“Cary called Lucifer Daddy. They have a unique relationship, don’t they?” Atlas questioned.
“Cary is a little,” Bel confirmed. “Normally I would let him tell you but it’s not a big secret in our community. Gage is a middle. The three of them do have a special relationship. It is beautiful.”
Atlas nodded. “I could tell.”
“All of the couples here have unique relationships with their mates,” Bel told him.
“Mates. You all use that word a lot,” Atlas pointed out. He understood that soulmates must be important to the paranormal community. He just wasn’t sure how it worked for humans.
“We went without mates for so long,” Bel said. “Finding them again is like…”
Atlas waited. “Like?”
“Magic,” Bel whispered.
And Bel didn’t have a mate. He was the odd man out, as far as Atlas could tell. That gave Atlas an idea. Bel was offering Atlas a position in his house. With his work. Atlas wasn’t sure what Bel did exactly, but he had seen the stacks of paperwork. As he straightened out Bel’s professional life, Atlas could also learn more about mates. Maybe the friends that he hoped to make would be able to assist Atlas in finding a mate for Bel.
His heart gave a pang.
Atlas needed to be careful with his own feelings. There was an attraction to Bel that he already felt. Knowing that Bel would never look at him as more than an assistant or hopefully a friend would have to keep Atlas from growing too close.
Also, Atlas needed to share with Bel the rest of his story. His past. And what had happened to his family that had left him all alone. Why Atlas lived in that shitty motel and was constantly on the move.
“Bel?”
Snapping his gaze from Asmos’s house, Bel smiled down at him. “Sorry. I was just thinking.”
They both had been. “I need to tell you something.”
Bel stiffened. “What is it? Have you decided not to stay? I can take you back—”
“No!” Atlas said quickly. “I’m staying. Of course I’m staying.”
“Oh. Sorry. What is it that you wanted to tell me?”
Atlas swallowed hard. Now that it was time to make his confession, Atlas didn’t know how to start. Would Bel be angry that Atlas hadn’t told him right away?
“Hey.” Bel clamped his hands on Atlas’s shoulders. “You can tell me anything. You’re safe with me. I’m here to help you.”
“My family,” Atlas whispered.
Be nodded. “Yes?”
“I want to tell you about them.”
“Of course. I would love to know more. You seem so sad when you talk about them,” Bel said.
Atlas nodded. He was sad. Even though he hadn’t been close to either of his parents, Atlas’s grandma had been his whole world. He loved his mom and dad. Had been devastated by their deaths, but losing his grandma had destroyed Atlas. Sent him on his need for revenge.
They both jumped and Atlas screamed as Cary popped up beside them.
“Hello,” Cary said with a big grin. “Are you two coming to the party? You’ve been standing out here forever.”
“And you couldn’t wait any longer?” Bel teased.
“Dean said that I should practice transporting,” Cary replied. “Daddy is finishing dinner and Gage is setting the table. I saw you through the window.”
Bel turned toward Atlas and gave him a small smile. “We can talk about this back home?”
