“Not yet,” I whispered and drove past the entrance as Talon got out of his car at the pump. He lifted his head and squinted his eyes. His stare appeared to follow my moving car. Fuck, did he see me? Did he even recognize what I drove?
“Calm down, Dom. You’re in control. You’re a damn demon. You don’t need to be a nervous nelly,” I said aloud, hoping to quell my nerves. In truth, Talon’s rejection had done a number on me, and I was scared he’d do it again.
Turning the wheel, I pulled into a roadside parking spot. I’d look around the town before doing anything. There had to be a reason Talon would drive all the way out here. There had to be.
I stepped out of the car, stretching my legs after the long drive. The quaint charm of Crystal Cove unfolded before me as I wandered the main street. The salt in the air mixed with the sweet aroma of blooming flowers from nearby shops created a serene atmosphere. Laughter and casual conversations floated from cafes and boutiques, each storefront offering a glimpse into the town's tight-knit community.
As I meandered, taking in the sights, my attention was abruptly pulled back to the task at hand. Talon's SUV cruised past, and for a fleeting moment, our eyes locked through the crowd. The intensity of his gaze sent a jolt of anxiety through me. Shit. There was no doubt he saw me. His eyebrow even shot up at our meeting gaze.
Panic, mixed with a desperate need to avoid another confrontation, propelled me forward. With little thought, I ducked into the nearest shop to escape his probing eyes. The bell above the door jingled as I entered, announcing my arrival in a bustling hardware store. It was packed with residents, likely prepping for the incoming storm mentioned on the radio. The air was filled with the sound of lively haggling and the clinking of tools being sifted through.
I took a moment to catch my breath, leaning against a display of paint cans. My heart still raced, not just from the near encounter with Talon, but also from the realization that I was truly out of my element. Surrounded by storm shutters, generators, and other hurricane essentials, I felt an odd sense of displacement. This was Talon's world, not mine. Yet, here I was, drawn into it by forces beyond my control.
Trying to blend in, I picked up a random item off the shelf, pretending to examine it while my mind raced. I need to talk to him. I followed him, for fuck’s sake.
“Oh, excuse me,” came a deep voice, startling me from my thoughts.
"Ow," I yelped as a shopping cart rolled over my foot. Recoiling, I stumbled backward into a display of paint cans, sending them clattering to the ground. A chorus of metallic bangs echoed through the store, drawing a dozen curious glances my way. Thankfully, the paint cans remained sealed, sparing me from a colorful disaster.
"What the fu—" My expletive cut short as my irritation evaporated, replaced by intrigue as I locked eyes with the source of my pain. Before me stood a man—no, a shifter—whose presence commanded the room despite his being an inch shorter than me.
I inhaled deeply, his scent unmistakably not that of a predator, but a rabbit, and his intense blue eyes sent a thrill through me. His tousled sandy blond hair and the fitted shirt accentuating his muscular physique ignited a desire in me to explore every inch of him.
Fate, you beautiful bitch—another duša. I grinned and stepped forward. A squeak escaped his lips and his eyes rounded. I loved the sound he made. His nose twitched, and I bet he was so cute as a fuzzy bunny.
“Hey, pretty rabbit,” I cooed, narrowing the gap between us. His lips parted, then pressed together, a silent testament to his shock. I understood all too well the whirlwind of emotions that came with discovering your mate. The tumultuous mix of disbelief and destiny. Hell, I had the same crazy feeling when I met Talon.
“I’m Dominic, what’s your—”
“I don’t understand. How? How is this happening?” he interrupted, his voice a blend of confusion and awe.
"I-I," he stuttered, the unfinished thought hanging between us like an unsolved mystery. And then, with that stutter still coloring the air, he turned on his heel and ran away.
“What the fuck?” I whispered as I stared at the empty space where he once stood. Why the fuck were all my mates running from me. Was it because I was a demon? What the hell was wrong with me? It had to be me, because both my mates ran.
“Sir,” I turned to find an annoyed-looking man eyeing me warily.
“What?” I snapped, already on edge.
He took a small step back, his expression shifting to caution. “I-I uh… need to fix the display you—uh, the display that was knocked over.”
I glanced down at the scattered paint cans on the floor.
“Sure, sorry,” I muttered, stepping aside to let him through and walking out the door.
Stepping out into the fresh air, I paused; my gaze trailed down the bustling street of Crystal Cove. The earlier encounter still echoed loudly in my mind. What should I do? I asked myself. Should I chase after the rabbit shifter, whose departure was as swift as his entrance into my life? Or should I seek Talon, who might already be miles away? Would Talon want me? He made his feelings for me clear.
I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling the weight of indecision. Behind me, the hum of the small town continued, oblivious to the turmoil inside me. I could chase after them, try to mend what might not want to be fixed, or…
Or I could accept Juls' offer. The thought tempted me more than I cared to admit. Going back to the demon realm meant abandoning this mess—no more running, no more rejection. It was an escape, a return to a realm where I understood the rules, where the chaos was familiar, and the betrayals were expected.
But as I stood there, the sea breeze mingling with the sounds of the quaint town, I realized escaping wouldn't change the truth. My heart—or whatever remained of it—had already chosen. It yearned for a connection that fear had driven me to consider fleeing from.
"No," I whispered to myself, the word firm and resolute. “I’m not running away. I am Domi'zel, Prince of the Obsidian Sands.”
My decision made, I started down the street, my steps purposeful. I needed to find my mates, confront the chaos, and face whatever came with it. Because running back to the demon realm wasn't winning; it was surrendering to Julian, and that wasn't who I was. He will never rule me.
Two Mates
