Page 14 of Demon's Desire
His brothers were assholes—well, Ash was, Dante was all right—but they still deserved happiness.
Onyx couldn’t suppress his joy that their little group had expanded. Ollie and Harper had the potential to be true friends, loving brothers like he’d always wanted. People who wouldn’t cast him aside or treat him as an afterthought.
Maybe that kind of family didn’t exist. Maybe real family was Lucifer, a brother who’d betrayed Onyx even after he gave up everything for him. Maybe real family was Ash and Dante, who made him want to scream more than anything else.
Maybe Ollie and Harper would get tired of him, too.
But until then, Onyx would enjoy the little mates. What else could he do? Wallowing was a stupid waste of time. He’d made his choice to fall from the Eternal Realm, so he’d make the most of his life on Earth.
Later that morning, Ollie texted to say he had plans tonight with a friend from work, but was free tomorrow. Harper eventually replied, apologizing profusely for being asleep and rushing off to work before responding—he really was a sweet, earnest young thing—and said tomorrow worked for him too.
Onyx agreed on tomorrow and tucked his phone away.
“You seem pleased,” Scott commented from his desk in the main gallery space.
“I am. Nothing business-related. I’m organizing my social calendar.”
Scott hummed. He looked impeccable as always‚ his silver hair styled and clothes flattering his trim form. If Onyx were to ever age, he’d have hoped to do it as Scott had.
“You’re always busy. How do you have the energy? Most nights I’m curled up with my cat.”
“So? That’s where you want to be. Maybe I need a cat.” Onyx imagined having a pet. It wasn’t something he’d ever done in his long life.
“If you’re serious, I can put you in touch with my friend who runs a shelter.”
“Let me mull it over.” Onyx wouldn’t get a pet on a whim, but maybe a cat would help fill the void that had opened inside him this week. He was beginning to suspect it wasn’t hunger after all.
But he needed something.
Maybe he needed to get laid. He hadn’t bothered since Ash had come into town and started pestering him with all the Lucifer nonsense, other than the one night he’d dragged hisbrothers to a club and found a delectable human couple to play with.
It had been too long since he’d relaxed like that.
Onyx had finalized the guest list for the new opening yesterday and emailed catering suggestions through to Scott, who’d handle the logistics of moving their current pieces into storage and staging the show with the artist. With no appointments that afternoon, there wasn’t much else Onyx needed to do, and Scott hated when he hovered aimlessly.
“I might head out early. If you have everything under control?”
Scott lifted a brow. “I always have this place under control.”
“I know, otherwise I wouldn’t have hired you.” They shared a smile. “Call if you get lonely.”
“You’re on my speed dial,” Scott assured him, and Onyx strolled out the front door.
There was an exclusive kink club he frequented, where he knew more than a few Doms who could get the job done, but it was too early in the day for that, and apps always soured his mood. Perhaps this was why he hadn’t gotten off in so long. He couldn’t seem to muster any enthusiasm.
Onyx checked his phone again. Still no word from anyone about telling the magic world that demons had returned.
Renewed anger jolted through him. Hadn’t Nico said they’d needed his help? Had Onyx fucked up the meeting with Rowan or something? Maybe Nico had gotten annoyed and decided he didn’t need Onyx after all.
Bitterness twisted Onyx’s insides. Why did he care if the witch was avoiding him? Onyx was good at not being left behind. If people didn’t like him, too fucking bad. He’d get that much more pleasure out of showing up unannounced.
Onyx searched The Herb Emporium online and booked a ride. He preferred navigating the city on the ground, rather thanflying—except for his morning commute to work. Feeling like an actual part of human society kept Onyx in the moment. He liked experiencing the city as humans did, even when that included the subway or midday traffic.
When he got there, The Herb Emporium turned out to be a small, rundown shop on a busy street. Nothing fresh paint wouldn’t fix. The building itself wasn’t badly designed.
How long had the shop been there? Had Nico bought the business from someone? He couldn’t have been running it since the sign was last painted. Nico wasn’t that old.
Onyx entered the shop. He preferred minimalism but acknowledged the homey charm of the packed shelves and handwritten signs.
