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It must have to do with the mating bond. Dante was happy to drink blood for Ollie as well as himself and maintain them both through their magical connection. He’d have to ask Ash if he’d noticed needing more now that he was bonded to Harper.

“Well, I guess that’s good.” Ollie opened a chocolate bar, averting his gaze. He sounded disappointed.

Did Ollie want to drink blood? What a surprise. But maybe it shouldn’t have been after Ollie’s reaction during the mating ritual.

Dante busied himself preparing Ollie’s sandwich. Drinking from Ollie’s wrist had opened Dante to a new longing. He craved the closeness of sharing their essence.

Before the fall, Eternals only ever shared blood with their mates.

“No tomatoes, please,” Ollie said, pulling Dante back into the moment.

He put the tomatoes to one side. “Anything else you prefer?”

“No, I’m not picky.”

Dante wanted to tell Ollie it wasn’t about being picky. He’d give Ollie nothing but his favorite things. But they didn’t need to get through everything in one day. There was time to learn Ollie’s preferences.

Ollie ate his sandwich while Dante finished off the candy bars. When they were gone, he opened his drawer to grab a bag of sour gummies, popped a handful into his mouth, and then offered the bag to Ollie.

He took a couple, a bemused look on his face. “You really like sweets.”

“Guilty.”

Ollie shook his head. “I’m more of a savory treat person.”

“Noted.” Dante would organize a treat drawer for Ollie next to his and fill it with everything tasty he could find at the store.

“I like how normal this is.” Ollie gestured between them and the food before reaching for another gummy. “I didn’t think I’d ever feel normal again, so thank you.”

Dante’s spine straightened and his hidden tail tingled. He hadn’t totally failed Ollie. “You’re welcome. It’ll all get easier, I promise.”

There was still so much to tell Ollie, like the fact that they were fated to be together.

Dante had let it seem like the mating bond was something he could do with anyone, and while he hated being dishonest, it would have been too much to reveal being destined for each other.

Dante had a bad feeling Ollie wouldn’t want to hear that.

This wasn’t how his and Ollie’s bond should have formed. Ollie should have had a choice. Hell, Dante should have had a choice. Lucifer had taken something from Dante and Ollie they could never get back, and all Dante could do was try to repair the damage.

“I’m sure it’ll get easier,” Ollie agreed with a heavy sigh. He patted his pockets and then seemed to remember he was wearing Harper’s clothes. “Where’s my phone? I should probably head home.”

Dante’s heart sank. Don’t go .

He held the words in. “It’s over here with mine.” He retrieved their phones from the coffee table, ignoring the bloody couch. He’d have to dispose of it when Ollie left.

The phones weren’t clean either. Dante grabbed a cloth and wiped them down before handing Ollie’s over.

Dante unlocked his phone, finding about a hundred missed calls from Ash. Fuck. Knowing he had to share what happened with Ash and Onyx ripped his heart open all over again.

“I’m going to book a rideshare,” Ollie said as he tapped on his phone.

Dante placed his device on the counter. “No, you can’t do that. ”

“What?” Ollie snapped, eyes narrowing like Dante had said something unacceptable.

“Cars can’t get to my house,” Dante explained, unsure why Ollie had reacted with so much venom. “We’re in the reserve. The whole hill is shielded by magic and there’s no road access.”

“Oh.” Ollie’s cheeks pinkened and he lowered his phone. “I guess it makes sense for you to have a secret magic hideout.”

Dante had never seen it as a hideout, though he supposed it was. “I can fly you home. It’s no trouble.”

“Fly?” Ollie choked on the word. “No, it’s okay. I’ll go meet a car at the nearest street.”

Dante’s gut twisted. Was Ollie that eager to get away from him? “The nearest road is all the way down the hill. Please, let me take you there, at least.”

Ollie bit his lip. “Sure, that’s fine.” He stood from the stool. “Why do you live in the reserve anyway? Wait. Do you even work in conservation?”

“Not strictly speaking. I have a magical connection to the shearwaters. I’ll tell you all about it sometime, and we can still go see the birds if you want. I live up here to be close to their nests. This area is protected for them, not just me.”

