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Chapter 1

After the Battle – Cal and Oscar

OSCAR

T he trembling started as we flew over Bristol.

“Not long, sweetheart,” Cal murmured in my ear, his wings beating fast.

“I’m okay,” I said shakily. But I wasn’t. How could I be? I might’ve held it together while it was happening, but now I was in the safety of Cal’s arms again, it was all coming flooding back.

Bailey’s body on the floor.

The sharp pain as my neck was snapped.

Waking up in Hell.

Seeing Joe stroll back into my life, that hateful smirk in place.

None of that compared to knowing what Cal had been going through. I’d been taken from him again. The things he must’ve felt through the bond…

It had been bad enough feeling them myself, but if it had been the other way around? If I’d known Cal was experiencing his worst nightmare and I was powerless to stop it?

I wouldn’t have coped. It would’ve destroyed me.

Not my Cal though. He’d been strong. For me. For us. Just as he always was.

“Want to talk about it?”

I shuddered. “Not really, but it’s not like I can tell my therapist.‘Hey, Liz, bit of a development. Cal’s dad, who happens to be the literal devil, came to earth and killed me. Then when I reincarnated, I was confronted with my arsehole ex. Who I then murdered. Where would you like to start?’”

I shook my head. “She’d have me committed before I could tell the whole story.”

“Possibly. But I’d break you out in no time.”

A laugh huffed out of me. “I’m sureyouwould. Still, it’s probably better to tell you.”

It took me several minutes to get through the whole story. To his credit, Cal didn’t interrupt once. Not even when I told him how I’d killed Joe with Bailey’s dagger.

But I needed reassurance. “It didn’t count though, right? Like, he was already dead.”

“He was,” Cal murmured, brushing a kiss over my forehead. “You didn’t kill him, but even if you had, that would’ve been okay.”

“Maybe…”

Something niggled in my chest, making Cal nip at my nose. “Tell me.”

That was the problem with a mating bond. You couldn’t hide anything.

“It’s just…it felt so good to hurt him. To see the life leave his eyes. Does that make me a bad person?”

“No, sweetheart. It makes you human.” Cal tightened his arms around me. “Joe’s soul is pure evil. He hurt you. It’s normal for you to want to do the same to him. In a way, you were taking back a littlemoreof the power he stole from you.”

The niggling sensation faded away entirely. “You’re right. He really can’t hurt me anymore.”

“He can’t. And he’s earned himself a whole new collection of tortures.”

“Haven’t you already exhausted all your ideas?”

Cal chuckled. “There’s no limit to my revenge, sweetheart. Not where you’re concerned. I could issue a new torture every day, and still have enough for a thousand years.”

I smiled as I burrowed my face against my neck. “That shouldn’t turn me on as much as it does.”

“Well, maybe you should finish your story. My brothers might not mind flying with an erection, but it’s not my cup of tea.”

I told him about Bailey’s dad, and Grant, the man who’d been stalking Lucky. I didn’t stop talking as I described the deal we’d struck with the demons to escort us safely out of Hell.

Cal bristled beneath me as his anger pulsed across the bond. “Sorry. I’m just mad you were put in that position. The only demon I want you making deals with is me”

I kissed his cheek. Then his lips. “It’s okay. I’m amazed you’re holding it together this well.”

He gave me a tight smile. “I worked a lot of it out of my system on the battlefield.”

Yes, I’d seen the state of his clothing. There wasn’t a spot not drenched with blood. Judging by his hands, he’d given up his weapons at some point.

My gaze caught on my two best friends. They were flying alongside us, but at a distance. Thanks to their wingspans, the demons had to spread out a bit. Plus, after what we’d just been through, I thought we all needed a bit of extra space. “Something tells me Harlow didn’t work all of his emotions out.”

Cal’s jaw was tight. “No. I don’t think he did.”

I rubbed Cal’s chest soothingly. “Bailey will get his head straight again.”

“Hmm. With his words or his arse?”

I slapped his shoulder. “Don’t say things like that. I can’t be picturing the two of them… doing it. ”

Cal huffed a laugh. “Given how often they’ve walked in on us, I’m sure they know way more about our love life than they’d like to.”

“It’s all your fault,” I muttered as Cal began to descend. “Walking around looking like you do.”

“I thought you liked the way I look?”

I sighed in exasperation. “I do. That’s the problem. You go around looking like that and I can’t help it. I just have to have you.”

Cal purred in my ear, “Anytime, sweetheart. You just say the word.”

I pinched his side in annoyance. “See? Literally proving my point. I have no self-control when it comes to you, and you can’t say no to me. Hence why people keep catching us fucking.”

Mori and River peeled off in one direction, Harlow and Bailey in another. Aside from a brief wave, we didn’t say any goodbyes. We’d see them all in a few hours.

Once we’d had a chance to rest.

To reconnect.

It wasn’t until we landed in front of the bookshop that I remembered what had happened before we were dragged into Hell.

“Oh no,” I whispered, tears welling in my eyes. “The shop.”

The windows were smashed in, black stains obscuring the walls and the sign.

