Page 22 of Demon's Heart
Dante shook his head. “Yes, Onyx, he’s asking you.”
“Uh…” Onyx paused for a few wingbeats. “I liked his take on handmade objects and imperfect art. His stuff wouldn’t fit at the gallery, but I’m interested in checking it out. Apparently, Dex works at a coffee shop and sells his pieces there. The shop also displays and sells other local art. I figured I’d stop by. Sounds like the kind of community space I enjoy.”
Dante was stunned into silence.
Onyx never let on that he cared about anything and had never mentioned community before. It had always seemed like his interest in art was about prestige rather than anything else.
“You’re interested in Dex’s art?” Dante asked, unable to conceal his surprise.
“Yeah, so?” Onyx snapped back to his usual self. “Art is why he was introduced. What else would I think of him?”
“Maybe that you like himpersonally,” Ash said, putting too much emphasis on the word.
“Personally?” Onyx shook his head and his nose wrinkled. “You mean, like him as in attracted? No. He’s so not my type.”
“Not at all?” Ash pressed.
“Not even a little.” Onyx sped up until he was level with Ash. “Why do you suddenly care who I’m into?”
“I thought he might be your mate.”
“My mate?” Onyx screeched, wing beats faltering and throwing him off balance.
Dante sputtered, trying and failing to swallow his laughter.
Onyx shot him a death glare. “What the fuck made you think Dex was mymate,Ash? Shit, imagine. If he was, fate’s crueler than the council.”
“No need to be rude,” Ash scolded, sounding defensive about being so far off base. “It was a fair guess. Fate was clearly involved in bringing Harper and Ollie together, so maybe Dex completed our third pair.”
“Dex is Ollie’s friend, not Harper’s,” Dante pointed out. “Even if some magic brought Harper and Ollie together, it doesn’t quite follow on to Dex.”
Ash sighed, sounding surprisingly disappointed. Had he really been that set on Onyx finding his mate? Maybe it shouldn’t have come as a surprise. Ash didn’t hate Onyx as much as he pretended to.
“Wait.” Onyx flipped around, hovering in Dante’s path.
Dante pulled up short. “Wait, what?”
“Is Ollie your mate?” Onyx’s eyes widened, his lips twitching before he covered the smile with a scowl.
“He is.” Dante’s cheeks flamed. “But he has no idea, so please don’t say anything strange to him.”
Onyx rolled his eyes. “Like I’m ever going to talk to him.”
Ash circled back and pulled up beside them. “Are you seriously planning on spending eternity ignoring Ollie and Harper? What is your problem?”
Onyx whined in frustration. “No, Ash, I’m not planning on ignoring them. Fucking hell. I meant, why would I talk to a random human and give anything away? Once Ollie knows about mates and is all bonded and clinging to Dante like youand Harper, I’m sure I’ll talk to him plenty. Harper too, when I’m not busy.”
“Whatever. We don’t cling,” Ash grumbled before flying off.
Dante followed, unwilling to explain—again—not pursuing Ollie romantically. There was no reason to this early on. He had no idea how things would progress with his mate. They’d settle into something comfortable, and everything would fall into place as it was meant to.
Onyx caught up to Dante a moment later. “Well, congratulations or whatever.”
“Thanks.” Warmth filled Dante. For Onyx, that was as close to a heartfelt sentiment as he’d get.
“How did you know?” Onyx asked more quietly, a hint of something vulnerable cutting through his usual snark. “Could you tell right away?”
“Pretty much. As soon as I saw him, something pulled me in his direction. Nothing else existed, and my demon senses flared into full-on primal mode. And his smell…” Dante cleared his throat. “It would have been impossible to miss.”
