Page 33 of Dead Air (Moon Murder Mysteries)

Twenty-One

H e may have had a knack for finding danger but Niall was rather pleased with himself. His new friends might not be fans of Cenn yet but a fight had been avoided and he still had high hopes for a truce. Or possibly even an alliance!

“Not a bad job for a simple, nerdy hermit!” he boasted. “I didn’t know how I was going to cope with all these…people or whatever they are, being new to all of this. But I knew you wouldn’t abandon me and I was going to prove that they were wrong about you.”

Cenn shook his head. “They were only wrong about you. Oglethorpe and MacIlwraith underestimated how special you were and failed to realize that keeping you was far more appealing than anything Dùbhghlas could have offered me.”

“You’ve got me in a bind there,” Niall admitted with a serious humph. “I can’t argue with that and blame it on you being secretly decent and turning over a new leaf, can I?”

“You definitely shouldn’t. Remember what we said about being less naive?”

Niall didn’t care about the whys or Cenn’s denials. For whatever reason, he had done the right thing and he’d come back to the “good” and bright side. That was a big darn deal for a demon like Cenn, so Niall was seeing it as a sign of growth.

He also saw it as a sign for himself. If Cenn was willing to sacrifice everything and had chosen to go on a “hiatus” to be with Niall, he had to consider making some compromises as well.

He obviously had already, entering into a romantic relationship with a demon.

But Niall couldn’t go back to his old life and would have to accept that there would be changes.

In a way, Niall was responsible for Cenn now and the care and keeping of his newfound heart.

He was still overwhelmed by all he didn’t know about demons and demigods and Niall understood that they were all in uncharted territory with Cenn.

No one had ever dated a demon—as far as they collectively knew—or taught one how to love.

And there was no way of knowing what would happen if one did, but Niall was taking the challenge head-on.

He’d faced big challenges before and Niall didn’t think it was an accident that he had an abundance of all the things Cenn lacked.

What if Niall was meant to share those extra parts of his soul with Cenn and to teach him how to be more human?

Cenn would never conform to everyone else’s definition of “good” but Niall understood that that was relative and there was value in darkness.

He wasn’t foolish enough to expect Cenn to change his entire nature and become an angel.

Niall didn’t want him to.

There might come a day when Nox and Merlin needed Cenn’s help to put a stop to Hugh Dùbhghlas.

They would need a demon for a task like that and not just any demon, but the mighty Cenn Cruach.

Niall also understood that asking Cenn to completely give up his demonic ways unless it served his or Nox’s or Merlin’s purposes would make them just as bad as Dùbhghlas.

It was best to trust Cenn’s judgment and let love do its magick. So far, it was working.

That meant that Niall would have to leave his mountain.

The prospect would have instilled terror a month ago, but Niall had already accepted that they couldn’t stay if Cenn returned from his meeting with Dùbhghlas.

And his new life began the moment Cenn reappeared in his cabin and told Niall what Dùbhghlas had offered him.

He had no idea where it would lead them but Niall’s future was with Cenn.

That was both exhilarating and a touch scary but Niall would do it on his own terms and with his eyes wide open.

Thanks to Merlin and Nox, Niall had a platoon of magickal beings and humans he could turn to for help.

Niall already had a list of questions but would wait until morning to ask Merlin.

He licked his lips and glanced at the door. “We shouldn’t be rude,” he said, fibbing because his heart—body—wanted to keep the door locked and celebrate with Cenn. “I was making them dinner.”

“Oh, don’t be coy, my love. You want to do something naughty with all those people on the other side of that door.

Let me see it!” Cenn urged and Niall’s gaze fell to the bed.

He saw himself on his back, his head hanging off the edge of the mattress.

Then, he saw Cenn licking his face clean.

“You want your lumberdaddy to flick your throat and come all over that sweet face?”

“Maybe later,” Niall conceded with a grimace at the bags in the sink. They were probably ready to heat and Niall had a feeling Merlin would be happier in the chair by the stove than outside. He could tell by the soft taps on the roof that it was beginning to sprinkle.

“Oglethorpe can camp outside with the rest of them and they can serve themselves,” Cenn said with another snap of his fingers.

The bags and Niall’s chair had disappeared and all the lights in the cabin went out, except for a single candle on the freezer.

“I’m no longer interested in their presence,” he informed Niall, backing him toward the bed.

“Cenn!” Niall squeaked nervously. “We have to be quiet. I like it but they might not and I don’t want to hurt Shelby any worse than we already have.”

