Page 74 of Calling Chaos

“I’m sorry,” Cooper said softly, like it was his fault. He turned around, letting out a little groan when Chaos massaged shampoo into his hair.

Itwasn’tCooper’s fault, but Chaos didn’t mind a little bargaining power. “From now on, wherever you go, I go.” He tugged Cooper’s head until Cooper tilted it back for rinsing, then poured more shampoo on it.

“Won’t I be stronger after the bond? You won’t have to worry so much.”

“Don’t care,” Chaos said shortly.

Cooper let out a resigned sigh. “Okay, menace. Wherever I go, you follow.”

It was the exact opposite of what Chaos had wanted, back in the Void. It was essentially a leash of his own making, when all he’d wanted was to be free. And he didn’t care. Not at all. He’d take that leash and wrap it round and round and round himself until no one and nothing could ever take it off. He’d tie himself so tightly to Cooper no one could ever take him away.

Chaos washed Cooper’s hair and skin until his puppy no longer smelled like weasel blood. He now smelled like fake flowers instead, and it made Chaos’s nose itch, but it was better than the alternative. He turned Cooper to face him. “You’re shaking again.”

Cooper shrugged his trembling shoulders. “Shock, I guess. That was all a bit scary.”

“Are you—” Chaos tried to make himself say the words. They didn’t want to come out, but he made them. “Do you need to wait? To rest before bonding?” Despite his best efforts, the question still came out as a whine.

But really, how far did Chaos being gentle and patient have to go? He was a demon, not a saint. And he was readynow.

Before he could get too worked up about it, Cooper smiled softly, pressing a finger to Chaos’s lower lip, which had jutted out into a pout at some point. “No, Bracchus. I won’t make you wait. I’m ready now.”

“Good.” That was a relief—it was so tiring being good when he didn’t want to be.

Chaos lifted Cooper out of the shower, locating his glasses and pushing them onto Cooper’s nose. He dried him, sizzling the water off his own skin as he switched back to his demon form, and then took Cooper out to the bedroom, where the Book lay in its bag on the floor.

Cooper eyed the book-shaped bag. “Is that it? Can I see your mark again, the one I summoned you with?”

When Chaos nodded, Cooper removed the Book from the bag, turning it to Chaos’s page without having to search for it. He traced one of his lovely fingers over the yellow markings. “Your symbol is so beautiful,” he murmured. “So wild.”

Chaos turned for him, parting his wings to display the markings on his back. “It matches my tattoo. You see?”

Cooper grinned at him. “I know.”

“So you think my back is beautiful too,” Chaos pointed out, wanting them on the same page about this.

“I do.”

“Come, puppy.” Chaos bounded onto the bed and took a seat, cross-legged with his wings against the headboard. Cooper clambered a little more slowly after him, mirroring his position, with the Book between them.

They were both still naked, which was lovely but maybe not good for Cooper’s shivers. His shaking had quelled, but Chaos summoned his sweatshirt back anyway, draping it over Cooper’s shoulders before settling back into position.

“Okay, puppy. Turn the Book to the last page and repeat after me.”

Chaos said the bonding words, each one deliberate, and Cooper repeated them obediently. He didn’t ask what they meant—didn’t question any of it—but Chaos wanted him to know. He didn’t need to be tricky, not about this.

He gave Cooper his version of the binding spell’s human translation. “We bind ourselves together, form, spirit, and heart. To be taken from each other only by death, and even then only for a little, itty bit. My soul for my mate, and my mate’s soul all for me.”

Cooper grinned at him, and Chaos held a finger to his lips. “Hold out your hand now, puppy.”

Cooper held out his hand.

“Which one is the human marriage finger?” Chaos asked.

Cooper wiggled the fourth finger of his left hand, and Chaos grasped it oh so gently. He brought it to his lips and sucked it into his mouth, pressing sharp teeth at the base in a perfect ring. He bit down until blood filled his lips, then bit down a touch harder.

Cooper winced, but he didn’t draw back, and he didn’t start smelling of fear again.

Good puppy.

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