Page 19 of Demon's Heart

It wasn’t fair to care if Dante had something going on withOnyx, but Ollie couldn’t help it. He had to know if he was on the right track. If he was, it’d be easier to get rid of these stupid warm feelings.

His emotions got so scrambled around Dante. What he wanted and what he felt didn’t match. It was like Dante had some kind of hold over him, which freaked him out. He didn’t want to want Dante. It tempted him to go against his better judgment.

But Ollie wouldn’t. They were friends. That was all.

7

DANTE

“What do you need me for?”Onyx asked in a tight whisper. “Seems like you and Ash have it handled.”

Dante ground his teeth. “We don’t know who we’ll find. How can you assume we’ll have it handled?”

“You two always have it handled. I’m the unnecessary sidekick. There’s no need to rope me into everything.”

Dante stepped in front of Onyx so he couldn’t avoid his stare. “I’m asking for your help.”

Onyx glared, chilling even without the flash of his blue fire. “I’m not ending my night early, so if you want me to come hunting, you’ll have to wait.”

“Fine.” Why was Onyx like this? He’d settled in Shearwater Landing, knowing Dante was here, but every time Dante came to see him about something, it was as if it were the biggest imposition.

If Onyx wanted to avoid Dante, he should have stayed out of reach.

Onyx’s attention snagged on something behind Dante. “Oh great. Harper is bringing his human entourage over. Why does he think I need to meet his friends?”

“He’s trying to get to know you and include you.”

“He is?” Onyx sounded shocked that Harper might care.

“Yes. Try not to think the worst of everyone. You need to get over your grudge against him. He’s going to be around as long as the rest of us.”

Hopefully, Ollie would be too. But Dante didn’t want to explain Ollie being his mate to Onyx, not after realizing their mating might take a different shape than Ash and Harper’s. Onyx wouldn’t get it, and Dante didn’t need his negativity.

“Seeing as my grudge against Ash is as healthy as ever, I don’t see why I have to be buddies with Harper,” Onyx said under his breath as the man in question reached them.

“Hi, Onyx.” Harper beamed like he was pleased to see the blue-haired grump. “I wanted to introduce you to my friend, Dex. He’s an artist.”

Dex laughed shakily. “It’s so great to meet you. My work is more, um, art in everyday objects than anything you’d display here, but I’ve always wanted to visit your gallery. This show is phenomenal.”

Onyx stuck out his hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Dex.” His voice was so professional it was as if he’d been possessed. “I’m glad you’re enjoying the show.”

“I took Tim McKinnon’s class at the university. You’ve shown some of his work, I think.”

Onyx gave Dex a look of pleasant surprise. “I have indeed. I’ve always liked Tim’s pieces. Do you work with ceramics?”

“You know,” Ash muttered in Dante’s ear. “After you realized Ollie was your mate, I half wondered if there might be something there?” He nodded at Onyx and Dex.

Dante’s brows shot up. “Really?”

It didn’t seem like there was any spark between the two other than professional interest. Not to mention Onyx grumbling about meeting Harper’s humans right before he wasintroduced. Surely, if Dex was his mate, Onyx would have felt it as soon as Dex walked into the room. Onyx was too composed to be speaking with his mate for the first time.

Ash hummed a disapproving sound. “It doesn’t appear we’re in luck, which is too bad. A mate might have made Onyx less of a pain.”

Dante elbowed Ash discreetly. “He might be less of a pain if you got off his case.”

Ash shifted away from Dante and slipped his arm around Harper without comment. Damn him.

Dante assessed Onyx and Dex as they spoke, trying to pick up on anything that might be there, but Onyx remained unruffled.