper had gotten them onto the next direct flight to Portland, Maine. Sascha and Kai would pick them up from there and drive them the three extra hours to Seacliff, since Cooper didn’t have a license.

He’d need to remedy that, if they were going to start leaving the city regularly. He couldn’t imagine letting Chaos behind a wheel. Cooper might have access to a little more bravery than before, but he hadn’t completely gone off the deep end.

Chaos had been pleased when Cooper had suggested flying. “Yes, yes,” he’d muttered. “It’s time to get familiar with air travel. Just in case.”

Chaos’s concern had solidified Cooper’s decision to get out of town, at least for a bit. They needed to go somewhere where there were no threats, no Mafia business to get tangled up in. Leaving danger behind was why Sascha had gone to Maine in the first place—why he’d stayed—so maybe it was fitting that it was the reason Cooper was visiting.

They landed, everyone started deplaning, and Cooper and Chaos waved goodbye to Chaos’s new little friend. They hadn’t checked any baggage, seeing as how they only had a computer bag and one backpack between them, since Chaos could summon his own clothes (when he wasn’t stealing Cooper’s).

They found Sascha and Kai waiting at the curb, Sascha looking tiny next to his massive demon mate. Sascha waved brightly as soon as he caught sight of them. “Welcome, welcome!”

Kai was…glaring? Or maybe that was just his face, even in human form—Cooper didn’t know him well enough to know yet. Either way, he eyed them for only a moment before letting out a resigned huff. “You bonded?”

“You did?” Sascha asked in surprise, wide eyes darting between them. “Congrats!”

Kai was still maybe scowling at Chaos. “I suppose I’m stuck with you again.”

Cooper stepped in front of his demon, his hackles raised by Kai’s attitude. As if it was some burden to have Chaos in the same realm. “You don’t need to be around us if you don’t want,” he told the other demon. “We can find another place to stay.”

Sascha made as if to get between them and start offering apologies, but Kai held out a hand, cocking his head. “Are you…defending him from me, little hacker?”

Cooper squared his shoulders, even though the move put him nowhere near Kai’s absurd height. “Yes. I am.”

Weirdly, Kai grinned at him. He may have been a bit of a jerk, but he was beautiful when he smiled. Even Cooper could admit that. “Very good,” the big demon said in approval. “But there’s no need. I don’t mind Chaos’s presence on occasion. I became used to his chatter centuries ago.”

Cooper glanced over his shoulder to check with Chaos. He didn’t look the least bit offended by anything Kai had said. Instead, he started petting at Cooper’s shoulders, gazing at him adoringly like Cooper had just declared his undying love.

“What a good puppy,” he crooned, nuzzling his cheek.

And now Cooper’s cheeks were hot, and not just from Chaos’s touch. It was time to change the subject. “Where’s your, um, roommate?”

“Oh. He’s super shy about leaving the house. Worse than you.” Sascha winced at his own words, laughing awkwardly. “No offense.”

Kai pressed a kiss to Sascha’s pale hair. “No one is offended, zaychik .” He waved a hand to Cooper and Chaos. “Into the car with you. It’s a long drive in a tiny vehicle.”

The house they pulled up to was big but a little run-down, with peeling paint and a porch that had seen better days. Cute though. Cooper could see the potential.

They made their way inside, and Sascha showed them to the spare bedroom they’d be staying in, then shepherded them back down to the living room. It didn’t seem like Sascha’s style—not nearly chic enough, compared to his New York apartment—but maybe it had been furnished by the previous owners.

Chaos cocked his head, peering intensely at the bookshelf against the wall, muttering something that sounded like, “So that’s where it is.”

Before Cooper could ask him what he was talking about, a short, young-looking guy with enormous brown eyes and dark hair shorn close to his head poked his head out of the hallway. He kept it at that, the rest of his body hidden away by the wall. Those big eyes darted between them, and it looked as if maybe he was trying to place their faces.

“Matty!” Sascha greeted. “Come meet our guests. This is my cousin, Cooper, and his partner, Chaos. Guys, this is Matteo.”

Matteo kept eyeing them warily, not making any more headway out of the hallway.

Cooper stayed still, letting the other man—boy, maybe?—decide for himself whether to face them or flee. Sascha might have decided to lump Cooper and Matteo together as two shy introverts, but this…this didn’t seem like what Cooper dealt with at all. It didn’t read to him like general anxiety. It seemed more like fear. Specific and overwhelming.

Out the corner of his eye, Cooper caught Kai switching to demon form, tall and blue and horned. After a moment, Chaos followed suit, stretching his wings out as much as the little space allowed.

For some reason, that had Matteo’s hunched shoulders lowering. He crept forward until he was framed in the doorway. He was wearing sweatpants and a hooded sweatshirt at least three sizes too big. “Another demon?” he asked quietly, eyeing Chaos’s wings and tucking his hands into his sleeves. “And you’re…together?” His cheeks went dark pink at his own question, but he didn’t backtrack. He just waited patiently for an answer.

