Page 34 of Demon’s Desire (Lovers of the Damned #3)

ONYX

Onyx tore through the sky so fast, the city blurred.

“Nico!” he shouted into the phone. There was no response.

If Nico was at the shop, it couldn’t be Luc. He’d said nightbrush. The damn herb was deadly to any mortal. It killed humans in minutes. A witch had a little longer due to the magic in their blood, but not long enough.

Onyx’s chest constricted, pain radiating through his body.

Nico couldn’t die.

I want to be your mate.

Oh, hellfire. Flying at superhuman speed wasn’t the only reason the world blurred. Onyx’s tears whipped in the wind.

Why hadn’t he gone to lurk on The Herb Emporium roof? If Nico died because Onyx was more concerned about spiting Ash and not giving away a single one of his feelings than caring for Nico, Onyx would never forgive himself.

He’d follow Nico to the Realm of the Damned of course. But his mate deserved better than to spend eternity in that wretched place.

Even if they bonded, Onyx didn’t think he’d be able to bring Nico back to the Human Realm. That wasn’t how mortal souls worked. Nothing could bring a witch back to Earth once the magic in their blood robbed them of the ability to reincarnate.

Onyx had to save Nico.

His mate.

He was a fool for being afraid and denying them both the chance to embrace the truth.

Onyx landed on the sidewalk in front of The Herb Emporium with a crash, cracking the pavement under his shoes. He tore the door open and burst inside, knocking over a table full of candles.

Nico wasn’t here.

“Nico!” Onyx raced through the shop, wings catching on the shelves until he retracted them. “Nico!”

Onyx rounded the counter and saw his mate slumped on the floor, his phone lying beside him, hand outstretched.

Onyx dropped to his knees. Nico’s skin was ashen, his eyes closed. Onyx grabbed his hand, finding it clammy and cold.

“Nico, I’m here. I’ll save you.”

Nico’s fingers twitched, and he moaned.

Oh shit. Oh shit. What if he was too late?

Onyx scrambled, his heart beating such a frantic rhythm that it was bound to burst. He brought Nico’s wrist to his lips and bit down, fangs extended.

Sucking the poison from Nico’s blood was the only way to stop the nightbrush. The herb couldn’t hurt Onyx. He’d metabolize the poison, but he had to get it all out to save his mate.

Nico’s blood was thick and bitter. Onyx pressed a hand to Nico’s chest, using magic to call the poison toward him and away from Nico’s vital organs. What if it had spread too far already? Did they have enough time to perform the mating spell before Nico died?

As he drank down gulps of poisoned blood, Onyx cut his wrist and pressed it to Nico’s mouth. His blood would help Nico heal and give them more time.

Onyx trembled. It wasn’t enough. Nico was limp and cold, but Onyx couldn’t speak the ancient binding words to mate them while he drank Nico’s ruined blood. He’d have to give up on the poison and put all his hope in mating and the magic of the bond saving Nico.

He couldn’t bring himself to tear his lips from Nico’s wrist.

Nico jolted beneath him. Fuck, he was convulsing. It was too late! Onyx closed his eyes against a fresh wave of tears. His heart burst into flames and crumbled to ash. He had to pull back and perform the mating spell, praying it worked in time.

A hand closed around Onyx’s wrist. Onyx opened his eyes. Nico clutched the hand feeding him, his throat working as he drank Onyx’s blood.

Nico’s eyelids fluttered.

Onyx could have collapsed with relief. Nico was healing. Poison filled Onyx’s mouth, but Onyx’s blood gave Nico strength with every passing second. Onyx called more poison toward him, and his throat burned with it, but it was no match for his demon healing.

Nico met Onyx’s stare, his eyes bloodshot and hazy.

My mate. I’m sorry.

Onyx would have shouted the apology if he dared pull his lips from Nico’s wrist.

Seconds seemed to drag by, taking an eternity. This was longer than the thousand years Onyx had spent in Hell. He gripped Nico’s wrist tight enough to bruise, not allowing his mate to slip away. Nico’s hold tightened in turn, eyes not leaving Onyx as tears fell down his already damp cheeks.

