Page 13

DANTE

Dante arrived at the beach early. It was inevitable after itching with anticipation all day. Ollie was meeting him half an hour before sunset, and it couldn’t come soon enough.

It was too bad he couldn’t take Ollie into the reserve.

The birds would be happy to let him get close.

Dante’s enchantment made them more accustomed to interacting with humans than normal seabirds.

But Dante couldn’t take Ollie to the clifftop and reveal his house. No one was supposed to live up there.

One day, he’d be able to show Ollie his home. When they’d been friends long enough, Dante would reveal magic to Ollie and tell him who he really was. Then he could fly Ollie to the clifftop and show him the home he’d built for them.

Would Ollie ever want to live there with Dante? Ash lived with him, so maybe Ollie would too, regardless of how their bond grew.

“Hey,” a familiar voice called from down the beach.

A grin spread across Dante’s face as he spotted Ollie. “You’re early.”

“So are you.” Ollie walked along the sand until he reached Dante. “It’s such a nice day that I came for a walk.”

They stood at the north end of the shore, right before it turned rocky.

Ollie looked out at the ocean, shielding his eyes against the low sun.

He wore a sleeveless top and shorts and held sandals in his other hand.

The sunlight warmed his pale skin, giving him a golden sun-kissed glow.

Freckles dusted his shoulders and Dante’s fingers tingled with the urge to brush them.

Ollie tilted his face skyward. “I’ve kept my eyes out, but I think all the birds I’ve spotted are seagulls.”

“You’re probably right. It’s a bit soon for the shearwaters to be heading in.” Dante could call the birds home at any time but didn’t want their behavior to seem unnatural to Ollie.

The sea breeze carried Ollie’s fresh sandalwood scent, bathing Dante in a wave of pure bliss. He breathed deeply. Bonding with his mate over the past two weeks had felt right, even when they hadn’t been physically together.

Being near Ollie now, taking this next step, made their connection stronger.

“I should come out to the beach more.” Ollie dug his toes into the sand. “It feels good getting outside, like I’m buzzing with energy.”

“Me too.” It was probably their bond rather than the beach, but the setting didn’t hurt. “I don’t come down here as often as I should. With all my time spent on the cliffs, I forget other outdoor places exist.”

“Then let’s explore. Think there’s any tidepools over there?” Ollie pointed toward the rocks.

“I’d say so. The tide is going out.”

“Perfect. Come on.” Ollie set his sandals on a rock. Climbing onto the one beside it, he headed toward the waterline.

Dante followed.

The water glittered before them, shining all around Ollie. Dante drank in the sight. His mate lit his world, shining with curiosity and bringing joy to everything he and Dante did together.

“Here’s one,” Ollie called with an almost childlike excitement.

Dante came to stand beside him. “What have we got?”

“A few anemones, but not much else.” Ollie carefully walked around the tidepool, avoiding patches of seaweed and barnacles clinging to the rocks. “Looks like there’s a bigger one over there.” He pointed up the rocky beach.

“Seems promising.”

Dante walked beside Ollie as he navigated the rocks. He could have easily run along the uneven surface with superhuman speed, but Ollie was taking measured steps, clearly concentrating on maintaining his balance.

Ollie glanced sideways at Dante. “I feel like climbing on rocks was easier when I was a kid.”

“It probably was?—”

Ollie suddenly lost his balance, his foot slipping. Dante caught Ollie around the waist, steadying him before he fell. Ollie leaned into him.

“Saved you,” Dante teased.

Ollie swatted his arm. “So chivalrous.” He rolled his eyes, his hand lingering on Dante’s skin, heat radiating from the spot. Ollie cleared his throat. “But really, thank you. I don’t need a sprained ankle. I totally jinxed myself.”

“You’re most welcome. I don’t want you getting hurt when I can’t heal you by sharing my health.”

“Dork.” Ollie shook with laughter, nothing but affection in his eyes.

Dante gave Ollie a quick squeeze and released him at the same time Ollie pulled away. Pink stained Ollie’s cheeks. Fuck, he looked so lovely in the golden light, blond hair and hazel eyes shining as bright as the glittering water.

Dante could have kissed him. He cleared his throat. “Is there anything in particular you’re hoping to see in the tidepools?”

Ollie blinked like the question shook him out of a daze. “A starfish would be sweet. Come on, we better hurry before the sun sets.”

Dante let Ollie walk ahead, pretending he needed to go slower to navigate the rocks so he could put some distance between them.

Being Ollie’s friend made him happy—it felt right—but kissing and sex had always been tied to Dante’s romantic feelings, and he shouldn’t let his thoughts stray in that direction unless Ollie said that was what he wanted.

This was still so new. Adjusting to a potentially platonic mate and shaking off old assumptions would take time, but it would work out.