Chaos wrapped a proud arm around Cooper. “He’s my puppy.”

“They’re bonded,” Kai informed Matteo, which was probably a more helpful explanation.

Matteo gave them a shy smile. “Oh. Okay.”

He turned around and disappeared again.

Yeah, he and Cooper were bound to be the best of friends.

Cooper cleared his throat in the resulting silence. “If it’s all right, I was thinking I’d show Chaos the beach before it gets dark.”

“Of course!” Sascha told him, making a little “shoo” gesture with his hands. “Go explore. The town’s pretty small. You’re not going to get lost.”

Cooper reached into his back pocket. “I brought you something,” he said, his throat suddenly tight with nerves. “As a thank-you for having us.”

“Oh!” Sascha’s eyes widened in surprise. “You didn’t have to—”

“I meant to get you a copy a long time ago.”

Cooper held out his offering—the two photos he had of his father and Sascha’s mother together. In one, they were laughing quietly together, looking like they were sharing a secret. In the other, they were standing side by side, staring solemnly at the camera.

“Oh.” To Cooper’s immense alarm, Sascha’s eyes immediately watered, tears spilling over. “Oh, Cooper. My father didn’t—I don’t have any—”

“I have duplicates,” Cooper said quickly, hoping to stave off any full-out sobbing. “So you can keep these.”

And then he was being pulled into the tightest hug of his life. “ Thank you.”

Sascha released him quickly, possibly because Chaos was sparking little flames next to them. Sascha waved his hands toward the door again, sniffing back more tears. “Go. Enjoy the walk. It’ll be cold but—but gorgeous.”

Kai and Chaos switched back to human form, and Kai walked them out the door, giving Cooper an alarming, forceful clap on the back that was maybe supposed to be his version of gratitude. He pointed them to a path that would lead along the cliffs and down to the beach.

Cooper and Chaos walked along it, hands clasped and arms swinging. Chaos eyed the few people they came across with avid interest, but he didn’t start any trouble.

For his part, Cooper ignored everyone, choosing to look at the scenery instead. He breathed in the winter air, noticing that the cold didn’t bite into him the way it should have. Maybe that was the demon bond working in his favor, or maybe it was just having Chaos at his side.

Dad would like him , Cooper thought suddenly, and he knew it immediately to be true. Cooper didn’t have many memories of his mother, but his dad had told Cooper she was brave and bright and beautiful. Maybe it was the fate of the Zaitsev men, to be drawn to their opposites.

“You’re pensive,” Chaos finally said, when the path started dipping down toward the shore.

“I was just thinking my dad would like you.”

“Really? How odd. Not many do.”

Cooper frowned. “That’s not true. Your demon friends like you, I can tell. Or the two I’ve met, at least. Anyone would get sick of each other a little bit, after being stuck together for so long like that. I wouldn’t use that as proof of anything.”

Chaos was grinning at him. “So protective of me.” He kissed Cooper’s clasped hand. “My puppy has grown.”

Cooper was saved from having to respond by their reaching the beach. It was a small, sandy cove, surrounded by rocky cliffs on either side. The water was dark in the late afternoon but not rough.

It was beautiful.

Next to him, Chaos let out a happy sigh. “Oh, it’s lovely. Lovely, lovely, lovely.”

“You like it?” Cooper asked, not sure why he was surprised. “The ocean?”

“Mm.” Chaos nodded happily. “It’s different seeing it in person. I can feel—” He held out a hand toward the water. “There’s the rhythm of the waves, so steady. But underneath, in the depths, it’s turmoil. Struggles of survival. Storms and massive waves way out deep. A very interesting energy,” he said with approval.

“We could see more beaches,” Cooper offered. “We could even do some traveling by boat. Or by plane. Just…” He hesitated but then kept going, spilling out a plan he’d only half come up with. “I can work remotely, you know. We could travel. For the next year, even. Get away. We can come visit regularly so you can see Nix and Kai.”

Chaos gave him a look. “And so you can see your kin.”

“Yeah, sure. But—would you want to? To do that with me?”

Chaos tugged Cooper into him, back to chest, wrapping his arms around Cooper’s waist and tucking his chin over Cooper’s shoulder. “Whatever you want, my sweet summoner. Whatever, whenever, wherever. I go where you go.”

Cooper laughed, happiness fizzing in his stomach. “But would you enjoy it?”

“I would enjoy it very, very much,” Chaos told him with a nuzzle.

Cooper believed him. For whatever reason, this wild, wonderful demon would be happy wherever they went, as long as he was at Cooper’s side.

So they’d go. Maybe they’d come back for good at the end. Maybe they’d find somewhere they liked better than the city, only coming back to visit.

Maybe they’d make a little mischief along the way.

But no matter what, they’d be together. Neither of them would be alone. Not anymore.

Cooper leaned his head back, letting his cheek rest against Chaos’s. “Me too. I’m going to enjoy it all. Every minute.”