Page 9 of Demon’s Desire (Lovers of the Damned #3)

“No.” Onyx frowned. “Not really my thing.”

Nico wasn’t surprised. “Ollie plays, right?” Harper had mentioned Ollie and Dante being into the game when Nico had brought it up the other day.

“Yeah,” Onyx agreed, like he wasn’t sure he wanted to give out the information.

“He should join us,” Leo said without pause. “What side does Ollie play?”

Nico would love to include Ollie and get to know him better. “I’ll have to ask.”

Dante might not want to join if he were trying to keep his identity under wraps, but no one in the Valero Coven would take advantage of his trust. Besides, they’d only see his World’s End character.

Onyx regarded Leo with newfound distaste, as if he didn’t like the turn in the conversation. Was he being protective of Ollie? He didn’t say anything or threaten Leo, and it wasn’t as if politeness would hold him back.

Maybe it was something else.

A theory formed in Nico’s mind. “Are you sure gaming’s not your thing?”

Onyx narrowed his eyes. “I’ve never actually tried it.”

“If you want, you’re welcome at my place any time. Who knows, give it a go and you might enjoy it.”

Leo’s brows lifted. Yeah, Nico never invited anyone over, so what?

“I don’t know. It sounds dumb.” Onyx shifted his stance, almost nervously. “Why pretend to have powers when I can shoot fire from my fingertips?”

The warmth seeping into his tone didn’t match his dismissive words. It seemed like he’d been jealous of Leo inviting Ollie to play, and was mollified by Nico’s counter-offer. Not that the brat would admit it.

“Gaming’s no dumber than any other hobby,” Leo grumbled.

Onyx shrugged carelessly. “Not that you can control immortal fire. So what would you know?”

Leo shook his head and went to grab a drink from the bar in the corner of the room just as Rowan appeared in the doorway with Cecile, a tiny, lethal woman in charge of the coven’s information gathering. Emile, Rowan’s main enforcer, followed close behind.

“Onyx, welcome back.” Rowan clasped Onyx’s hand with a smile. “Let me introduce you to Cecile and Emile Valero.”

Onyx greeted the other vampires with a frosty politeness.

Rowan’s coven, like most vampire covens, wasn’t based around mortal family ties the way witches’ covens were. Members took the Valero surname upon joining, but only Rowan’s children, to whom he’d gifted immortal life, were blood-bound to him.

Like the witches Harper grew up with, some vampire covens required members to swear blood loyalty upon joining, but Rowan didn’t believe in forced connection.

Felix, Rowan’s other enforcer, drifted into the room and was introduced. Everyone found seats at the table, with Nico situating himself next to Onyx.

Onyx wasn’t aware, but Rowan had brought his three most powerful and trusted coven members. This wasn’t their usual poker crowd.

“Can I get anyone else a drink?” Leo sounded nervous, likely having made the same observations as Nico.

“You’re off duty, Leo. Relax. You aren’t tending the bar tonight.” Rowan pulled two cigars from his inner suit pocket and passed one to Cecile. “You don’t mind, do you?” he asked Onyx.

“I’m not exactly worried about second-hand smoke.”

Rowan smiled. “I suppose not. Would you like one?”

“Go on.” Onyx held out a delicate hand, palm up, faint blue veins standing out against the pale skin of his wrist.

Rowan passed him a cigar. Putting it to his lips, Onyx lit it with a flash of blue fire.

Everyone stared. Fire was no vampire’s friend, and no other magical being could conjure it from nothing.

The demon cut a smug look at Nico.

Nico shook his head, heat blooming in his chest. Fuck, Onyx looked hot when he was pleased with himself, those blue eyes shining, promising wickedness, and the slightest hint of a blush on his sharp cheeks.

Being around Onyx gave Nico a thrill. He was more aware of his body than usual, all his reactions bordering on primal, as if his subconscious recognized the predator in Onyx, yet wanted to move closer rather than flee.

What would it be like to master Onyx and coax sweet sounds from those snarky lips?

Rowan dealt. Usually, one of his employees oversaw the table and Rowan played, but this wasn’t a regular game, and even though all the casino employees were aware of the magic world, many weren’t in Rowan’s coven, and couldn’t learn Onyx’s true nature.

Nico should have considered that before inviting Onyx last minute. A pang of guilt settled in his gut. What if Rowan had wanted to relax tonight?

They played the first few hands quietly, not talking more than was necessary to keep the game moving.

The atmosphere remained tense. This wasn’t exactly what Nico meant to invite Onyx to.

He’d hoped for more fun, but of course, Rowan wouldn’t relax around Onyx until they were better acquainted, if Rowan ever relaxed around him at all.

Maybe Nico shouldn’t be so comfortable around the demon, but nothing he’d learned had led him to believe that the furious being he’d first met was the real Onyx.

That wasn’t the whole picture. Nico wanted to connect the dots between that Onyx and the one who got jealous of Ollie being invited to play video games.

“So, has our return caused a big stir?” Onyx asked as he folded his cards, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Are you gathering your allies to strategize, preparing to counter our play for dominance?”

Damnation, did he have to be so abrasive? Maybe the furious Onyx was closer to the real him. He didn’t exactly try to get along with anyone. At least not from what Nico had seen.

Rowan’s turn was next, and he folded, tossing his cards into the middle of the table.

“I’ve informed the covens I’m on the best terms with.

Word hasn’t gone wide enough to cause a stir, and since you gave no indication that demons wanted to dominate the magic community, I have no reason to move against you. ”

“Maybe not. But that doesn’t mean you aren’t. Are you really going to take my word for it and do nothing? You believe me when I say you won’t notice most demons?”

