Page 123 of Demon's Heart
Ash hadn’t been able to track Lucifer down. He’d tried searching for Luc’s magic, but instead of getting an idea of where he might be, Ash had been overwhelmed by Luc’s power pinging from every direction as if there were hundreds of Lucifers.
Dante had wondered if Luc had incorporated his magic into the fabric of the portal, meaning any demon that passed through now carried his residual magic.
“I still can’t believe he released everyone.” Harper paused. “Are we sure witches can’t come through the portal?”
Ash laid a hand on Harper’s shoulder. “Once a mortal soul passes into the afterlife, reincarnation is the only way they can return to Earth. None of the witches in the Realm of the Damned will ever return to the Human Realm.”
Harper was probably worried about his father, and Ollie couldn’t blame him. At least Harper was safe. He seemed relieved to hear it but also like this wasn’t the first time he’d asked for this particular reassurance.
“How long do you think Lucifer had been planning to release everyone?” Ollie asked.
Ash looked deeply displeased as he headed back into the kitchen, saying, “It couldn’t have been long—release was never his aim—but controlling his spell with that computer screen makes me wonder. I don’t know how long that took to set up.”
Harper hopped up and followed his mate into the kitchen, asking something Ollie didn’t understand about mixing magic and technology.
Ollie turned back to Dante. “Maybe knowingyou can find your mates changed Luc.” He didn’t like to give the Devil credit for anything, but it seemed to fit. Everything was about mates.
Dante clasped Ollie’s hand. “Perhaps seeing our bond pushed him into action, but he hasn’t completely changed. His apology was hollow. It served him in the moment, and I don’t believe he’s sorry.”
“Maybe not for what he did to me.” Ollie’s gut still twisted when he thought about it, but fear didn’t overwhelm him like it used to.
“Even if he’s sorry for imprisoning everyone, setting demons free doesn’t undo all his past wrongs. And I don’t like not knowing Luc’s new aims.”
It was almost like Lucifer changing bothered Dante and Ash more than facing the same old enemy they’d known forever. Ollie got that. The unknown was so much harder to deal with.
Dante brought Ollie’s hand to his lips and kissed his knuckles. Ollie’s insides melted. He’d never get over how sweet his demon was.
“I know dealing with all this wasn’t the life you wanted, Ollie. While we can still shape our relationship how we want, take things slow and date like humans, it doesn’t look like we’ll be settling into a completely quiet life anytime soon. I want to make sure you don’t feel like you’re disappearing into it all.”
Ollie’s chest tightened. “You’re right. Demons and the Devil isn’t the life I imagined. But my life can change without it changing me. This isn’t the kind of taking over I was worried about. I was afraid of losing my independence, deprioritizing myself in favor of pleasing someone else. This is so far from that. You need me to help you get through this, Dante, and I want to support you. There’s nothing to be lost in that.”
Dente pulled Ollie onto his lap. Ollie’s favorite place to be. “You’re absolutely right. We’ve got this, mate. There’s nothing we can’t face together.”
Ollie kissed Dante, fresh peppermint and soft lips. He couldn’t agree more.
EPILOGUE
DANTE
Ten years later.
Dante walkeddown a busy street in the Arts District, heading toward the vocational school. It was a nice spring day, the trees covered in fresh blossoms. Dante could smell the change in the air signaling summer heat’s early arrival. Surprise flared down the mating bond, but Ollie was doing his best to keep his emotions hidden.
Surprise could go either way. At least Dante detected no disappointment.
At last, he arrived at the school. Students milled around the courtyard, drinking coffee and looking at their phones.
As Dante contemplated entering the main building and waiting in the foyer, the doors opened and Ollie walked out, looking impeccable in his suit and tie. The sun caught on his golden curls, and he shone. Hell, he’d have been shining even in the dark. Ollie smiled so wide his dimples looked like they might etch permanently into his cheeks.
He spotted Dante and his eyes widened in delightedsurprise. Ollie rushed over, and Dante pulled him into a crushing hug.
“I got it!” Ollie said excitedly, the barrier he’d erected around their bond coming crashing down. “I got the job.”
Dante spun him around. “That’s wonderful, Ollie. I knew you would.” He set him down, and Ollie pulled Dante into a quick kiss.
“We better get out of here before we make a scene and the dean changes his mind.”
Dante laughed and pulled Ollie back the way he’d come. “Tell me everything.”