I started to shake again as the fragile binding holding me together began to fray.

Cal wrapped his arms around me from behind, refusing to let me break. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Most of the damage is to the kitchen and the front of the shop. The flames went out as soon as the demons left. Here, let me show you.”

I was numb as Cal led me into the shop. The smell of smoke was heavy in the air. Whatever stock hadn’t been burned would likely need to be replaced due to smoke damage. My eyes fell on the LGBTQIA+ romance display, the centrepiece of the section. I’d spent hours working on it, swapping out the books for new releases. There’d been several signed copies from my favourite authors there.

Now it was little more than a pile of ash and a few loose pages.

“It’s going to need so much work.” My voice cracked on the final word. “Oh god, Cal.”

“I know, sweetheart.” He tucked me against his chest. “I know this seems like a lot right now, but it’s nothing time and money can’t fix. Fortunately, we aren’t short of either of those.”

“I guess you’re right.” I sniffed, wiping away a stray tear on Cal’s chest. “Where will we stay though?”

“Well, turns out Bailey’s house is still on the market. I spoke to Low earlier and he suggested we stay there.”

“You don’t think Bailey will mind?”

“It’s either that or we stay at Harlow’s,” Cal pointed out. “Unless we really want to become uncomfortably acquainted with each other’s bedroom habits, I don’t think Bailey will have any issues.”

Cal was right; I couldn’t see Bailey minding at all. I’d actually lived with him for a few months back before I met Cal, and he’d been most put out when I’d finally got my own place.

Cal and I were quiet while we packed a small overnight bag each. We weren’t taking much, figuring we could come back in the daylight to properly assess the damage.

In no time at all, I was sat in Bailey’s living room, the US version of The Office playing on the TV. Aside from a slight musty smell, you wouldn’t know anyone hadn’t lived here in a few months. Not only was his internet still connected, but pretty much all of his furniture was here. Harlow had claimed none of it fit his aesthetic. Seeing as most of it was from our uni days, he had a point. Besides, Bailey didn’t care about things like that. He wasn’t bothered what sofa he sat on or bed he slept in.

So long as it was Harlow he was next to, he just didn’t care.

The doorbell rang, Cal answering it and quietly speaking to whoever was there. He returned with several bags.

“What’s all that?”

He dropped a kiss on my head as he passed. “Just some supplies. Ordered some bits from Tesco through Uber Eats.”

I nodded mutely, letting Cal carry on pottering around. The anxiety that had been pumping through my veins all night was quiet now, but it had left behind a familiar exhaustion. One that had me wanting to bury myself under many blankets and hide from everyone except Cal.

“Right, up you get, sweetheart.”

I let him tug me to my feet, my brain noisy as he led me up the stairs. We stepped into the bathroom, and I halted in surprise. “What’s all this?”

Candles covered every surface, flickering soothingly. Steam rose from the full bath, and I could tell from the smell that Cal had picked up the bath salts I preferred. By the side of the bath was a low table with several items on it.

There was a lump in my throat as I stepped closer to take them in. A glass of white wine alongside a share bag of Maltesers. An iPad quietly playing my favourite episode of The Office (“Dwight Christmas”). And finally, there was a book. A tattered copy of Clueless by Willow Thomas that I’d lent to Harlow several months before.

“Found the book in the bedside table and recognised it as one of your favourites.”

“Yes.” I touched the cover lightly. “Harlow swore up and down he’d given it back to me.”

“Well, lucky he didn’t. Now you can read it while you relax.”

I whirled around to face him. “You didn’t need to do all of this for me.”

He kissed me gently. “I know. But I wanted to.”

I leaned into his embrace, resting my head against his chest. He’d had a quick shower already, washing away the horrors of the day. “Everyone else probably didn’t make it through the front door before they started fucking.”

“We aren’t everyone else,” Cal said gently, resting his chin on my head as he stroked my back soothingly. “You’ve been through a lot today, and my first priority is making sure you’re okay. All of you—that includes mentally.”

“And I will be, because I have you.”

I pulled his lips down to meet mine, the taste of him as familiar as my own name.

When we eventually broke apart, I smirked up at him. “But when I’m relaxed, you’re gonna make me forget my own name?”

“Sweetheart, I’m going to make you see stars.”

* * *

I bathed until the water was tepid, my skin wrinkled from how long I’d been in there.

With Lexi and Ryder to keep me company, along with the cast of The Office , I was now fully relaxed. Everything I’d been through that day was still there, but Cal had pushed it all into the background.

That was what Cal did for me. He didn’t remove my nightmares, but he made them bearable. He shoved them into the shadows where they belonged, never letting them close enough to make me truly suffer.

I found him reclined on the bed in the guest bedroom. He was completely naked, his long limbs sprawled over the white bedding. One of his arms was behind his head, the other holding his Kindle as his eyes danced over whatever was on the screen, the lamps on the bedside table casting shadows over his face. To others, he might have looked like the terrifying demon people believed him to be.

But to me, he just looked like home.

He looked up as I entered, smiling softly at me over the top of his Kindle.