Rowan raised a shoulder in a half-shrug. “Being prepared for all potential scenarios is always best.”

“In other words, I suspected correctly.” Onyx puffed on his cigar. “It’s like you’ve forgotten demons have been in this city longer than your coven, and you didn’t notice or have any trouble.”

“Not every one of your kind is going to spend their energy making a name for themselves trading paintings.”

“Of course not,” Onyx snapped as if he thought Rowan was taking a dig at him. “But there will be more demons interested in the arts than in magic world politics.”

“And finding their mates, right?” Leo cut it. He’d never liked tension. “It doesn’t seem so bad if demons are going to be focused on finding partners. Onyx is right, most of the magic world probably won’t even notice the demons’ return if that’s all they’re doing.”

“You make it seem like demons keep to themselves, Onyx.” Nico had to agree, even if he worried that the transition was bound to be rocky.

Onyx waved his cigar. “Why wouldn’t we? You all aren’t as interesting as you think.”

Cecile snorted, a hand covering her mouth.

“So, how does finding your mate work?” Leo asked.

Onyx blew out a plume of smoke. “Who knows? Magic, fate? I don’t care.”

“You don’t?” Leo smiled like it was a joke, then his face fell. “How can you not care? Mates are why you came here in the first place.”

Onyx’s eyes glowed behind the wafting cigar smoke. “What do you know about why I do anything?”

“Sorry. I suppose I don’t.” Leo looked away.

Onyx set his cigar in an ashtray at the center of the table and stood. “It seems I’m killing the party. Why don’t I leave so you all can relax? Unless your poker nights are always this fun. In which case, I’d rather spend my time with humans.”

“Wait.” Nico stood, but Onyx was already through the door. Nico followed him into the hall. “Do you always have to get under everyone’s skin?”

Onyx stopped. “Yeah, pretty much.”

“Why?”

He turned, eyes glowing with blue flame. “Because I can, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.”

That was true. As a powerful immortal, Onyx could get away with anything, but Nico swore he’d said it as if he was begging someone to try and stop him. Was that what he wanted? To be included even when he pushed people away? Did he want someone to challenge him?

Nico stepped forward until they were chest to chest. He peered into Onyx’s stony face. “Sounds like someone needs to teach you some manners.”

Onyx took a step back, mouth open in offence, eyes flaming brighter, casting that eerie glow on his cheeks. “Like who? You? Try me, witch.”

My fucking pleasure.

Onyx’s power flared, electrifying the air, but it didn’t scare Nico like it had on the rooftop. Onyx was so full of emotion, it was beautiful, enticing, practically pulling Nico into his orbit. Onyx’s dark lashes framed his glowing gaze, and Nico wondered how they’d look fanned out on his cheeks.

What would Onyx look like when he let his emotions fly without the barrier of his indignation?

“Why does talking about mates bother you so much?”

Onyx clenched his fists, fire sparking, voice barely audible as he spat, “Because I don’t need one.”

Was that true? Was a mate not what Onyx wanted? The way he said it was different than his other protests, suggesting he didn’t always want to be challenged.

Nico raised his hands in surrender. “Okay.”

“Okay?” Onyx’s cheeks flushed, fire dimming, the blue that remained transforming his blush from pink to lavender.

Had Nico guessed right? He wanted to prove he could recognize when Onyx was goading versus setting an actual boundary. “Yeah, I hear you. You aren’t interested in mates the way other demons are. If talking about it bothers you, I won’t bring it up.”

Onyx’s fire went out, but he covered his apparent surprise with a sneer. “Damnation, you always have to be so reasonable.”

Nico scratched the stubble lining his chin. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

Onyx made a frustrated gesture with his hand. “It’s annoying.”

Yeah, he’d read Onyx correctly. “So it’s annoying when I don’t understand and say things that bother you, but also annoying when I try not to?”

“Yes, keep up. You’re insufferable no matter what you do.”

Nico bit back a smile and dammit if Onyx didn’t too. “You like that I’m annoying.”

Onyx looked comically horrified. “Eww, no, I don’t. I like when you leave me alone.”

“Liar,” Nico teased, and Onyx actually grinned, anger seemingly forgotten.

Then his face closed off, fury snapping back into place. “Whatever. I’m going back downstairs.” Where he could get the uncomplicated attention from humans he apparently preferred.

Nico hoped Onyx enjoyed showering the dancers with money as much as he seemed to. “All right, I need to speak to Rowan.”

Onyx turned up his nose. “I don’t care. I wasn’t asking you to join me.” And with that, he left.

Nico scrubbed a hand over his face. He was sure Onyx wanted him to follow. In fact, saying he wasn’t inviting Nico was practically a formal invitation, at least based on everything Nico had seen of the demon.

But why did Nico want to follow? He wasn’t trying to win Onyx over. He didn’t need to be on good terms with him in order to look out for Harper and Ollie, and Onyx wasn’t exactly helping spread the word about demons or manage the fallout.

That didn’t stop Nico from wanting to get through to Onyx and break down his walls. Nico wanted to show Onyx he didn’t have to push him away. He wanted… Nico wasn’t sure. To make Onyx smile. To feel that crackle between them. That excitement.

Onyx’s retreating form pulled on Nico like a magnet. Being around him was oddly enticing. Nico wanted Onyx despite it being a bad idea.

He craved the challenge Onyx presented. Nico was sure he could teach the imp a lesson, get to the bottom of what the demon really needed, and that both he and Onyx would more than enjoy the process.

But that wasn’t his priority right now. Nico hurried back to the private room.