“Keep it here,” Daniel said. “We’ll be like roommates.”
“Roommates?”
“Yeah. People who share a living space. I’ll use the bed and kitchen and everything, but you can store your things here and come here during the day while you wait for nightfall. We’ll share it. How about that?”
That seemed reasonable. “Yes.”
Daniel beamed at him. “Great. Guess I can finally unpack all my clothes from those bags.” He moved to the bags and unzipped the first one. “So, uh, how is Nic doing?”
Ashmedai considered his answer. “Lonely. He looks forward to being done with this.”
“Me, too,” Daniel remarked. “I’m used to seeing him every day. It’s nice to be able to hang out with Julian again, but it’s not the same without Nic with us.”
Ashmedai longed to hear more. “He told me about before. When you were in a squad together.”
Daniel smiled weakly. “Yeah, it was great. Nicolas wasyoung for a captain. He excelled as a paladin, climbed through the ranks in no time and got his pick of my graduating class. He wanted Julian and me. I’m really glad Julian got out when he did and joined the Sentinels, and I’m glad to be with them now, too. I just hope Nic is able to get out of there soon. I hate that he’s doing this alone.” He sighed, shoulders slumping, and sat down on the sofa. Looking at Ashmedai imploringly, he asked, “Should I have stayed? I feel like I abandoned him there. Maybe I shouldn’t have let him talk me into leaving without him.”
Ashmedai lowered his head, considering. “He worries for you.”
“He always has.”
“Your presence there would have distracted him.”
Daniel blew out a breath. “You’re probably right.”
“Trust him. He has a plan.”
Daniel smiled at him, propping his head up on his fist. “You really like him, huh?”
“Like, no. Too mild of a word.”
Dark brows rose questioningly. “Love him?”
He didn’t know anything about love. What it felt like, what it looked like, how to identify it.
“What is love?” He desperately wanted it to be true, but he didn’t know enough about it to say for certain.
“Love is… hell, I don’t know. I’ve never been in love, either.” Daniel snorted, shoving his fingers under his curls to scratch at his scalp. “I think loving somebody means accepting the good and the bad. You’ll do anything for them. You miss them when you’re not with them. You want them to be happy.” His lips pursed thoughtfully. “There’s probably more to it than that.”
Ashmedai thought about only seeing Nicolas at night. How he harbored an ache in his chest during the day whenhe was forced to stay away. How he longed to see Nicolas smile. Their plans for the future and quiet moments of contentment. How Nicolas’s anguish made him want to tear his own heart out.
“Love him,” Ashmedai said softly. “Yes, I love him.”
A slow smile bloomed on Daniel’s face. “Well. Welcome to the family, Ashmedai. You’re not what I expected in a brother-in-law, but I’m glad it’s you.”
A warm feeling flooded his body. Was this what family felt like? Ashmedai could get used to it.
Chapter 17
Nicolas
Nicolas thrummed with nerves.Tonight, they would be patrolling the 114thsector.
It was the sector where the Rink was located.
It was no coincidence. He wasn’t stupid. They were taking him there on purpose to see how he reacted. They might even provoke a fight with some of the Sentinels, if they found any, and then what would happen? Nicolas would have to fight alongside the paladins or risk exposing himself as a fraud.
God, he hoped they didn’t see Julian or Daniel. Please, God, anybody but them. He could fight Nathan or Isaac or even Alex and keep his game face on. If he had to hurt one of his brothers, though, he’d never forgive himself. He would break. And he couldn’t afford to break.
