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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 was introduced.

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.

“Is it okay that we introduced them?” Ollie asked.

“What?” Dante shook himself and stopped staring.

Ollie’s gaze flitted away from Dante’s. “We didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“It’s fine. I’m sure Onyx is glad to be done talking to me.”

A slight frown tugged at Ollie’s lips. “I’m sensing tension.”

“You could say that.” Dante suppressed a laugh. “It’s what happens when you’ve known someone your whole life. Onyx is like a brother, and brothers don’t always get along.”

“We certainly bicker like siblings,” Ash muttered.

“Oh, I get that.” Ollie’s expression brightened. “I mean, I get it in theory since I’m an only child. Half my childhood friends didn’t get along with their siblings.”

Did Ollie seem relieved? His babbling came out when he was nervous, but why be nervous about Onyx?

“I think Ollie and I are going to head out for some food soon,” Harper said, and Ollie nodded in agreement. “Do you guys have time to come with us before you meet up with your friend?”

“No, I don’t think so.” Dante wanted to hang around the gallery until Onyx was done. Otherwise, he’d slip out of coming with them. “Next time.”

Ollie ran a hand through his hair. “For sure.”

There was a long pause, and Dante couldn’t help getting drawn into Ollie’s hazel eyes. He was beautiful, friend or not.

“Maybe I should get your number?” Ollie bit his lip. “We can compare notes on what games we like. Play together sometime.”

Dante could have purred. He didn’t, but he could have. He pulled out his phone and cleared his throat. “That’s a great idea. Here, put your number in, and I’ll text you.”

Ash clapped Dante on the shoulder as if he were a proud father. Damnation, could he be any more obvious?

Ollie’s eyes darted to Ash’s grip, then away.

Dex wrapped up his conversation with Onyx and the blue-haired demon slipped away so quickly that Dante swore he’d put on a burst of inhuman speed. Not that it was getting him out of anything.

Harper and Ollie wished him and Ash goodnight, then left with Dex in search of dinner. Dante’s body begged him to follow Ollie out the door, the distance between them tugging like Ollie had a hook around his heart.

“What are you going to do for your first date?” Ash asked, jarring Dante out of his thoughts.

He stiffened. “We aren’t going on a date. Ollie doesn’t date. He told me he’d like to be friends.”

“ Friends ?” Ash said like it was a rude word.

Dante winced.

He handed his wine glass to a passing server and crossed his arms. “Yes, friends. And I plan to respect his wishes. If he isn’t interested in a romantic connection, that’s all right. He’s my mate, but that doesn’t mean we have to be lovers. I can still be by his side. ”

Ash’s mouth opened, but it took a few seconds for any sound to emerge. “By his side as a friend? Forever? No, you’re giving up too easily, Dante. Saying he doesn’t date right now doesn’t mean he never wants a partner. Plenty of young men don’t want to be tied down right away.”

“True. But it could also mean romantic connections aren’t for him at all. You didn’t hear how he said it. It wasn’t the way someone casually brushes off commitment.” Dante gripped Ash’s shoulder. “I have to be okay with loving Ollie like a brother. If that’s what he wants, that’s what I’ll be.”

“Dante…” Ash shook his head. “You’re mates. And he’s young. We’ve forgotten what that’s like, but believe me, it makes a big difference. He’ll change his mind once he gets to know you. I’m sure of it.”

“That’s fine if he does, but I won’t ask him to.

” The distinction was important. Couldn’t Ash see that?

“I can’t be the friend he needs if all I’m doing is holding out for a romantic relationship.

Please don’t push this. As his mate, I must be attuned to his needs, and I have to do what feels right for both of us, not only me. ”

Ash’s expression softened. “I’m sorry. I won’t tell you what to do. I just can’t imagine not bonding with Harper.”

Dante’s heart gave a painful jolt. “Maybe we can still bond. I don’t know. The connection doesn’t necessarily have to come from a romantic place.”

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 End isn’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 played World’s End online.

“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. Not pretending to 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.