I placed my hands on his hips and gently turned him to face me. My palm brushed his cheek.
“Don’t lie to me, Diablos. You can tell me anything.”
He searched my eyes, and I gave him the time and space. After a sigh, he wrapped his arms around me and buried his head in my chest. “Let’s eat, and after that, I'd like us to speak. Is that okay?”
“Of course.”
The vulnerability in his gaze nearly broke me. I wanted to scoop him into my arms and shield him from everything. But I waited.
Dinner was ready, and all I had to do was bring the water. We ate mostly in silence. I could see Di deep in thought. I kept watching him, trying to figure out what was wrong.
Had I been too rough with him earlier? Was he second-guessing us? Was he worried about the demons?
“Thank you for dinner. It was delicious. I didn’t know you could cook like this.”
I shrugged. “I learned.”
“Demons taste food like humans, right?”
Chuckling, I took his hand and guided him toward the couch, “Yes, we do. Though it depends on the kind of demon.”
“I don’t want to know what the others eat.”
“For the better,” I snorted, laughing with him as he wrinkled his nose.
We sat together, and I wrapped him in my arms. Caressing his arm with one hand and playing with his hair with the other, I felt him gradually relax under my touch. I didn’t rush him. I'd wait however long he needed.
“You shared your life with me, and…" he whispered, "and I guess I want to do the same. As you know, I was adopted atseventeen. I'd been in the foster system since I was fifteen. I didn’t like talking about the time before, and I’m grateful none of you pushed me to.”
He paused. I kissed his head and said, “I don’t know what it’s like to be in the system. I wandered the surface for a long time before King found me. I was behind in school. I didn’t talk about my past, either, so I get it.”
He looked hesitant again, so I offered something in return.
“I never shared with any of you how I met King.”
“We figured it was the same as the rest of us.”
“No, it wasn’t. I tried to steal from him.”
“What?” the shock in his voice was cute.
The memory ached, but I laughed at the absurdity of that time.
“No idea what possessed me to target the wealthy man in a suit sitting alone in a park.”
“Maybe because he looked wealthy?” Di teased.
“You're probably right.” I smiled but then sobered. “Anyway, he caught me, of course, and he sat me down for a long chat."
“The stern father chat?”
“Exactly. Not that I knew what that was back then.”
That moment, when King asked if I'd like to come with him, be part of the Hughes family, I'd never forget it. He wasn't the only reason I said yes, though he mattered. What truly convinced me was when he said I'd have brothers.
Losing my brother left a wound nothing could heal. No one could replace him. But hell, I'd craved family. Even if, as a demon, I wasn't supposed to want one.
I told Di all of this. He kissed my neck and held me close, no words needed. His arms around me were everything.
