Page 97 of Demon's Mate
Unless… What if Dante was reacting to Ollie’s scent? To Ash, Ollie gave off a faint typical but not unpleasant human aroma. Nothing like Harper’s bluebells.
Ash’s heart rate picked up. No. It was too much to hope Dante would find his mate so soon after he had.
Harper and Ollie chatted idly, then ordered food and put on a show they’d been watching together. It was nice to be along for the ride. Anything that made Harper smile was good in Ash’s book, especially if he could hold Harper close while it happened.
After they ate, Harper’s eyelids started to droop. “I think I need to lie down.”
“Of course,” Ollie said softly, his brows coming together. “Are you sure everything is wrapped up with your family, and they won’t keep bothering you? I’m happy to send anyone buzzing into the building away.”
“Thanks.” Harper got up and walked over to Ollie, squeezing his shoulder. “They won’t be coming around.” He shot a look at Ash.
“No, they won’t. It’s all taken care of,” Ash confirmed.
“Okay, good.” Ollie’s posture relaxed. “I’m glad you got away from them, Harper. You’ll always be welcome here.”
“Perfect because I’m not leaving.” Harper grinned, the light not quite reaching his tired eyes. “But I seriously need to liedown. I think the day’s catching up to me.”
Ollie patted Harper’s arm and let him go.
Ash rose and followed Harper into his room.
“It’s all done?” Harper asked as soon as the door shut.
“Yes, your father is finding out firsthand what the Realm of the Damned is like, and your coven won’t be back.”
Harper shifted restlessly from foot to foot. “Is it terrible that I don’t feel bad about it?”
“About your father’s untimely end?” Ash clasped Harper on the shoulder. “No, not at all.”
Harper’s hand fisted the hem of his shirt. “But you said I was a good person for not wanting to kill him.”
“And I still think that was very good of you, but it’s okay to want justice. You’re still a good person, Harper. Your father hurt you in despicable ways. He deserves what he got.” Ash’s hatred for Arthur Nightingale simmered, heating his blood. Maybe he should have punished the witch just a little. He shook himself. “I’d say Arthur deserved worse, but that’s just my angry side, the one that rages at an unfair world and wants to make it right even when I can’t.”
Harper nodded hesitantly like he wasn’t convinced, so Ash went on, “Do you think I’m a bad person, or demon, for wanting to kill your father?”
“No,” Harper said automatically.
“Then neither are you. You don’t have to feel guilty about your reaction.” Ash squeezed Harper’s shoulder, and he relaxed under Ash’s touch. “His death won’t undo what happened, but it’ll stop him from hurting you or anyone else, and you’re not wrong for wanting that. Besides, the magic world doesn’t play by human rules. There’s no ‘right’ way to deal with someone like your father. What would we have done? Gone to the human police?”
“No, you’re right. When you put it that way, anything elsewould have left me looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life. My father was power-hungry and abusive. He believed it was his right to take what he wanted, and I’m glad he’s gone.” Harper released a breath and seemed to unwind as he wrapped his arms around Ash. “You’ve destroyed all my monsters.”
“All of them? You mean your coven?”
Harper buried his face against Ash. “One of the men you killed at the port was the one who assaulted me. It was such a relief. He’d caught me, but then I woke up, and you’d taken care of it.”
Ash squeezed Harper tight. His pulse spiked. If he’d known… But no, it didn’t matter. It was done. “I’m glad I was there. I’d been following you around since the club.”
Harper pulled back. “I know, Luc mentioned you’d been stalking me.” He bit his lip. “I probably shouldn’t think that’s romantic.”
Ash grinned. “But you do?”
Harper nodded. “And not just because of how bad it’d have been if you weren’t at the port with me. You were drawn to me. What we have is that strong. Don’t know if it gets more romantic than that.”
Ash chuckled softly. “Agreed. You captivated me, and I couldn’t stay away. It was the strongest instinct I’d ever had.” Ash cupped Harper’s cheeks. “I tried to fight it, and not even that worked. It took me a while to come to terms with you being my mate. I was…afraid to believe and be wrong. Afraid to want and be left alone.”
Harper let out a soft whine. “You don’t have to be afraid of the things you want.”
He brushed Harper’s cheeks with his thumbs. “No, not anymore.”
