Page 13 of Demon’s Desire (Lovers of the Damned #3)

ONYX

Onyx arrived at the restaurant early and was shown to the table he’d reserved. Ollie and Harper couldn’t be too far away. Once they were here, their Shearwater Landing food tour could officially begin.

Onyx ordered sparkling water for the table and opened the menu.

As kept happening that day, Nico intruded on his thoughts. He’d been so awkward about Onyx protecting his apartment. It should have been annoying, but was kind of adorable. Too bad Nico hadn’t said what caused him to be so jumpy.

Maybe it was nothing, and Onyx shouldn’t care. The witch could take care of himself. But Onyx hated not knowing. Hopefully, if he teased Nico about being afraid of cats enough, he’d give in and tell Onyx the real problem to shut him up.

“This place looks nice.”

Onyx glanced up, finding a beaming Harper approaching the table, closely followed by Ollie.

Ollie pulled out a chair. “I love sushi. It’s the perfect way to start our tour.”

“Couldn’t agree more.” Onyx put down his menu and smiled at the little mates, feeling even mushier than usual.

“I’ve only had sushi a couple of times,” Harper confessed. He wore eyeliner and what looked like mascara, making his eyes pop behind his glasses. Onyx hadn’t ever seen Harper wear makeup before.

“You’ll love this place. We can get a little of everything.” Onyx reached across the table and tapped Harper’s shoulder gently. “You’re looking good, by the way. The liner suits you.”

Harper’s cheeks bloomed red. “Thanks. I’m—uh—playing around with it.”

“As you should. Trying out different styles never gets old, especially as the decades go by.” Onyx was still in his work clothes, a designer T-shirt and distressed jeans. He went back and forth between business casual and not, depending on his mood. At least at work.

Harper leaned forward. “What’s your favorite style?”

“At the moment?” Onyx considered. “Nothing dinner appropriate.”

Harper’s eyes went wide, and Ollie snorted.

“I’m kidding. Kind of.” Onyx was at his most free when he was wearing as little as possible. Contrary to what his brothers might think. “I like using clothes to fit in with human society. They help shape how they see me.”

Harper seemed fascinated. It was the longest the two of them had ever talked without Onyx ruining it. “You like dressing human?”

Onyx willed his cheeks not to heat. “Yeah, maybe that sounds dumb, but I want to feel like I’m a part of their world, not just passing through.”

Harper nodded as if this made sense. “You’re so much better adjusted to the real world than Ash or Dante. I swear I have to remind Ash to put on a shirt every time we go out.”

It was true. Onyx’s brothers seemed happy to sit apart from humanity.

“They’ve been more involved with humans in the past than they are these days,” Onyx admitted. It was hard when human friends died, or had to be left behind so they didn’t notice the demons not aging, but Onyx never let that keep him away.

“Speaking of humans, how’s your artist friend?” Onyx asked Ollie.

Ollie’s dimples popped as he smiled. “Dex is good. I’d love to bring him to your next opening, if that’s cool?”

“Consider it done. I’ll send you both formal invitations.” Onyx basked in Ollie’s string of thank yous.

They turned to the menus, and dinner flew by in a whirl of delicious food. If Nico had been there—wait—why was Onyx thinking about Nico? He’d seen him yesterday. His addiction to the man seemed less like a joke all of a sudden.

As they left the restaurant, Onyx booked a ride home for the mates.

Harper seemed disappointed that dinner was over. “Next time we have to go out when we aren’t working in the morning.”

“Deal.” Onyx gave him and Ollie an evil grin. “We can add a nightlife tour to our schedule.”

“Yes, oh my gosh, we have to.” Harper bounced on the balls of his feet. He had so much joyous energy, it was amazing. “Oh! How did you like Rowan’s club last night?”

Onyx’s stomach swooped. “What?”

“Nico said he was taking you to poker night.” Harper waggled his eyebrows.

Ollie made a pleasantly surprised sound. “He did?”

Onyx crossed his arms. It wasn’t like he had anything to be embarrassed about, so he pushed the feeling away. “Poker was dreadful, though I’ll admit, Rowan runs a good show. No one at the club had any complaints about him.”

Ollie’s brow furrowed. “You were asking around?”

Onyx shrugged. “We don’t really know the guy.”

“True.” Harper rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m glad the dancers don’t hate him.”

