“I know.”
And of course, Michael, thefuck, chose that moment to speak up again.“After all she’s done for you, you do this to her?”
“Michael,” Angela snarled.“Please.”
“He’s right,” Antonio said.The words brought Michael up short enough that the bastard didn’t open his mouth.“You’ve done more for me than anyone, Angie.You’ve tried so damn hard.And I know that all you’ve wanted is to give me a normal life.But you can’t.There’s never going to be a white picket fence or a wife who works in real estate.I can’t have that.I don’twantthat.”
“Thisis what you want?”No glare, this time.No accusation.Simply conflicted distress.A step up.
“‘This?’For the first time, I’ve got someone who lovesme.Someone who doesn’t judge me.If that makes me a bad influence, then that’s what I’ll be.”
Angela wrung her hands.Declan thought of the first dinner and the easy way Antonio interacted with the girls.How they adored him.And that had only been a couple hours of observation.Angela had countless more such memories, and Declan doubted any of them included Antonio behaving inappropriately around the children.
“I want Mara to see her Tio Tio happy,” she said.“Iwant to see you happy.You’ve been through so much.”And there, she shot Michael a glare.Judging by his wince, it was paired with a kick.“If this… if you’re happy, and you’re not… if he isn’t…”
“He met my parole officer.She gave him the all clear.”
Reluctantly so, but she had.
“And you’re happy?”
“And I’m happy.”
“Alright then.”Angela took a slow, controlled breath.“Don’t miss dinner.Either of you.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Declan said and meant it.Then, carefully, fae through and through, “I love Antonio.His happiness means a great deal to me.I have no intention of being someone he regrets inviting into his life.”
Antonio smiled.Declan felt it, when the man raised their hands to his lips and pressed a kiss to Declan’s knuckles.
Angela, it turned out, asked much the same questions as Clara once she felt given leave to do so.This time when the subject of law enforcement came up, he opted for a different answer.
“I’mhappywithyouas well,” Declan said the next evening, kissing salt from Antonio’s shoulder.“In case you wondered.”
“Yeah?”Antonio grinned and shifted closer.There wasn’t much room, with Declan seated on the hood of Antonio’s car and the man between his spread knees.But he tried, stars bless him, and settled his hands on Declan’s hips.
“Oh, aye.”Fingers trailed over broad shoulders, carefully healing small cuts left from their passion.“Those marks you like so well stand as ready proof.They darken over time when a sluagh finds joy in their life.Even the ones by my temple are visible, now.”
Antonio smiled, rough and real in that way he had that Declan so enjoyed.“Sluagh have a built-in moodring?”
“We’re creatures of complex and mysterious depths,” Declan answered, which earned him a laughing kiss that he returned with teeth.“A sluagh with only their nails, wrists, and eyes blackened is not long for this life.It’s hard not to fade when you think there’s no way back to happiness.ButI,” another kiss, more scraping of pointed teeth than anything and Antonio’s fingers tracing the marks, “am at no such risk, as you can plainly see.You make me happy.”
His touch burned in the best way.Sent shivers through Declan all over again.
“Think we should make sure you don’t have any in hiding then, Murderpunk,” Antonio murmured against his neck.“Just in case.”
Timepassedtooquicklythere, in Antonio’s garage.Antonio worked, and Declan learned all about different kinds of wrenches and sockets, and that Antonio could repair a car while answering inane questions.Learned too, that tight hands on his wings and a mouth on his nipple could work Declan nearly to completion.That pinning Antonio facedown with a single hand between his shoulder blades would have the man hard before the first shred of clothing came off.
Declan grew used to the sweet thrum of sun-drenched contentment from Antonio far more quickly than he had the discordant song of his anxiety, back in Faerie.Basked in the constant contact and affirmation in each waking moment.Days that purred of leather and lilacs melted together until they were no longer being counted down.
He didn’t wish to leave.
They would be found eventually if they stayed in the mortal realm.Found and chased.Even if Declan stopped aiming for the Council, Nimai wouldn’t let up.
Declan would burn down all of Faerie before he let Antonio be harmed.He could, and he would.
And so, when the day of the party came, they went.
Chapter Twenty-One
