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“It wasn’t because you wanted to see Ollie?” Ash’s eyes flamed and he pumped his eyebrows.

Dante’s insides burned. “Wanting to see Ollie is why I suggested you invite Harper.”

“Good call, brother.” Ash grinned and launched into the air, hovering for a moment. “Don’t linger too long. You’ve got to get ready. Hopefully, I’ll have a location before we go.”

He flew off, leaving Dante on the outcropping.

Get ready, how? He couldn’t dress up for Ollie. Wouldn’t that seem weird? From what Dante had read online, modern dating was very informal.

Dante’s tail flicked restlessly, mouth dry at the prospect of seeing Ollie again. At least his heart wasn’t aching. Yet.

Dante passed on a message to his flock, telling all the birds to nest within the reserve for their safety, and asked them to be on the lookout for the new magic he’d sensed but not actively search for it. Risking his birds was unnecessary when he and Ash could hunt the demon down.

Returning home, Dante showered and got dressed. Since he and Ash were flying to the gallery, he hadn’t planned to put his shirt on until they were there, but that left him stuck, staring at options.

Did Ollie like red? Did Dante even look good in red? What about green? Would carrying the shirt wrinkle it too much? Shit, it’d be ruined, and he’d look scruffy, even by casual standards.

Ash stuck his head through the bedroom doorway. “I’ve got a location.”

Dante turned away from the shirts. “Already?”

“They aren’t doing a lot to mask their location. I’ve picked up something near the waterfront.”

“Should we check it out now?” Dante ran a hand through his hair. He had his horns away so it wouldn’t dry funny around his forehead where they poked out.

“Let’s talk to Onyx first. I don’t want to make a move without him again. Unless it’s an emergency.”

“Okay. I’ll tell the birds. Unless you want eyes on the location, it might be best for them to stay away.”

Ash nodded. “We don’t want to give away that we’ve found whoever this is, so it’d be best for the birds to steer clear. I’ll keep half a mind on their location while we’re out in case they head off somewhere.”

“Great.” Dante grabbed the dark-red button-down off his bed. “You better hurry and get dressed.”

“I’m good to go.”

Dante eyed Ash’s jeans and the T-shirt tied to his belt.

“What?” Ash ruffled his feathers. “There wasn’t a dress code.”

“Fine. Let’s go.” Dante shooed him out of the doorway.

The sun set as they flew over the city, bathing the buildings in orange light.

Hopefully, it would be a good night, as soft and warm as the departing sun.

Maybe Dante’s first date with Ollie could be at sunset.

Dinner at a rooftop restaurant. Surely, Onyx could recommend somewhere.

It seemed like the kind of thing he’d know.

Landing on top of the gallery, Dante and Ash retracted their wings, which melded into full-back tattoos, and put their shirts on. Dante’s wrinkles weren’t too bad, at least not compared to Ash’s.

A ladder led down the side of the building to one of Onyx’s office’s windows. Dante had come in this way last week, much to Onyx’s annoyance, but it was easier than finding a deserted side street to land in.

Despite his previous grumbling, Onyx hadn’t locked Dante or Ash out. The gallery was protected, but like Dante’s house, the spells had been crafted to allow all three of them free access.

Dante slid through the window into an empty office.

Ash followed. “There’s no way these are large enough to fit through by chance. Onyx must fly in and out too.”

“That’s what I thought.” But Dante couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen Onyx’s wings. Why go through the trouble of hiding them when he must fly around the city as much as they did?

Ash closed the window. “Do you know where Onyx lives?”

“No.” Dante readjusted the cuffs of his shirt. “He’s never offered any details.”

“Maybe I should track him.”

“Or you could ask.” Dante led the way out of the room, not hopeful Onyx would provide an answer if they did start prying.

They exited the hall into the second-story gallery space, which had a balcony open to the floor below. Chattering voices drifted upward, echoing off the walls, the lofted ceilings adding a pleasant openness to the building.