Ollie elbowed Harper in the side. “You and Ash going back again?”

Harper’s cheeks flushed. “Yeah, but after watching everyone perform, I think I want to take pole dancing lessons.”

“You should.” Onyx loved how outgoing Harper was, even when he was bashful about it.

Ollie nodded his encouragement.

These little mates were going to be fun. They’d do Onyx’s miserable brothers good.

“I’ll keep you guys posted,” Harper promised as the car pulled up.

The boys climbed in, and Onyx headed toward the nearest subway station. The train didn’t cross the river, but he felt like a walk. He’d ride it as far as it went and take the footbridge.

Onyx zoned out, on autopilot as he moved through the night. He didn’t mind the harsh lights of the subway or the drunk people singing in his car. Cities were the only place for him, where masses of people meant something was always happening.

The night air turned cool as he exited the underground station. Onyx walked lazily, not in any rush to get back to his empty loft.

He crossed the bridge, pausing to look out at the water. The idea of a pet nagged at him. He needed something. Ignoring the hollow longing that had taken up residence inside him never worked for more than a few hours. And if he got a cat, he could use it to tease Nico about his fictional fear.

Onyx smiled to himself, a garden of tangled feelings blooming in his chest, delicate and open, but with a razor edge, like he was afraid of where this change in him had come from.

Someone stepped up to the railing beside him. “Brother.”

Onyx froze. Lucifer loomed next to him, taller even than Ash.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Onyx hissed.

Luc had never sought him out on his previous trips to this realm. Only Ash and Dante.

Onyx pretended that didn’t hurt. It shouldn’t, when he never wanted to see his brother’s obnoxious face again.

“I wanted to talk to you,” Luc said, voice low and concerned.

Onyx’s rage bubbled like a cauldron about to explode. “Like fuck you do. Did you forget that the first time you saw me in two hundred years, you cursed me, knocked me unconscious, and left me on the fucking floor?”

“Onyx.” Luc laid a hand on his shoulder.

“No.” Onyx jerked away, glaring at his brother’s familiar chiseled face and tumbling night-black hair. “Don’t use that placating tone with me. Don’t fucking act like I’m making shit up.”

“I’m not. I’m sorry I cursed you, but I had to get away.” Pain lined Luc’s eyes, which were brown rather than flaming red. He looked like a damned runway model—beautifully human—in a sleek black coat that was completely inappropriate for summer.

“You’re sorry, but. Story of my life, Luc.”

“Onyx, I get that you’re mad. We still need to talk. That’s why I came to you.”

“No, you came because I’m the only one you could be sure wouldn’t try to kill you on sight.”

Lucifer grimaced, his fine features twisting in a way that almost looked regretful. He was a master of emotion. A master of faking it. Lying.

“Leave us alone, Luc.” Onyx took a step backward. “If you aren’t trying to drag us back into your shit—”

“Then what? You won’t imprison me?”

Onyx held his tongue. He should call Dante, but he hesitated.

“I need your help, Onyx. Please.” Luc took two steps forward, bringing them too close together, and grabbed Onyx’s upper arms, his touch deceptively gentle.

“H-help?” Onyx spluttered. He couldn’t believe the nerve. “You want my help? Maybe you should have considered that before—oh, I don’t know—every single thing you’ve done in your life.”

“You can’t blame everything on me. You chose to fall.”

Onyx’s fire burned, and Luc’s wince told him he felt the sting.

“I’ve wronged you,” Luc continued in a rush. “I’m sorry. Can’t you believe I want to make things right?”

“No.” Onyx pulled from Luc’s grasp. “Stop trying to manipulate me. Just stop. Leave me alone!”

Luc ran a hand roughly through his hair, leaving it disheveled. He glanced around the empty bridge. He seemed jittery. Worried. Anxious even. Onyx caught himself, remembering not to believe any of it.

Then Luc disappeared. In a blink, he was gone.

Onyx’s eyes burned, his vision blurring. “Fuck you, you miserable shit!” he screamed at the deserted spot where his brother had stood. His fire burned even hotter, and he sucked in a ragged breath.

Stupidly, he felt abandoned all over again, irrationally mad that Luc was gone even when Onyx had never wanted to see him in the first place.

Casting an invisibility illusion over himself, he ripped off his shirt, freed his wings, and shot into the sky.