“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Or at all? Did Bel not want Atlas? Was Atlas not what Bel wanted?
“How could I?” Bel asked in return. “You already have so much going on. The flickers, the shifters that killed your family, learning that you are a quarter demon. I just didn’t want to add more to your plate.”
On one hand Atlas could understand and even appreciate Bel’s explanation. On the other Atlas didn’t like that Bel would keep something so important from him. That was what bothered Atlas. Being mates was huge. What else might Bel hide from him?
“You’re angry,” Bel said, like he was surprised.
“I am,” Atlas admitted. There was really no point in lying. Not that he knew how Bel picked up on that emotion. Atlas thought he was pretty good at controlling his facial expressions and emotions.
Bel sighed as he sat back. “I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you sooner. That you had to find out that way.”
Atlas picked up his mug and sipped while running his gaze over the demon across from him. The demon prince that was apparently his mate. It could be worse. Atlas found Bel attractive. Wouldn’t it suck if he wasn’t attracted to his mate?
A silly thought, maybe. Still, Atlas had so many questions.
Even more questions that he’d awoken with. And his mind had been filled already. In the shower, Atlas had mentally planned his day. Or what he wanted to know. This morning had been easier. Atlas was figuring out how to use the magic that the hell realm was filled with. So convenient. Atlas wasn’t sure how he would have handled returning to the human realm and going back to having to do everything himself. Plus, he really didn’t want to leave Bel. Bel felt…like home.
The demon prince wore a shirt that must be custom fitted as his wings were visible from slits but still managed to look almost business-like. When Bel spoke or smiled, the sharp fangs peeked through, but Atlas wasn’t afraid. Maybe he should be. Hecouldn’t see the rest of what Bel wore with him sitting behind the desk. The shirt was open to reveal that amazing black demon flesh with the gold veins circling around his throat and chest. Bel’s horns shone in the low light of the office. He really was smoking-hot. No pun intended.
With Bel in his full demon form, Atlas didn’t have to worry about the flickers. At least whatever screwy thing that was happening with seeing through glamour didn’t affect the demon that he was supposed to belong to. Or maybe it was Bel that belonged to him. Atlas liked that way better.
If Atlas was going to turn his entire life upside down, he needed to have some sort of control. “Can you explain more about mates to me? I’m basing my thoughts off what I’ve seen in TV and movies. Not all of that can be accurate.”
“You’d be surprised,” Bel said with a little smirk.
Atlas huffed.
“First let me assure you that you have a choice,” Bel said. “Until the mate bonding has been completed, you can walk away. I am not and would never take your choices away.”
“And after the mate bond is completed?”
Bel winced. “If would be difficult for either of us to spend long periods of time apart. It is not advised.”
“But if I wanted to, I could stand up right now and leave? Just walk away?”
Bel sucked in a breath as his eyes widened, going pale once again.
“Is that a no?” Atlas pressed.
“You could,” Bel said slowly.
“You don’t want me to,” Atlas pointed out.
“Of course I don’t,” Bel replied quickly. “I was going to eventually tell you. I had planned on courting you first. Showing you the best places in hell. I even went out and picked you up a gift this morning.”
A gentleman. Gentledemon? Whatever. Bel was cute with his stiff and old-fashioned tendencies. Of course it might not be old-fashioned to Bel. Atlas didn’t know Bel’s age. Truthfully just the thought of the major age gap made him nervous. That wasn’t the important bit at the moment. He never got presents. “What did you get me?”
Bel watched him for a moment longer before he opened the top drawer in his desk. He reached in but paused.
“What?” Atlas asked. “Did you not get me anything after all? Are you just a tease?” He was mostly joking. More accurately Atlas just liked the way that Bel licked his lips nervously.
“You…confuse me,” Bel told him.
Atlas cocked his head. “I confuse you? Me? In the past forty-eight hours I have moved to hell, met demons and shifters, found out I have demon blood in me, that my grandma might have had sex and a child with a demon, and I confuse you?”
“Yes,” Bel hissed through his sharp teeth. “You should be freaking out, maybe?”
The poor demon did look flabbergasted. “Why?” Atlas shrugged his shoulders. “It’s only been a few days, but I feel more at home here, with you, than I have in my entire life.”
