He closed his eyes, dashing away the tears that squeezed out. “I’m sorry, Danny. I’m so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you, any of you.” Whatever happened next, he couldn’t look Daniel in the eye for it. He’d deserve it, but he wasn’t strong enough.
He didn’t expect a hug. Daniel’s arms folded around his neck, trapping Ashmedai’s hand between their chests. Nicolas sobbed, squeezing his little brother and hiding his tears in his collar.
“I forgive you, dumbass,” Daniel said fondly. “Although you’ve got a mean right hook. And left hook. But I knew what you were doing. You hit me in anawaydirection that sent me right toward Julian and away from the squad.”
Nicolas nodded.
Another arm fell around his neck, and he turned his head to see Julian beside them, an arm around both of them and grinning wide.
“I forgive you, too,” he declared.
“Jules.” Nicolas extricated an arm to wrap around Julian’s back, and the icy loneliness that had plagued him these last few weeks began to truly thaw at last. Ashmedai released a deep purr that vibrated against his spine, like he somehowknewthis was exactly what Nicolas needed.
When they untangled themselves, Daniel said, “No more isolating yourself. When you’re not at HQ, you’re with us.”
He immediately began to shake his head. “That’s too dangerous. What if?—”
“They see your super secret demon lover sneaking you in and out through our storage closet?” Julian asked. “I think the odds of that are low. Just don’t be seen outside with him or any of the rest of us, and you’ll be fine.”
“I’m not appeased,” Talon said, arms folded across his chest.
“I am,” Alex called, and Talon wheeled around with an exasperated sigh.
“Little bird!”
“I don’t know you well enough to get up and hug you, but I get why you did it. Now, come here and hold my hand, Tal. I think the last rib is about to pop back into place.” He held out one hand, wiggling his fingers.
Talon obeyed, dropping to his knees once more and gripping Alex’s hand as his face went white and he squirmed in discomfort.
“Rib popping into place?” Nicolas repeated. “What?”
“Yeah, he had…” Julian blew out a breath. “Five broken ribs, we think, and a dislocated shoulder. Bones take a little longer to heal than flesh wounds.”
“Bones take weeks to heal,” Nicolas said dumbly. “Weeks. Not hours. It’s been just… an hour or two since that happened, right? I know I had to spend a little time at HQ dealing with Casey but… I wasn’t there for weeks, right?”
Daniel tilted his head curiously. “You don’t know?”
“Know what?”
“Don’t tell him,” Talon said sourly. “He doesn’t deserve to know about that.”
“I mean, it makes sense that you don’t know, I guess. I just found out when I started staying here at the Rink. I assumed you already knew because you’re seeing Ashmedai, though. Didn’t he tell you?”
Nicolas turned his head to peer back at Ashmedai, who cocked his head to one side and shrugged.
“Ashmedai doesn’t know either,” Nicolas said.
“No, he wouldn’t,” Nathan chimed in. “He’s been in Hell all his life, right? He’s never been on the surface to see what happens when?—”
“Don’t!” Talon protested.
“—a human is given demon blood.”
Those words didn’t compute. “Given demon blood?” he repeated. “Given it how?”
Talon barked out an unkind laugh. “No wonder he hasn’t found the kids. Not exactly Einstein, is he?”
The white-haired Storm snorted in amusement, and Nathan swatted him. Nicolas couldn’t muster any anger. They were right to be pissed at him.
