Page 44 of Demon's Heart
Damnation, Ollie sounded hopeless, like he was resigned to relying on Dante but didn’t like it.
“I’ll always be here for you, Ollie—I won’t take your trust for granted—but don’t forget, you have Harper too. He’s a powerful witch.”
Ollie uncrossed his arms, his face softening. “It’s so cool that Harper is a witch. Uh, I mean, it’s cool you’re immortal and have wings too. But it’s weird to think my sweet, innocent roommate has this hidden magic side.”
Dante smiled. “I won’t be offended if you’re more impressed with Harper than me.” And he wasn’t. He wanted Ollie to be comfortable with the magic world, no matter what it took.
He didn’t want Ollie to feel stuck with him. Dante would be here when Ollie chose to turn to him, but he wouldn’t force it by presenting himself as the only option.
“Let’s get something to eat. It’ll help you feel better.” He ledOllie to the kitchen and pulled out a barstool at the counter. Ollie perched on it tentatively as Dante considered their options. “Do you like chocolate?”
Ollie nodded, damp blond curls falling across his forehead. “Of course I like chocolate.”
Dante pulled open his candy drawer and selected several different chocolate bars, lining them up in front of Ollie. “Start with these, and I’ll make you a sandwich.”
Ollie glanced between the candy and Dante, a smile tugging at his lips. “I can’t eat all of these.”
Dante’s heart fluttered, caught on that lovely grin. “Why not?”
“Because that would be seven chocolate bars.” Ollie laughed like it was a ridiculous prospect.
Dante didn’t see the problem. “That’s never stopped me from eating this many—if not more—in one sitting.”
Ollie picked up a chocolate. “Says the immortal. Do you even need to eat?”
“Not exactly.” Dante hurried to grab sandwich fixings from the fridge, wishing he didn’t have to explain drinking blood. Would this be the thing that pushed Ollie irrevocably far away?
He turned back to Ollie, arms full of food. “Demons need to drink blood to maintain their immortality in the Human Realm. We don’t need food, but I like eating anyway.”
Ollie’s brows pulled together. “Do I need to drink blood now too? Since you said I have your immortality?”
Dante paused, his brow furrowing. “Harper hasn’t needed blood since mating with Ash. It seems that trait doesn’t pass on.”
He hadn’t considered whether their mates would need to drink blood. It made sense, given vampires—the only other immortals in the Human Realm—did, but for some reason, demons’ mates seemed to be an exception.
It must have to do with the mating bond. Dante was happyto drink blood for Ollie as well as himself and maintain them both through their magical connection. He’d have to ask Ash if he’d noticed needing more now that he was bonded to Harper.
“Well, I guess that’s good.” Ollie opened a chocolate bar, averting his gaze. He sounded disappointed.
Did Ollie want to drink blood? What a surprise. But maybe it shouldn’t have been after Ollie’s reaction during the mating ritual.
Dante busied himself preparing Ollie’s sandwich. Drinking from Ollie’s wrist had opened Dante to a new longing. He craved the closeness of sharing their essence.
Before the fall, Eternals only ever shared blood with their mates.
“No tomatoes, please,” Ollie said, pulling Dante back into the moment.
He put the tomatoes to one side. “Anything else you prefer?”
“No, I’m not picky.”
Dante wanted to tell Ollie it wasn’t about being picky. He’d give Ollie nothing but his favorite things. But they didn’t need to get through everything in one day. There was time to learn Ollie’s preferences.
Ollie ate his sandwich while Dante finished off the candy bars. When they were gone, he opened his drawer to grab a bag of sour gummies, popped a handful into his mouth, and then offered the bag to Ollie.
He took a couple, a bemused look on his face. “You really like sweets.”
“Guilty.”