Draping my towel over the back of a chair, I joined him on the bed, curling into his side. “What are you reading?”

Cal cleared his throat, closing the Kindle cover and putting it on the bedside table. “A Jesse H Reign one.”

He wasn’t meeting my gaze. “Which one?”

Cal winced. “One of her new ones…”

Yep. He was definitely hedging. Seeing as he couldn’t lie to me, Cal liked to find more creative ways to avoid telling me stuff. “ The Step Bro Situation ? Or Triple Trouble ?”

Cal sighed heavily. “Actually, it’s The Daddy Arrangement .”

My eyebrows met my hairline. I knew for a fact that wasn’t out for another couple of weeks. Not only had I preordered it, but I’d blocked out the evening on my calendar to read it on release day. “And how exactly have you got an early copy?”

“I might have… joinedherarcteam. ”

“Cal.” I shoved him in the shoulder. “I thought we’d agreed not to join any more teams because it wasn’t fair on the other one!”

“In my defence, I didn’t think you’d find out.”

I straddled his waist, wiggling my arse on his cock teasingly. “When does that approach ever go well for you?”

“Never,” he admitted. “How about I make it up to you?”

I continued to gyrate my hips, brushing over him again and again. “What did you have in mind?”

Cal smirked, then his big hands were cupping my bare arse and hauling me forwards. I didn’t even squeak in surprise. We’d been together long enough for me to know that Cal would manhandle me into place.

It was something we both loved.

He dragged me up his body until my cock was almost brushing his lips. With him propped up on several pillows, his mouth was at the perfect height for what I knew he had planned.

“Grab the headboard, sweetheart. And no coming.”

I let out a small whine as I did as he asked. “That doesn’t seem fair.”

Cal’s tongue darted over the sensitive head of my cock. “Do I ever leave you wanting?”

“No,” I hissed as his fingers brushed along my crease. “Get some lube. I want you to finger me open while you suck me off.”

Cal’s eyes sparkled as he reached for the lube beside us. “I do love it when you get bossy.”

Before long, my cock was in Cal’s throat, his fingers deep in my arse. My moans were filling the room as I fucked into Cal’s mouth. Every time I tried to hold back, his hand pushed me forwards.

My knuckles were white where I was holding on so tightly to the headboard. “Cal, oh fuck. Please, baby.”

Cal hummed around my shaft. His fingers crooked, rubbing over my spongy gland.

He was right, I did see stars.

“Stop,” I barked. “Cal, I’m gonna come.”

He pulled off instantly, slowly easing his fingers out of me. “How do you want me?”

“On top,” I whispered, wriggling off him. “I need you, Cal.”

He knew what I meant. I didn’t need to explain. Even without the bond letting him feel my lingering anxiety and stress, Cal understood what I needed.

And right now, I needed him surrounding me. Encompassing me. Blocking out all reminders of anything except him. Us.

With one swift movement, I was on my back. He covered my body with his and lowered his mouth to mine. Every movement hammered home that I belonged to him. Every dominating sweep of his tongue. Every nip of my lips. Every growl that crept up from his chest.

My fingers were scratching along his back as I let him take over. His hard cock was pressed against my thigh, mine trapped against his abdomen. The pressure wasn’t enough. This wasn’t enough.

I needed Cal to own me.

Tearing my mouth away from his, I stared deep into his eyes. His demon, quiet since we’d returned from Hell, was flickering there. It was like he too wanted to possess me. To reassure himself that I was safe. That we’d escaped.

“I need you in me,” I gasped, clutching the back of Cal’s neck. “Now. Please .”

Cal dropped one more kiss on my lips before moving away. “I’ve got you, sweetheart.”

Within moments, I felt the large head of him pressing against my entrance. I bore down, a low moan escaping me as he slowly filled me.

“Fuck, Cal,” I whimpered when he was fully seated. Tears filled my eyes unexpectedly. “I can’t believe we almost lost this.”

“We’ll never lose this,” Cal vowed as he eased out, only to slam back in. His dark eyes held mine the entire time. “I’ll never let you be taken from me, Oscar. Never .”

Our lips met in a kiss as we lost ourselves to each other. My arms and legs were wrapped around my mate, clinging to him desperately.

Love and lust pinged along the bond, taking me higher as Cal’s hips slammed into me. While this moment was tender, the way he was fucking me was anything but. Owning me, just the way I needed him to.

His wings ripped from his back, blocking out everything else in the room. Nothing else existed except Cal.

“Cal…” My voice was a needy whine.

He pressed his abdomen tighter to my cock, giving me the pressure I needed to send me over the edge. “Come for me, sweetheart.”

I did just that, my hands brushing over his wings as I did so. Cal thrust once more before I felt the warmth of his release.

We didn’t move as we came down from the high. Cal’s wings disappeared after a few minutes, his body pressed close to mine as we exchanged lazy kisses.

I broke away, staring into his warm amber eyes. “Never let me go.”

He kissed my forehead. “Never, sweetheart. You’re mine. For the rest of eternity.”