Page 18 of Beyond Fate

“Wait.” Damon frowned. “I wasn’t aware dark fae could use magic to heal. When Raidh was attacked by those vampires, he was down for three days healing.”

The entire family had been worried. The fairy was so small that Damon had just wanted to wrap him in cotton.

Now he wanted to wrap Casimir in an even bigger ball of cotton. Maybe some bubble wrap, secured by duct tape, and then attach lasers to him so anyone who wanted to do the warrior harm would be cut down.

He really needed to let go of his obsession with lasers.

“I keep telling you, nékah.” Casimir looked down at Damon from where he was sitting. “I am different. I am a…” He grinned playfully. “Can you remember the word for guardian?”

“Can you remember I just rescued your ass so I don’t have to take any pop quizzes?” Damon winked at him.

He yelped when Casimir lunged at him, taking him down to the ground. Damon landed on his back, laughing and twisting when his mate started tickling him.

“Uncle!” Damon hooted as Casimir tucked him halfway under his large frame.

Casimir’s smile was dazzling, his blue eyes alight with laughter. “Who is this uncle you call for?”

“Oh my god.” Damon laughed even harder. “You say uncle to stop someone from tickling or hurting you. My brothers and I have said it a million times.”

It honestly felt fantastic to be so cheerful and teasing after what he’d been through, like his outburst of laughter had purged a ton of demons that had been gnawing at his insides.

Casimir’s smile faded. “Your brothers hurt you?”

There was no way to explain sibling rivalry to someone who had no siblings. “You and the other guards didn’t goof around?”

“There were shared chuckles once in a while when we found ourselves with extremely rare downtime,” Casimir replied. “Training was harsh, leaving no room for lightheartedness, and when guarding the king, you remained steadfast and professional.”

Damon brushed his mate’s hair over his shoulder, studying him. “Have you ever had a good time where you just cut loose and had fun?”

That was Damon in a nutshell. He took his responsibilities seriously but grabbed every opportunity to enjoy life. It was his family who’d given him so much joy, teaching him to appreciate every moment.

“I’m having fun with you,” Casimir replied with a tender smile. Then he cupped Damon’s face, his hands warm and strong against his skin. “For the first time in four thousand years, my heart feels so light.”

A sarcastic reply came to mind about his mate’s age, but Damon bit it back. He didn’t want to ruin this moment. There was so much longing in Casimir’s eyes, so much pain and loneliness. Damon wanted to wipe that look away.

“I’m just sorry I put you through hell first.” It would be a very long time before Damon got over the pain and heartache he’d caused his mate.

Casimir narrowed his eyes. “Didn’t I already tell you the past week is behind us?”

“I won’t bring it up again…for now, as long as you don’t give me another pop quiz.” Damon chuckled and tugged gently on his mate’s beard. “We’re two hairy-ass men.” He caressed his fingers through the strands, astonished it was even softer and longer than his own.

Damon pulled his hand away as Casimir lowered his head.

Chapter Six

“Are you about to kiss me?” Damon grinned, his pulse skyrocketing as he lay on his back, his mate draped half over him. He became lost in Casimir’s touch, his closeness, and the possibility that he was going to finally know how his mate’s lips tasted. He wanted that kiss more than anything.

“I was trying to be smooth about it.” Casimir gave him a playful growl. “Now I guess—”

To hell with trying to be smooth. Damon grabbed Casimir’s shoulders and yanked him down, their lips touching for the very first time.

“This will do, my love,” the warrior groaned.

Casimir’s tongue slid over Damon’s bottom lip so slowly Damon felt dizzy. He wanted to keep his eyes open, but they fluttered closed. The first thing he registered about the kiss, beyond warm and wet and soft, was the taste. Masculine and spicy and purely Casimir. A warrior’s taste.

Casimir pulled him closer, plunging his tongue deep into Damon’s mouth. He sucked it with fervor as Damon writhed in his mate’s arms. So good.

Damon moaned and parted his lips even wider while his tongue chased the taste in Casimir’s mouth. Casimir chuckled into the kiss even as his hands slid from Damon’s face into his hair, feathering it between his fingers.

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