Ollie seemed to like that, his skeptical expression softening. “I’d still love to see the birds, but not today. Not after…” His words faded.

Dante rounded the counter. “I know. I’m sorry our evening was ruined.”

Ollie looked up from beneath his lashes. “You don’t have to be sorry. What happened isn’t your fault.”

Dante appreciated that, but it was his fault, and he’d spend forever trying to make up for it.

“It wasn’t,” Ollie said more sternly. “You aren’t responsible for someone else’s actions, no matter what history you and Lucifer have. ”

“I’ll still always be sorry this happened to you, Ollie. It was because of me you were at the beach. I wish I could take it back.” The sight of Ollie covered in blood, limp in his arms, filled Dante’s mind, and grief cut him open.

“Me too,” Ollie whispered. “I wish this never happened, but it did. And it’ll get easier, remember? We’ll be okay. Best friends forever.” He squeezed Dante’s hand, his touch fleeting.

Dante’s throat thickened. Would they be okay? He didn’t want to part from Ollie so soon but felt unable to ask him to stay.

Clearing his throat, Dante asked for all he felt he could. “If you need anything, will you call me? Please?”

Ollie hesitated. “Yeah, sure. I’ll let you know.”

Dante couldn’t help thinking he wouldn’t. Ollie was holding back, and while Dante understood, he worried it would hurt them both.

They hadn’t been ready for their bond, and having it formed anyway made things harder between them. Dante should have had time to become close to Ollie before closeness was thrust on them.

He didn’t know if Ollie would ever embrace their bond when it would always be something he hadn’t chosen.

“I think I need to sleep and wake up on a day that isn’t today,” Ollie said. “Let’s play World’s End tomorrow night, okay?”

Yes, that was a good idea. They’d go back to building their friendship as they had been. Dante would block out Ollie’s emotions, and maybe the bond could sit there, patiently waiting for them to be ready. Whatever he had to do, Dante would deal with this and make it work.

“I’ll look forward to it. There’s a few missions I’d like to bring you on. I could use your dragon. ”

“Perfect.” Ollie glanced out the sliding glass door. “So, how do we get off the reserve? Is there a path down to the road?”

Dante grabbed his phone and slipped it into his pocket. “No. I’ll have to fly you down the hill.”

Ollie swallowed, his throat bobbing. “There’s no other way?”

“It’d be a very long walk, especially through the underbrush without a path.” Dante tensed, something cold pooling in his gut. “Do my wings make you uncomfortable?”

Ollie shook his head, worry flashing across his features. “No, you don’t make me uncomfortable. It’s not your wings. I, um, don’t really like heights.”

At least Ollie didn’t detest his true form. Dante wasn’t sure he could handle that. “We won’t fly high, barely above the trees, and I’ve carried much bigger beings than you. I won’t let you fall.”

Ollie studied him for a moment. “Okay. I trust you.”

Dante tamped down the urge to preen as he led Ollie out of the house.

Every shred of Ollie’s trust made Dante feel like he could take care of his mate—even after failing so miserably—and made it seem possible to get from here to a place where their bond reflected their closeness rather than forced it.

Outside, Dante removed his shirt and let his wings and horns loose. He flexed, shaking out his feathers, muscles singing at the freedom of movement.

“Wow,” Ollie breathed, gaze sweeping over Dante. “Is it rude to ask to touch your feathers?”

Dante smiled, feathers tingling at the prospect. “Not at all.” He stretched out his wings, displaying his full wingspan for his mate’s inspection.

Ollie stepped closer, a tentative hand reaching out, and stroked Dante’s left wing. “Your feathers are warm. So soft. And some of them sparkle. ”

Dante swallowed a purr. Ollie’s fingertips felt divine, sending shivers down every last one of his nerve endings.

Ollie was being so delicate, touching Dante like he was fragile or precious.

“It’s my fire. It makes all demons—and Eternals—run warm.

And my heat sometimes gives me a glow, or as you say, sparkle. ”

Ollie stroked Dante’s wing back and forth, his movements growing more confident. “Fire…like your mage in the game. You have so many secrets.”

Dante ruffled the wing Ollie was petting, and Ollie giggled. “They aren’t secrets now. You can ask me anything.”

