Page 36 of Demon's Mate
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” The last thing Harper needed was to give someone who’d shown they didn’t respect him another shot. Ash would only end up being a dick again, and Harper would have no one but himself to blame for getting hurt once more.
“I see.” Ash clenched his fist and opened it. “In that case, please know I’m sorry.”
Harper’s stomach twisted, his chest constricting so much it hurt. “You could explain what happened.” He wanted Ash to be a decent person and for all his misplaced feelings to have meaning. He wanted good things and for people to be kind to him. Fuck, if only this was all a misunderstanding.
“I can’t. There’s—there’s nothing to say.” Ash’s words were clipped. He turned to go, looking back over his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Harper.”
Harper clenched his teeth.
Well, okay then. He’d obviously made the right choice. An apology without an explanation didn’t mean a whole hell of a lot, and Harper felt silly for wishing it could all turn out okay when Ash was clearly nothing more than a selfish jerk.
13
ASH
Ashstrode briskly away from the coffee shop. What was talking to Harper supposed to accomplish? Had he really expected Harper to give him a shot at anything?
The tattoos on his back itched, wings begging to come out.
Harper clearly didn’t have any lingering good feelings. Ash’s obsession was completely one-sided.
The rejection should have been a relief. Harper feeling nothing supported the fact that they weren’t mates. Of course they weren’t mates. This should be comforting news—not even news. It should be a comfortingconfirmationof what he had expected.
It only made Ash feel alone.
But Ash liked being alone. It usually relaxed him. His hunting lodge was his favorite place in the world. Why did the reminder make him want to crawl out of his skin?
He found a deserted alley behind a nearby building and walked down it, casting an illusion over himself before removing his shirt and letting his wings free.
Ash launched into the sky. He’d wasted enough timefollowing Harper around. Maybe some space would allow his need for the young man to die down and be forgotten.
Not that he could leave Harper alone completely. He still had no idea why Harper moved around his neighborhood like he was a wanted man. Ash would still protect him even if nothing more would happen between them.
Even if they weren’t mates.
He flew over the city and landed on Dante’s deck, where he found Onyx sunning himself on a lounge chair, wearing nothing but a tiny swimsuit. He still didn’t have his wings or other demonic features out.
Onyx gave Ash a cursory glance. “You look extra pissy today.”
Ash grunted and walked off, not in the mood.
“Excuse me?” Onyx got up and followed.
Ash didn’t turn around. “Excuse you, what? I don’t have to respond to your annoying little jabs.”
Onyx didn’t say anything, only followed Ash into the kitchen. Ash ignored the infuriating demon and warmed himself a mug of blood, hoping it would get rid of the restless energy buzzing through him.
Onyx got himself a mug, and Ash reluctantly passed him the blood bag.
“Where’ve you been?” Onyx asked in a forced-casual tone, like he was trying too hard to seem like he didn’t care about the answer.
Onyx hadn’t left Dante’s house as much as Ash had expected. He’d figured they’d barely see the blue-haired demon, but he almost hadn’t gone out at all.
“Scanning the city,” Ash replied before draining his mug.
Onyx raised a brow. “Isn’t that what the birds are for?”
“I’ve been doing my own tracking.” This was true, even if itwasn’t what he’d been doing just now. Ash wasn’t telling either of his brothers about Harper.
