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“Yes,” I admitted. Tate stood and helped me move the mirrors to the side of the room. Still visible, but at least they were no longer creating portals to other dimensions. “Fated creatures often are–possessive too.”

“Like ogres?”

My brow furrowed. “That’s right. Jaxon?”

“Chris took me out trying to rush back to him earlier. He looked like he was about to jump out of his skin.”

“Yeah, that sounds familiar.” I gestured around the room again. “Did you know anything about what was going to happen here?”

Tate shook his head, and glanced pointedly at the empty seat next to him. I dropped into it, and Tate made himself comfortable on my chest like he just knew he belonged there. My wings settled around him, the energy that had been vibrating through my nerves for the last month easing like Tate was the answer to all my problems. “Carter only said he was having some people over. It was his friend’s idea to do the whole… mirror thing. I guess he read about it somewhere and decided to try it.”

“Did anyone know that you were a virgin?”

Tate blushed. “Carter, but he wouldn’t have said anything. Especially since he didn’t know it would matter.”

“It’s likely none of them did,” I explained. “Tate, that ‘mirror thing’ was a demon mating ritual.” I expected him to ask questions, to be at least partially alarmed by what I’d just said but instead, Tate just looked… content. His eyelids were growing heavy and with his big green eyes and his freckled cheeks, dusted by his dark lashes, he looked like a kid settling in for a bedtime story.

Since he didn’t protest, I continued. “It wasn’t the ritual that paired us together, but it was what made the bond fall into place. To anyone else, it’s no more than an urban legend like Candyman or Bloody Mary. Whoever suggested it probably thought he’d get in some good scares against his friends, but he had no way of knowing we were already fated. When a virgin completes the ritual the right way—speaking the chant in a clear and concise manner, three times from start to finish—it urges the demon to go to their mate and complete their unity.”

“Is that what we just did?” Tate’s voice was sleepy, his eyelids drooping.

“No, Tate. Not completely.” His eyes fluttered, and he sat up to avoid falling asleep on me. “To complete it, I need to come inside of you.”

His cheeks deepened in color and judging by the way he shuffled, just as much blood rushed to his dick. “Wh-when⁠—”

I silenced him by taking his hand. “Not tonight. I don’t want to hurt you. The way you saw me then, I would have. I had to really control myself, which was why I used my tail on you tonight. When I get inside of you, I’m going to be ruthless until you’re wholeheartedly mine.”

Lust flared to life inside me again, and I needed to close my eyes to center myself. Most devils would have completed the bond without caring for the discomfort of their mate. Some virgins had spent their life preparing for that moment and perhaps Tate was the same, but something told me that I’d be the first to ever claim that perfect little ass of his.

Tate mulled over the idea of it for a moment, then that shameful expression crossed his face again, and he turned his attention to his lap. “Wh-what if…”

I hooked my finger under his chin and redirected his eyes back to mine. “Don’t you dare make yourself smaller around me, Tate. Look at me when you’re speaking to me, because I promise that nothing will ever make me think less of you.”

He swallowed hard, Adam’s apple brushing against my knuckles. “What if I can’t take… it.” My lips twitched with the ghost of a smile, but the next words out of Tate’s mouth chased it away as quickly as it came. “What if I’m not good enough for you?”

“Tate…” I breathed. I dropped my hand from his chin, taking him by the waist and hauling him into my lap. His legs spread to either side of my thighs, and his arms settled around my neck. My hands fell to his hips, thumbs slipping beneath the hem of his T-shirt to stroke his silky-soft stomach. “It’s going to be perfect because I’ll be with you. Trust me, baby, you’ll know what I like.”

I brushed a kiss across his lips, ducking out of the way when he chased me. He let out a shaky breath that was nothing but a warm puff of air across my lips, and ground his hips against my lap. My cock hadn’t entirely gone down from before, but now it was wide awake again. “You’re so big,” he sighed.

“But you’ll be able to take it, baby,” I assured him. “I know you will, because I’m not putting this thing anywhere near you until I’ve driven you mad with my fingers first.”

Tate whimpered against my lips, dick twitching against my stomach. Clearly, he liked that idea, so I continued to test the waters.

“Maybe I’ll even use some toys on you… get you nice and warmed up for me.” Clenching my hands on his hips, I pulled him against my lap, arching up to meet him halfway.

“Luc…” he panted.

Fuck, my name falling off his lips was the sweetest sound I’d ever heard.

It all made sense now:

The sudden urge to go to college.

My fascination with the sweet little freshmen I’d seen on the first day.

The itch under my skin and the undeniable pull I felt toward this precious human.

Everything was leading up to him.