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Chapter 16

Augustine

S tay.

His mate had not only come for him, but wanted him to stay. Wanted to give things a chance.

Wanted Augustine.

Father liked him. Said something about his cleverness and enterprising spirit, probably something he’d read in one of his books. Still, Father wasn’t easily impressed. Most important, as Augustine had gone to return him to his current spot on the wall, he’d whispered a quiet, “ your mother would have adored him. He’s so strong. ”

And well, August liked to think so too.

He certainly liked Declan plenty. From that silky teal hair, to that stubborn brain, to those perfectly formed toes, every part of him was beautiful. Even if it was also sometimes frustrating. Maybe especially because it was sometimes frustrating.

As he stood there, looking out over his domain with Declan at his side, something settled inside him. All the doubt and misery from before, all the loneliness of his life since his mother’s murder... it wasn’t gone, exactly, but put into perspective.

He was starting something new, which would be fraught with its own issues, its own kind of annoyances and benefits. Declan would continue to be stubborn, and he and August would butt heads, especially early on, because Augustine was stubborn as well, but... they were mates. They would figure things out.

It was the way mates worked. Not with no problems, but with the determination to see their way through them when they inevitably cropped up.

That was when something occurred to August.

He turned toward Declan, wrapping both arms around his waist and drawing him in to lean against his body. Those perfect teal eyes were looking up at him in a way they never had before. With sweetness and hope and understanding. It almost made August’s heart hurt; it was so perfect. “Do you want to pick new things to replace the broken ones in the main room?”

Declan cocked his head, furrowing his brows. “Don’t you want to do it? I wouldn’t want to pick things you don’t like.”

“It’s not just my home anymore. It’s yours as well.” August dropped his forehead to touch gently against Declan’s own. “And I built this lair for you. To make you happy and comfortable.”

Declan sighed, like Augustine was somehow the most adorable and frustrating thing in the world, both at once. Leaning up, he brushed his lips against Augustine’s, so softly that it was almost the impression of a kiss more than a true kiss. “You know what would make me happy and comfortable right now?” he asked, and his eyes were suddenly closer to green, twinkling with unrestrained mischief.

August couldn’t help smiling back, rubbing his nose against Declan’s. “What would that be?”

“Would you like to give it to me?”

As though asking were even necessary. Even if what Declan wanted was for Augustine to tear his own heart out and pass it over, Augustine would, and they both knew it. Still, if Declan wanted to hear it, if Declan wanted to hear it a hundred times a day, he would get precisely that. “You know I would. I would give you anything in my power to give.”

Declan’s wicked smile tugged August even closer. “Oh good. Because what I want—What I really, really want right now, is another look at that gorgeous cock of yours. Can I have that?”

Augustine leaned down to wrap an arm under Declan’s legs, swinging his mate up into his arms, and heading for his bedroom. “Love, you can have that anytime you like, for the rest of your life.”

Declan leaned into him, but the expression that crossed his face next was one of concern as much as anticipation.

“Declan?”

“Hm?” It took him a moment to look up into Augustine’s worried eyes, but he flushed and sighed. “It’s just, I’m, ah, a little hungry. And they were talking about draining your magic, and I don’t want to accidentally hurt you by feeding, but I’m not sure if when we get there, I’ll be able to stop myself from?—”

August leaned down to plant a hard kiss on those soft lips, to stop them from worrying so much. Or at least so loudly. When he pulled back, it was in time to lay Declan softly onto his coverlet. “Then you’ll feed. I’ve been reading about incubi, you know.”

Declan had apparently not known, from the surprised expression on his face, brows drawn together and lips pursed in an adorable little moue. “I... no. Should I ask what you’ve been reading? Why would you even agree to feed me after reading books about demons?”

August snorted with derision. “Because the books—the modern, scientific books, not the old dogmatic garbage that would call me a monster who kidnaps princesses and you a demon who eats souls—are useful. I wanted to know you better. Wanted to know how to take care of you. How to help you.”

Again, Declan’s expression softened, and he reached out to trail lazy fingers down Augustine’s arm. “That’s... maybe the cutest thing I’ve ever heard. Okay, so what did you learn about incubi?”

“That your powers don’t kill people. You can drain their current energy, even put them to sleep, maybe for a good long time. You can probably even injure them. But that there has never, not once, been record of an incubus killing a man with their powers. A knife, a gun, or even their bare hands, but not by feeding.” August leaned in and kissed Declan’s forehead, then each cheek, and finally, his perfect, plush lips, leaning in to plunder them thoroughly, as Augustine had been dreaming of doing for what felt like centuries.

When he pulled away, Declan was grinning up at him, breathless and—dare he hope?—adoring.

“Well then,” Declan finally said. “Get down here and fuck me, mate. I’m hungry.”