Page 21 of Demon's Heart

Dante and Ollie were fated mates. There must be a way to bond on their terms. If Ollie chose to accept.

Would the mating spell work without physical intimacy? Dante wouldn’t be able to have sex with Ollie without it carrying a romantic attachment. But perhaps sex wasn’t as vital to the mating ritual as blood exchange or the incantation. He’d always assumed it was, but that didn’t mean he was correct.

Ash scratched his head where his horns would be. “I’ve never considered a platonic mating bond.”

“Me either, but maybe we should. My feelings for Ollie are still so new. I assumed they’d grow in a romantic direction, but that doesn’t mean they will. I don’t know Ollie yet. All I know is that I’m drawn to him and will do anything for him. I have to wait and see. Be open to different possibilities.”

“Of course you’ll do anything for him.” Ash smiled, and Dante felt warmth radiating off him. “It already sounds like you know what your mate needs. So, what are you and Ollie going to do together when you call him? He doesn’t play that silly game, does he?”

Dante huffed. “World’s Endisn’t silly. It’s critically acclaimed, and since Ollie likes gaming, I’m sure he won’t think it’s silly either.” It was Dante’s favorite game, and he wasn’t alone. Millions of people playedWorld’s Endonline.

“Sorry.” Ash rolled his eyes. “I don’t know how you can play that crap.”

“Crap?Like you can talk. I don’t know how you played hunter in the woods for decades. Talk about ridiculous.”

“At least I was an actual hunter. Notpretendingto hunt on a computer screen.”

“If thinking that makes you feel better, then sure, Ash.” Dante shook his head, smiling.

Ash grinned back, and they fell into a companionable silence. Ash’s hassling never bothered Dante. They’d always be there for each other. No matter what. And sometimes Dante needed to be reminded he took things too seriously.

The night went on around them, and eventually, the gallery cleared out.

“There’s an after-party,” Onyx said as he closed the door behind the last guest.

Ash crossed his arms. “Not tonight. I want to confront this demon before they make another move.”

Onyx dropped his head back like a petulant child. “Fine. Spoilsport.”

Ash turned and headed up the stairs.

Dante grabbed Onyx’s wrist as he walked by. “Thank you.”

“Yeah, like I have a choice.” Onyx stomped after Ash, and Dante followed.

They exited Onyx’s office window and climbed to the roof. Dante unbuttoned his shirt and shrugged it off his shoulders, freeing his wings. Ash did the same, adjusting his waistband as his tail unwound from his hips. He and Dante turned in unison to face Onyx.

He glared. “Do you have to stare at me?”

“We haven’t seen your wings in a while,” Ash said without his usual Onyx-induced annoyance.

“As I’ve said, I don’t need to go around shirtless for no reason like you two.” Onyx unbuttoned his shirt and slid it off, baring his slim body.

The nipple piercings were new. Onyx’s eyes flashed with blue fire and wings erupted from his back, feathers a deep midnight blue at his shoulders, fading to light blue at his wingtips.

Onyx flexed his wings, ruffling his feathers, then cracked his neck. “Ready?”

“Let’s go.” Dante suppressed a smile, gesturing for Ash to lead the way.

Ash leaped into the air, and Dante and Onyx followed. Onyx left his horns and tail hidden, but so had Dante. It was uncomfortable flying with pants on and your tail out.

A sudden longing for the clothes in the Eternal Realm, designed to accommodate their tails, hit Dante in the chest.

Shirts had never been common among Eternals so their wings hadn’t been an issue. Neither had human modesty, which was why Onyx’s comments about his and Ash’s lack of shirts didn’t make sense. Bare chests were normal for their kind, even in the Realm of the Damned.

“What did you think of Dex?” Ash called over his shoulder as they flew across the city toward the waterfront, made invisible to any onlookers by their illusions.

Onyx didn’t respond right away. He cut a confused look at Dante, then back at Ash. “You’re asking me?”