At last, Nico’s blood began to clear. His citrus scent flared, and the earthy taste of orange burst on Onyx’s tongue.

As if he felt the last of the poison leave, Nico pulled Onyx’s wrist from his mouth. “Onyx, I…” He choked on a sob. “I’m not dead.”

Onyx’s eyes flashed. One more swallow of Nico’s clear-tasting blood, and he withdrew his fangs. “You’re not allowed to die.”

Nico smiled. Still clutching Onyx’s wrist, he brought Onyx’s hand to his cheek and nuzzled his palm.

Onyx’s chest burst with sizzling energy, filling like a balloon. He stroked Nico’s rough jaw, his body’s renewed warmth the best feeling in all the realms.

“Tell me who I have to kill.” Onyx should have led with something sweet, but his fire burned, not dampened in the slightest. He understood Dante’s rage after Ollie’s attack like he never had before.

Nico rubbed his cheek against Onyx’s hand and muttered, “Emmett Orlov.”

Who the ever-loving fuck was that? How dare some random nobody attempt to take Nico away. “What’s going on, Nico? Why did Emmett poison you?”

“To send a message to Rowan.”

Onyx tasted smoke. Seemed the vampire had made his shit list after all.

“Onyx, please.” Nico kissed his hand. “Can I explain later?”

He sounded exhausted. Of course revenge wasn’t immediately important, but it was easier than facing what had almost happened.

Emotion clogged Onyx’s throat. This had been too close, and it wasn’t even Luc. Onyx pulled Nico against him, burying Nico’s face in the crook of his neck and hooking his chin over Nico’s head.

“Don’t suffocate me,” Nico murmured, even though his arms wrapped tightly around Onyx.

Onyx swallowed, and his voice still came out thick. “Shut up. I’ll do whatever I want. You scared the hell out of me, Nico. I’m so sorry I wasn’t here. You—” His voice broke. “You said you wouldn’t leave me.”

Nico whined and clutched Onyx tighter. “I won’t. I’m sorry.”

Shit, Onyx sucked. “No, don’t be sorry. I shouldn’t make this about me, but I need you. If I’d accepted that, this never would have happened. Please forgive me.” Onyx trembled, and it turned into a shiver, racing through his body. Once it started, he couldn’t seem to stop.

Nico pulled back and looked up. “Forgive you for what? I knew you needed me, and I was happy to wait to hear you say it. Telling me wouldn’t have stopped this.”

Onyx choked on a half-laugh, half-sob, and Nico smiled. “I wanted to be here today, but I wouldn’t let myself come.” Damnation, it sounded so petty now. So juvenile.

“You wanted to be here?” The hope in Nico’s eyes broke Onyx’s soul in two.

I want to be your mate. The desperate words rang in Onyx’s ears, so full of regret and longing. Nico’s dying wish.

And Onyx could grant it.

“I always want to be with you. You’re mine, Nico—my mate—and that scares the living daylights out of me. I’m not brave, and I almost lost you because of it. I’m sorry. I let everything else get in the way.”

Nico tangled a hand in Onyx’s hair. “I’m your mate? You’re sure?” It was like he hadn’t heard anything else. His eyes shone bright with tender hope.

“Yes, Nico. You’re my mate.”

Nico tightened his hold on Onyx’s hair and pulled Onyx down to meet him. Onyx fell into it like it was the only real thing he’d ever done in his life.

Their lips brushed, Nico’s soft yet firm. He took command of the kiss, stubble scraping Onyx’s cheeks. Onyx’s mouth fell open, and he breathed in Nico’s deep citrus scent. Nico’s tongue delved into his mouth, bringing with it a sense of possession, of security.

They’d never kissed before. Not on the lips. Why the hell hadn’t they?

Kissing pushed Onyx off a cliff he hadn’t realized he was on the edge of. He fell, and it was like flying above the clouds in the Eternal Realm. Only better. He soared, his soul vibrating in tune with Nico, who flew alongside him.

Their lips danced, and the connection between them bloomed.

Their bond knitted together, thrumming and writhing. Onyx’s skin tingled. He had his mate. He had Nico.