Ollie’s assessing gaze swept over Dante like he was ready to take up the challenge, and Dante shivered. “Don’t you have a tail?”

Dante’s face heated. “I wasn’t sure if you noticed that tattoo.” Ollie hadn’t been himself in the shower and Dante wouldn’t have been surprised if the whole scene hadn’t registered.

“I noticed.” Ollie looked toward Dante’s rear, his cheeks flushing. “Where is it?”

Heat spread through Dante’s body. “I didn’t free my tail, so it’s still a tattoo. I wasn’t sure if it would be too strange.”

Ollie’s brow furrowed. “You aren’t strange. None of you, not your tail, or magic, or anything. You don’t have to hide yourself from me, Dante.”

Relief released a tightness Dante hadn’t realized was growing in his chest. “You aren’t bothered that I’m not human?”

Ollie shrugged. “No. I never saw this coming, but I don’t mind that we’re different. It’s kind of cool.”

Cool. Dante would take it.

“I don’t usually free my tail when I fly,” he admitted. “It’s annoying having it out with jeans on.”

“I can see that. You can show me another time.” The flush on Ollie’s cheeks spread down his neck, but his tone remained casual. “If you want,” he hurried to add.

“Another time.” Dante tried not to get excited about Ollie’s interest in his body. It was curiosity, not necessarily attraction. “Let’s get you home. You’re sure you don’t want me to fly you all the way?”

“Yeah, I’m sure,” Ollie said, his tone stiffening. “I can get there myself.”

For whatever reason, it seemed important to Ollie that he make his own way, so Dante didn’t argue. Maybe it was his fear of heights, or maybe there was more to it, but it didn’t feel like the right time to ask.

Dante opened his arms, gesturing for Ollie to come closer. “Wrap yourself around me like a koala.”

Ollie snorted and covered his mouth. “Can’t you pick me up?” He moved directly in front of Dante, leaving hardly any space between them.

“Sure.” Dante grinned, scooping Ollie into a bridal carry. “This okay?”

Ollie wrapped his arms around Dante’s neck and squeezed tight. “Yeah, but I’m closing my eyes. Don’t drop me.”

“I won’t.” Dante held Ollie tight as he launched into the air.

Ollie squeaked, voice reaching a surprisingly high pitch, and gripped Dante tighter.

“You’re okay,” Dante murmured, lips next to Ollie’s ear, his nose in Ollie’s hair, his sandalwood scent going straight to his head. “We’ll be back on the ground in two minutes. I promise.”

Ollie nodded but didn’t speak as a spike of fear traveled down the bond despite Dante blocking most of Ollie’s emotions.

Dante flew as fast and as smoothly as he could, and soon, they were landing among the tall trees lining the base of the reserve .

Ollie didn’t release Dante right away, staying curled against his chest. “Are we on the ground?”

“Yes, Ollie.” Dante chuckled warmly.

Ollie’s eyes popped open to glare at Dante. “Don’t laugh. That was like being on a roller coaster. I hate those things.”

Dante set Ollie on the ground. “Sounds like I’ll have to figure out a better way to get you to and from my house.”

Ollie seemed surprised. “Will I be coming over again?”

“If you want.” Dante rubbed the back of his neck. “You could check out my game room next time.”

Gaming was the furthest thing from Dante’s mind. He imagined cooking for Ollie, showing him the shearwaters, and snuggling together on one of his huge armchairs, even though snuggling probably wasn’t on the table.

At the mention of gaming, Ollie grinned. “Oh, definitely. I want to see all of your old consoles. I can’t believe you have so many vintage games.” Ollie pulled his phone from his pocket. “I’d almost be okay with flying to see that.”

“Almost.” Dante nudged Ollie’s arm, and Ollie rolled his eyes.

At least Ollie wanted to keep hanging out.

Dante waited as Ollie requested a rideshare, the two of them walking out to the road and lingering on the sidewalk until the car arrived. When it did, Ollie disappeared into the back seat with a wave.

A tether tugged on Dante’s heart, urging him to follow. He gritted his teeth and stayed where he was. When the car was out of sight, Dante recast his illusion of invisibility and freed his wings, launching into the sky.

He dialed Ash. They had Lucifer’s demise to plan.