The reluctance to leave him was evident. Atlas didn’t want to leave him! Bel wanted to do a little dance and celebrate. That would not be dignified. “You are already here,” he agreed. “But you don’t have a home?” That bothered him greatly. Bel wanted to make sure that Atlas was never alone again. Give the boy everything that he was missing. It was the mate pull. Bel knew that. Embraced the link already forming between the two of them.
A slight blush made Atlas’s cheeks turn pink. “It’s a long story. But no, I’m…traveling around.”
Bel had no idea what that meant. “You’ll stay then.” At least Bel could ensure his mate’s safety as they figured out what was happening. “I’ll show you around.”
“Okay.” Atlas had to move to the edge of the chair then drop down.
Bel’s mate was just a tiny little thing. There wasn’t anything human-size in his home. Although the magic in the house would adapt and could be altered for all of Atlas’s needs.
He stood and while he wanted to hold out his hand and touch his mate, that might be rushing things. Bel would take things slow with Atlas. Make sure that his mate was safe and comfortable. Then he was going to have to figure out a way to bring Atlas into his world.
Luckily there were other humans that resided in hell. Quite a few of them since mates had begun to be found once again. Bel would use the contacts that he’d made. He was also certain that the boys would be thrilled with adding another human to their group. Bel just had to make sure that the master of punishment’s mate, Adam, didn’t try to claim Atlas as a minion. Yes, that wasa thing that Adam did. While it usually amused Bel, he wouldn’t let his mate fall into that chaos.
“This way,” Bel instructed. He strode toward the same wall that he’d entered through earlier.
The wall opened.
“Does it do that when you’re close enough? Is there a weight plate or motion sensor?” Atlas questioned. His eyes were huge as he looked around.
Bel had to slow down. He was so used to magic that it hadn’t occurred to him that all of this being so new to Atlas might be intimidating. Atlas hadn’t been outside of the human realm. Or at least Bel didn’t think so. Surely, the boy would have mentioned it?
“My apologies,” Bel said. “Things work differently on this plane. If I forget to explain anything, please don’t hesitate to ask questions. It might not occur to me to inform you of what is happening.”
“So formal,” Atlas said with a grin. “But yeah, you probably don’t even know what to explain.” He waved his hand. Toward the wall. “So…”
“Magic,” Bel explained. “The wall moved because I needed it to.”
“Huh.” Atlas looked even more confused. “But how did it, and I’m usingitfor magic, know that you wanted the wall opened.”
Bel stilled. That was a very interesting question. And Bel didn’t have an answer.
“You don’t know, do you?” Atlas cackled as he rubbed his hands together.
“I…” Bel frowned. “I’ve always had magic.”
“I’m beginning to wonder how good your explanations are going to be,” Atlas teased.
Bel was shocked at the teasing. Over the fact that his tiny mate still wasn’t showing any fear toward him or the situation that he found himself in. “I do know a mage that I can ask.”
“Part of those phone calls that you’ll make in the morning?”
“Yes.” There were going to be so many phone calls. Which meant that Bel was going to have no hope in keeping Atlas a secret. Not that Bel planned on keeping Atlas a secret, not exactly, but he would like some time to get to know his mate before he had to introduce Atlas to some of his more annoying friends. Like Asmos. And Mammon. And mostly all the other demons.
He was certain that wouldn’t happen though.
If Lucifer knew, then he would tell Cary, who would be unable to resist sharing the news with Asmos.
“Why do you look like you’re about to eat a plateful of vegetables?”
That shocked a laugh out of Bel. His mate must really hate vegetables. “Demons are…”
“Are?” Atlas questioned.
“Annoying,” Bel finished.
Atlas laughed. “Not what I thought you were going to say.”
“To be fair,” Bel corrected himself, “not all demons are annoying. Most just go about their business and stay close to their familiar units. It seems the ones that I am around the most are just…the odd ones.”
