Page 60 of Beyond Fate

“I’m sure Jax didn’t mean to call Casimir a gorilla.” Raidh got to his feet then dusted off his butt. “Things were tense.”

“You really are a little peacekeeper.” Damon let out a small chuckle. “Casimir is a gorilla in size comparison. I didn’t take any offense.”

“How are you going to lock the door?” Raidh looked nervously past Damon’s shoulder. “Sorry, but I’m not going anywhere near it. I don’t need any vampires spotting me.”

Raising his hand, Damon wiggled his fingers. “One hundred percent chance of fog in the forecast, folks. As soon as it’s thick enough, no one will see you locking the door.” He pouted. “I still wish I’d gotten laser eyes.”

From behind the counter, Damon’s hand began to glow. He concentrated on the area right out front so he could quickly mask Raidh before Damon stepped outside.

Casimir was going to kill him, but Damon couldn’t sit on his ass and do nothing. Those were his family and friends out there fighting. If he needed to get away, he had wings. But Casimir was still out there battling Elouan. That fight should have ended already since his mate had had his magic restored.

Which made Damon think something else was at play. He was still tripping over the fact ghouls existed, but he doubted that was the reason the fight hadn’t ended already.

“Ready?” he asked Raidh when the fog had cut visibility outside the restaurant down to zero.

But Raidh didn’t look ready. He looked terrified at the mere thought of going anywhere near the door. Jaytee would ground Damon into dust if his twin knew he’d just scared his mate half to death.

“Raidh.” Damon snapped his fingers a few times to get the fairy’s attention. His brother-in-law glanced at him then past him.

There was no way Damon could ask Raidh to do something that scared him this badly. “Okay, hon, I’ll stay here,” he said softly. “I’m not going to leave you alone.” He wiggled his brows. “Want to see what food we can chow down on while the world is ending? We could have some pulled pork pandemonium, French fry fiasco, coleslaw chaos, or my favorite, apple pie apocalypse.”

The side of Raidh’s mouth quirked. “My favorite would be chicken tender catastrophe.”

“Aw, come on, man. We already used a C,” Damon objected playfully. He leaned his butt against the counter and crossed his arms. “You can do better, Raidh.”

The fairy tilted his head. “It’s so weird sometimes. I’m looking at an exact replica of my mate, and while I adore you, there’s no connection with you like I have with Jaytee. There are times when I see you in the house, and for a split second I think you’re my mate and I panic because I don’t feel our bond.”

“Then you realize it’s just lil ol’ me.” Damon grinned.

“Little?” Raidh stared wide-eyed at him. “You’re six-two, have huge muscles, and a long beard. I hope you don’t get offended, but I can’t for the life of me picture you pregnant.”

Damon burst out laughing. “Now you know how I feel. If you recall, when I had my breakdown in the kitchen, I said almost the same exact thing.” He looked around as if anyone would be in the restaurant. “You wouldn’t happen to know where this pup is coming out of, do you?”

Swear to god, Damon had never seen anyone who turned that deep shade of red. He had an urge to grab the fire extinguisher. “How would…I don’t…I mean, I guess…”

“Calm down.” Damon smirked, stroking his beard. “All you had to do was say you didn’t. I guess it would be useless to ask you what kíen means.”

Raidh just stood there with his mouth hanging open, and his lavender-grey eyes bugged. It seemed Damon was two-for-zero. “Close your mouth before you catch flies.”

“Did Casimir teach you that word?” Raidh scowled, his hands planted on his hips.

“Oh my god,” Damon groaned in disbelief, his arms spread out. “How bad could it be?”

Raidh glanced around, just like Damon had, licking his lips. “It originated with the Méityah, but others have learned about it, though I personally would never use it,” Raidh whispered like his mom was lurking around the corner with a bar of soap, ready to wash his mouth out. “From my understanding, since guardians rarely—”

Both their gazes shot toward the entrance when they heard what sounded like sharp nails clicking along the glass.

“Get behind me, Raidh.” Damon let out a low growl, turning to face the front of the restaurant.

“I am behind you,” Raidh replied nervously.

The fog still clung heavily outside, making it impossible for Damon to see past it. He didn’t like not knowing who was taunting them.

“You got some kind of chant to let us know what’s going on out there?” Damon’s claws slid free, studying the glass door and large window, trying to get a glimpse of who it was.

“I don’t need a spell.” Raidh swallowed roughly. “I can already tell you it’s no one we want to let in.”

Damon wanted to tell Raidh to go into the kitchen, but since he couldn’t see back there, he wasn’t sending the little fae into a room for a potential ambush. “Get down on the floor. If they look inside, all they’ll see is me.”

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