How could Luc deserve a second chance after that?
Ollie ran his hand through his hair once more, a nervous habit of his. “All I’m saying is, if you want to hear Luc out, do it. I did, and I’m glad I gave him a chance to talk.”
Jitters erupted in Dex’s chest. Not excitement. It was too frantic and off-putting, threatening to overwhelm him. “What did Luc say to you?”
Ollie broke eye contact. “It’s hard to explain. He’d do abetter job of it than me. I don’t want to speak for him, you know?”
Fair. Though Dex would rather get a clear answer. This was such a huge shift from the last time they’d talked about Luc. Ollie was saying it was safe for Dex to see Luc alone, when last time, he’d been trembling with fear, dragging Dex away. How did Ollie and the demons go from snarling about protecting him to this?
Ollie squeezed Dex’s hand. “Follow your heart.”
Could he? It was as if Ollie understood Dex’s inner conflict and accepted it. Fuck, that didn’t make sense. Dex had kept most of his feelings to himself.
His gaze was drawn to the park across the river. “I don’t understand why I can’t get Luc out of my head. I shouldn’t be obsessing over him. That’s why this condo sucks. All I see when I look at the park is him.”
Ollie’s eyes widened.
Shit, he shouldn’t have admitted that Luc had been on his mind all this time. It was still a betrayal, no matter what Ollie said about following his heart.
“You’re obsessing?” Ollie asked, his demeanor turning soft and maybe even understanding.
What?
“Is it magic?” Dex lowered his voice. Even though they were alone. “I know Dante and Ash proved that Luc didn’t trick me with an illusion, but could magic be making me feel this way?”
“No. Magic doesn’t create feelings. I got really hung up on that when I found out I was Dante’s mate, but whatever you’re feeling is all you. Luc isn’t tricking you. Magic isn’t making you think about him.”
“That’s not what you said before. You were certain he was lying to me.”
“I know, and that’s why I’m telling you to talk to Luc if you want. I don’t think he actually lied to you. I was wrong.”
So everything Dex liked about Luc was real, and not a trick?
Dex wanted to scream. Even if Ollie had been mistaken before, not everything had changed. “I get what you’re saying about the other demons coming to an understanding with Luc one day, given how long they live, but why are you on board? Luc not lying to me doesn’t erase his attack.”
Couldn’t Dante hate Luc until he and Ollie broke up—or if their relationship lasted, until Ollie went to the afterlife—then reconcile with the Devil if he’d really changed his ways?
Ollie gripped Dex by the shoulders. “I’m going to live as long as Dante. I’m his fated mate. We bonded, magically. All his problems and history will be mine too, in time. Even Lucifer. That’s why I’m on board.”
Dex couldn’t speak.
But Ollie didn’t stop there. “Bonding with Dante is what saved me on the beach, and it took me a while to understand it, but having a fated mate is a good thing. Believe me. Fate doesn’t dictate anything. It gives you what you need to make the right choices and the confidence that things will work out in the end. I realized that it’sfatedfor Luc and the other demons to work things out, and I want to be open to that, no matter what happened between me and him.”
Dex didn’t follow. Nothing Ollie said made any fucking sense.
The front door opened. “Are we ready to view the last property?” the realtor asked with a sunny smile.
“We’ll be out in a minute,” Ollie said, and she disappeared to wait in the hallway. “Follow your heart, Dex. Let me worry about Luc’s attack. What he did isn’t okay, but I want to forgive him no matter how much time it takes.”
Time that Ollie apparently had no lack of, even if Dex did.
The last condo was a bust.Dex wouldn’t buy it if it were the only place for sale in the city.
“Want to come over for dinner?” Ollie asked as the realtor sped off in her car, leaving them on the corner.
Dex rubbed the back of his neck. “No, I’ve got to pack. The offers on my place are coming in fast.”
“That’s great. Want help packing? We could order in.”