Dante and Ash descended the stairs, finding the ground floor filled with people. Soft music played while servers slipped through the crowd with drinks. Paintings Dante hadn’t seen before hung on the walls, and the sculptures that usually occupied plinths around the room were nowhere in sight.

“Nice,” Ash grunted like he couldn’t care less. “Oh look. There’s Harper.”

Across the room, Ollie stood next to Harper, each man clutching a glass of wine.

Dante’s pulse quickened and warmth flooded him. A smile tugged at his lips. He followed Ash through the people, eyes trained on his mate.

Ollie’s posture seemed relaxed as he talked to Harper. He smiled easily, dimples flashing with each upturn of his lips. Ollie wore all black—slim-cut jeans paired with a loose-fit V-neck tee and a silver chain around his neck.

Turning, Ollie’s gaze traveled over the crowd until it landed on Dante. His cheeks tinged pink and he quickly looked away.

A rumble started deep in Dante’s chest, and he cleared his throat to cover it. No growling or purring. He needed to approach Ollie as if he were human and not let his demon nature get in the way. He was a man approaching someone he liked. Simple. Easy.

Dante shook out his hands and ignored the tingling in the tattoo of his hidden tail.

“Hey, isn’t this place great?” Harper beamed at Ash as he and Dante approached. “It’s so fancy.”

Ash wrapped an arm around Harper’s waist. “It is, sweet. Are you enjoying yourself?”

“Yeah, I’ve never been to an art gallery before.” Harper’s eyes darted around the room like he didn’t know where to look first.

Dante’s gaze slid to Ollie, who was staring at him, cheeks still slightly flushed. “How’ve you been, Ollie?”

“Good.” The word came out breathless. Ollie sipped his drink and cleared his throat. “You know, work and all that. Can’t complain.”

Dante took half a step closer. “Did you have a lot of clients today?”

Ollie shrugged, breaking eye contact. “My morning was solid, and I had some walk-ins this afternoon. Tomorrow will be busy though. Can’t stay out too late.”

“Me either. Ash and I have someone to catch up with after this.”

Harper cocked his head at Dante’s words. Ash pulled him away, whispering in his ear, no doubt filling him in on the rogue demon news.

Ollie’s attention lingered on Harper and Ash, a slight frown pulling on his lips.

“Are you a fan of the arts?” Dante asked, not wanting Ollie to ask more about who he and Ash had to see. He shouldn’t have brought it up.

Ollie’s gaze snapped back to Dante. “I guess? I mean, art is cool, but I don’t know much about it.

I can’t say these types of events are my usual scene.

” He laughed nervously. “Not like my friend Dex. He was so excited to come tonight. This isn’t his usual scene either, but it would be if he had connections. ”

“Sorry, who’s Dex?”

“Oh. Obviously, you don’t know him.” Ollie pointed across the room to a man about Ollie’s height with light-brown skin and brown hair, who was talking to a group of people Dante didn’t recognize.

“That’s Dex. He’s my best friend. We met in college, though Dex went to art school, and I didn’t.

Which you know already. About me, I mean.

Dex does pottery and made the mugs I have at home.

Not that you used a mug the other night at dinner…

” Ollie fidgeted with his wine glass. “Wow, I’m really rambling. So rry.”

“No need to apologize.” Dante smiled warmly. Ollie’s infectious energy gave Dante a giddy, almost lightheaded feeling.

“True. I’m not sorry exactly. Um. I think I’m nervous.” Ollie rolled his eyes like he was exasperated with himself.

Dante’s brows pinched together. “Nervous about what?”

“You.”

Dante’s heart banged against his chest.

“I mean, not you, but kind of?” Ollie hurried on. “I wanted to say—because I didn’t last time—that I don’t date. Relationships aren’t my thing, you know? And I wanted to put it out there, um…” His words trailed off as a panicked look flashed across his face.

“You were nervous to tell me you don’t date?” Dante’s heart pounded for an entirely different reason. Why would Ollie be nervous to share that? Did people judge him? Why would they do that?

