“Isn’t it weird being with a guy who’s ancient and will never age?” How was Ollie so relaxed? He’d been wary of relationships for years, and suddenly, he was all in with this wild shit. Dex had to be missing a boatload of details.
“It’s not weird at all.” Ollie shifted in his seat. “It’s like dating anyone else. We game, get coffee, and—well, I can’t say sex with Dante is like anything I’ve ever done before because it’s not. Um.” Ollie’s cheeks bloomed with color, and he cleared his throat. “You should join Dante and me online. This is why I wanted to tell you. So we could all get to know each other for real. You’ll see.”
Dex wasn’t sure he would. He agreed anyway. It was better than focusing on his own confused feelings.
Would he ever look at Ollie and not feel guilty for the lingering pull Luc seemed to have on him?
11
LUCIFER
Luc’s phone had to be lying. He stared at the new message.
Onyx:
We need to talk.
This must be for someone else, sent to Luc by mistake. But a second later, another text came through.
Onyx:
Now, Luc. Where are you?
All right then. Not a mistake. He replied with his address and waited, tail twitching impatiently.
It was late in the evening. Not that Luc was busy doing anything except obsessing over Dex walking away on the rooftop. A visit from Onyx would be a welcome change of pace.
A short time later, someone banged on the door, and Luc went to open it.
“A loft? Really?” Onyx curled his lip as he sauntered in, wings out and horns and tail hidden away.
Luc slammed the door. “I’m not copying you.”
“Whatever. This place doesn’t hold a candle to mine.” Onyxmade a cursory inspection of the mostly empty loft before facing Luc. “I had dinner with your mate tonight.”
Luc’s throat ran dry. Was Onyx taunting him? “How nice for you.”
Onyx’s eyes flashed. “Nice? Don’t start walking on eggshells now. Say what you’re thinking, dammit.”
The tightness in Luc’s chest released, and he staggered forward as if Onyx’s permission had opened a floodgate. “How is Dex? Was everyone there? No one told him, right?”
Onyx’s expression softened. “No one told Dex anything about mates. Ash and Dante haven’t even told Harper and Ollie. They’re staying out of it completely.”
“And you?” Luc’s heart beat faster, hope threatening to take hold, even if he wasn’t sure why. There was nothing Onyx could do. Luc had ruined this beyond repair.
“Does it look like I’m staying out of it?”
Luc shook his head. No, it didn’t.
Onyx sniffed, seemingly satisfied with the acknowledgment. “I won’t lie, Dex is upset and confused, but he’s your mate. You need to fix this. What’s the plan?”
Luc’s pounding heart clenched painfully. “Plan? There is no plan. What am I supposed to do?”
Onyx threw up his hands. “Figure it out. Anything other than give up.”
“Gee, having you on my side is helping already.”
“Fuck you, Luc. You miserable piece of shit. I have a dozen better places to be than this lame, definitely-copying-me loft of yours.”