Dante had to remain open to all possibilities and see where fate took them.

A ways ahead, Ollie stooped to examine the tide pool. “Wow, this anemone is huge!”

His vibrant energy was contagious, filling Dante to the brim. “Any starfish?”

“No.” Ollie didn’t sound disappointed. “There’s a bunch of little hermit crabs or snails or something. They’ve got little pointy shells. Come see.”

A crack like thunder ripped through the air, stopping Dante in his tracks. The space behind Ollie shimmered, the view distorting, and a figured appeared out of nowhere.

A tall, familiar figure with curling red horns and dark-red wings.

Dante’s demon blood ran cold.

Ollie flinched. “What was that sound?”

As he rose from his crouched position, Lucifer grabbed Ollie’s hair and forced him back down. Ollie’s knees hit the rocks lining the pool, and he thrashed, fear lining his face as he grabbed at Lucifer, trying to pull himself free.

“ Dante! ”

“ Ollie! ” Dante’s chest seized. He shot forward at an inhuman speed.

“Stop,” Lucifer warned, his tone calm, reminding Dante of pain and darkness. “Don’t come any closer, or I’ll crush his skull.”

There was no doubt Luc would. Dante stopped even though everything in him screamed not to. He was still too far away.

Ollie whimpered, his frightened gaze locked on Dante.

“Luc, what are you doing here?” Dante’s demon features screamed to come out, wings burning his back and tail strangling his waist.

His mate was in danger.

He had to get to Ollie, but Lucifer could kill Ollie with magic or his bare hands faster than Dante could reach him. Inhuman speed wasn’t an advantage if your enemy possessed it too.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck .

Why was this happening?

Dante’s phone buzzed in his pocket, probably Ash warning him he’d felt Luc leave the Realm of the Damned.

“I hope this goes better than our last meeting,” Lucifer drawled, suddenly casual. Dante didn’t buy the change in mood. “What’s this I’ve found?” He shook Ollie by the hair until Ollie made a sound of protest.

Lucifer yanked Ollie to standing and pulled him close, Ollie’s back flush against his chest. “Have we a human plaything?”

Ollie’s eyes left Dante as he strained to see over his shoulder. “What’s going on? Who are you? Please. I’ll do what you want if you let me go.”

Lucifer laughed, cruelty rolling through the air.

Could a lightning spell take out Luc without hitting Ollie? No. What a dumb idea. Any energy would flow through Luc and kill him. Fuck . How had this happened? Dante never should have left Ollie’s side.

The distance between them felt unfathomable.

All had been quiet. No one had hurt his birds, no news of any other demons, and no sign of Luc. Dante had become complacent.

“Luc, what are you doing? I’m happy to talk. No tricks this time. Your quarrel isn’t with Ollie. Let him leave, and we can deal with things between us.”

Ollie’s gaze slid back to Dante, a tremble wracking his body. What did he think was going on? Had he glimpsed Lucifer’s wings or horns? He must be so scared.

Dante’s heart burned. This couldn’t be happening. He needed to get to Ollie, but Luc didn’t make idle threats. If Dante came closer, Luc wouldn’t hesitate to kill him.

“I don’t want to let him go,” Luc whined. “If I do, you’ll shock me and try to capture me again. I need a shield. You made me take this pretty boy hostage to ensure you’d cooperate.”

Fucking asshole. “What do you want?” Dante ground out, clenching his fists.

Luc narrowed his eyes, glancing from Dante to Ollie. His eyes flashed red and a smirk twisted his lips. “Don’t tell me you’re obsessed with this one like Ash was with that other boy?”

“Harper is Ash’s mate,” Dante spat. It didn’t matter that Ollie was hearing things he didn’t understand. He’d explain later. It would all be okay once Luc let Ollie go.

Dante took a step closer and Luc yanked Ollie’s head back, exposing his neck, warning flashing in Luc’s eyes. Dante’s limbs went numb, and he froze. Sweat broke out on his neck as his gut twisted, sending pain through his core. He had to protect Ollie. Why hadn’t he stayed glued to his side?

Luc laid a hand on Ollie’s throat, and Ollie’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “Stop lying about mates, Dante,” Lucifer hissed. “Ash was talking shit, and I didn’t fall for it. You think all you have to do is say mate , and it will be true. Like I’d believe any of you. You’re all deluded.”

Dante raised his arms in surrender. Luc needed to get his hands the fuck off Ollie, but one wrong move and Luc could crush Ollie’s windpipe.

“Ash wasn’t lying about Harper. We aren’t deluded. Listen to me, Luc. You should want to hear this more than anyone. Finding our mates is possible. Ollie is my mate. Now, let him go, or I will kill you. I swear it.”