Ollie directed his attention to his glass. “It’s dumb. But yeah, I was nervous to say anything. Everyone’s into relationships, and I’m not. I thought…last time, I got a vibe, and I don’t know. I was flirty, but I’m like that sometimes, and I didn’t want you to get the wrong impression.”

It wasn’t what Dante hoped to hear, but the glaring revelation was how uncomfortable Ollie seemed. His mate shouldn’t feel this way around him.

“So, friends?” Ollie concluded, flashing Dante a half-formed smile.

“Friends sounds great, Ollie.”

Ollie ran a hand through his blond curls, dimples appearing as his smile turned more natural. “Cool. Now, can we forget how awkward that was?”

Dante’s pounding heart calmed, soothed as his mate relaxed, even though something deep inside Dante scrambled, trying to catch hold of the situation .

Friends .

He’d agreed to be friends with the man he’d waited millennia to mate with.

Dante’s demon features fought to come out, but a primal reaction wasn’t helpful. Fuck his demon nature right now. Guilt strangled Dante’s heart. Had he just lied to his mate?

It wouldn’t be fair to cultivate a friendship with Ollie while hoping it would progress into something Ollie didn’t want. He couldn’t disregard Ollie like that. He had to respect his wishes.

What Dante’s mate wanted was the most important thing in the world, and it seemed he wasn’t interested in romantic love.

He’d said he didn’t date. Everyone’s into relationships, and I’m not.

It’s not my thing . Maybe Ollie didn’t like the idea of anything committed at this stage in his life, and that was fine, but it didn’t sound like that.

It felt deeper. Why else would he be so nervous to share?

Had he been afraid Dante wouldn’t accept this about him?

Of course Dante would. His mate was perfect as he was.

But did this mean it was possible to be mates in a non-romantic way? Could the connection be platonic if that was what Ollie desired?

Dante had never considered that possibility. He had a picture of what mates were supposed to be in his head. But romantic lovers might not be the only pairing mates formed.

Was it possible to be something else? Shit, of course, it was possible. How could it not be? Every Eternal being had a fated mate.

Dante would be honored to stand at Ollie’s side as a friend, to be part of his life, share memories and platonic affection. He loved Ash and Onyx, and the prospect of another friendship like that was a good thing.

But could they still bond and cement the mating connection? Would Ollie want that ?

He might not accept. Maybe mating would seem like a relationship to a human. Would Ollie choose to grow old and die and pass into his human afterlife in the Eternal Realm, leaving Dante behind forever?

No.

Ollie would reincarnate, as human souls naturally did. Dante would find him again, and their time together wouldn’t be over. Unless the Eternals held his soul back, as demons suspected they’d done to punish them, keeping their mates from being found on Earth. Then Dante would never see Ollie again.

But even if that were the case, he’d still treasure what they had.

Being someone’s friend could be a powerful connection and wasn’t lesser than romantic love. Dante hadn’t lied to Ollie. He’d needed a minute to catch up.

“We don’t have to forget about an awkward moment,” Dante said, a steady calm flowing through him, so powerful that even his demon sense was accepting. “I want you to be yourself around me. If I’m making you uncomfortable, you can tell me.”

Ollie blinked, his lashes fluttering. “Sure, okay. But I don’t know if you made me uncomfortable. I’m pretty sure I did that all on my own. I’ve been overthinking this. I was so sure I gave you the wrong idea. But I didn’t?”

“You mean by flirting?” Dante rubbed the back of his neck.

He wanted to be honest even if he couldn’t bring up their fated connection.

“I felt something between us and wondered if you did too. But you’ve made your position clear, so if flirting isn’t you coming on to me, and it’s something you do with friends, well, I know that now.

I won’t take it any other way unless you tell me to. ”

“Okay.” Ollie sounded almost skeptical, but he hurried on. “Want to get a drink? Then we should probably look at the art.”