“Daniel,” Xavier ordered in a firm, but calm voice that somehow penetrated his scream. “You can stop now. Noel is safe.”
He shut his mouth.
The abrupt silence actually hurt Daniel’s ears as exhaustion slammed into him. He fell to the floor, working hard to catch his breath as his mind grew muddy with dizziness. Every muscle in his body felt weighted and sore, so he couldn’t move as Xavier turned his anger on the three preternaturals.
Daniel just closed his eyes and let the exhaustion take over.
Still, he heard their cries, and when he finally could bring himself to open his eyes, it was to find them writhing on the floor.
Xavier had stripped them all of their powers.
It was a sentence worse than death for a preternatural.
They deserved it.
Daniel slowly sat up as Noel knelt beside him, his hand gripping Daniel’s arm. “Holy shit, Daniel. That’s some power you have.”
He looked Noel over, seeing a few small cuts on his face from the flying debris. “It’s dangerous. That’s only the fourth time I’ve ever let it loose. But he was going to make you kill yourself.” He swallowed, his throat feeling full of razors. “I was so damn scared.”
Noel’s hand tightened on his arm. “Because you love me.”
Daniel stared at him, his heart beating hard. “I do. I love you so much.”
“But do feel you can trust me?” Those blue eyes went shiny with moisture, his need for that last step stamped on his face.
Daniel continued to stare at him while he searched his own feelings.
Yes, he did. There had been circumstances beyond their control and Noel was here now to make it right. Danielneededto trust him again. “You can’t leave me again, Noel.”
“I won’t. I’ll stay with you and make you miserable someday when I finally age and pass away. I’m too selfish not to stay with you even knowing that.”
A smile pulled up one corner of Daniel’s mouth. “You are, huh?”
The corner of his mouth quirked. “Very, very selfish. I want time with you. I know that preternaturals have soulmates, and I can’t be one because I’m human. I know I’m asking you to give that up.” He paused, visibly swallowing hard. “But I want all the time I have left with you.”
Daniel’s heart just melted. “All your research, and you still got one thing wrong.”
“What’s that?” Noel asked.
Daniel cupped Noel’s cheek. “Humanscanbe soulmates. Humans with the ability to see through glamours. So, I won’t be giving that up and instead gaining something I’ve always wanted. We’re going to have many, many years to drive each other crazy.”
Pure joy spilled into Noel’s face. He turned and kissed Daniel’s palm, nestling his face there. He closed his eyes and whispered, “Thank you for trusting me. I promise to spend all those many years loving you with everything I am.”
And Daniel believed him.
Epilogue
Daniel
Turned out Noel wasn’t quite ready to give up investigation work. He opened a private detective agency in Seattle, where he spent a lot of his days digging into people’s private lives. He spent his nights with Daniel in the house they’d purchased together in the Belltown area. It was a custom built with sweeping Puget Sound views they’d been able to afford because both had been setting money aside for years. In Daniel’s case, many, many years.
The four-bedroom home was a mix of old charm and modern amenities, and it held a cozy yet elegant atmosphere that had appealed to them both the minute they’d walked inside. They’d just looked at each other, both knowing it was the one.
He’d thought they couldn’t be more different but was quickly learning they actually shared a lot in common. They liked the same foods, and both loved soaking in the master bathroom tub that sat under several windows facing the Sound. They enjoyed walks on the beach, and whenever the passion temporarily calmed, they’d found ways to work around their differences.Noel liked to read, so he did that whenever Daniel joined his friends in online games.
They’d settled into a partnership that felt like those five long years apart hadn’t happened at all. And the soulmate bond had grown, making them feel the other’s emotions. Daniel had felt that before with Noel, but hadn’t realized what it had meant. He knew now.
Today was an absolutely gorgeous day, so Daniel poured himself a cup of coffee and walked onto the back porch to join Noel for their morning enjoyment of those views. A cool breeze lifted the ends of his hair and brushed over his face, the sunlight warm on his skin.