Cenn held up a finger and closed his eyes. “Shelby left. He’s wisely deduced that the less he knows about this, the better. But MacIlwraith isn’t finished with Shelby yet, he thinks he has a use for your friend.”

“Really?”

“I predict that Shelby will be embarking on his own mystical adventure soon and he might have a part to play in Dùbhghlas’s undoing.” Cenn raised his brows suggestively, making Niall gasp excitedly.

“Really?” he asked, then bit into his lip warily. “A good adventure or a dangerous adventure? Are you going to have a part in it or do something to make it more difficult for him?”

“Not at all!” Cenn raised his hands innocently. “From now on, I’m staying out of this business between Dùbhghlas and MacIlwraith. I have everything I want, right here in this cabin,” he said as he gathered Niall in his arms, dispensing with their clothes so they were both blissfully naked.

“Or! We could help Nox and Merlin!” Niall suggested and cheered as he bit the end of Cenn’s chin.

He shook his head. “I’m not sure if I want to go over to the bright side. I’ve already given them an advantage. Although, I did tip Dùbhghlas off about MacIlwraith and the changeling’s progress and I may have let something slip about the Badb…” Cenn grinned sheepishly.

“No! That’s bad!” Niall gave Cenn’s chest a disapproving swat. “Why would you do that? And do I want to know what a bive is?” he asked and Cenn snorted.

“You definitely don’t want to know anything about her and I’m still a demon at the end of the day, Niall. I like stirring the pot and I can’t be seen taking sides. The other demons would laugh at me.”

“I was really hoping you’d learn a lesson from all of this,” Niall said with a sigh.

“I did!” Cenn said, nodding. “I won’t underestimate MacIlwraith again, or that team he’s assembled.”

“Do you think they could be strong enough to beat this Dùbhghlas guy?”

“Of course,” Cenn said obviously. “I wouldn’t have switched sides if I thought Dùbhghlas could still win. MacIlwraith could start a Hunt and then we’d have a real war on our hands,” Cenn murmured to himself, his eyes lighting up and glowing blue.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about but I don’t like it,” Niall said scoldingly. “Doesn’t sound at all conducive to you know. ” He tipped his head toward the bed.

“You’re right!” Cenn said quickly and lifted Niall, setting him on his knees. “I already have everything I want.” He tipped Niall’s face back and nibbled on his lips. “I have you and we’re both free.”

“That’s what I’m talking about. Say you’ll give the bright side a chance and we’re back in throat fucking territory!” Niall said, causing a surprised howl to burst from Cenn. “Shhh! We still have to keep it down.”

It took a moment for Cenn to stop laughing. “You are incredible, Niall, and I…” He squeezed an eye shut as if he was trying to remember something or hear something in the distance before he clutched his chest, chuckling softly. “I love you.”

“You love me?” Niall said in a breathless whisper.

Cenn nodded, lowering and angling his head so he could nibble on Niall’s lips.

“More than anything, even the darkness. I didn’t know I could love anything more than that but I had a vision when I was bartering with Dùbhghlas.

I had an empire—a dark world covered with my demonic children.

There was no more MacIlwraith, Oglethorpe, or Dùbhghlas.

Only me and my beautiful army of chaos.”

“No! All of that sounds terrible, Cenn, and I’m glad you came back.”

“I would have played him like a pawn until I had everything I wanted,” Cenn said, sighing sadly. “But I only get one chance with you and I only have the span of a mortal’s lifetime to love you before you go on to eternal glory.”

Niall grabbed Cenn’s face and kissed him, rough and wild, until he was breathless. “I love you, Cenn Cruach. Gods help me, I love you.”

“Are you sure there isn’t any way I could tempt you into becoming a demon? I’d never have to part with you. I could keep you by my side forever,” Cenn said and batted his eyelashes but Niall knew he was joking and would never allow it.

“Definitely not,” Niall said with a quick shake of his head. “I do like the idea of never parting with you and staying by your side. Just not like that.”

“I don’t blame you.” Cenn ended the conversation by tilting his head and sucking the side of Niall’s neck, making him gasp and shiver. “But I will cherish every moment of your beautiful existence while I can.”

Niall’s head fell back and he arched in Cenn’s arms, inviting him to take more. “Perfect. Now, make it filthy,” he panted, his fingers sifting through Cenn’s hair and twisting tight. “And tell me I’m a good boy.”