Page 70 of Priest

He was comforted by the fact that Oliver was in his arms. That he was safe and for the moment, it was all over. Poe was alive, and apart from him and Jeremiah, they’d walked away unscathed. He and Oliver were fully bonded, they loved each other, and Oliver accepted every facet of him just as Priest did him.

But…

Oliver’s words about mates wouldn’t leave him.

Do you know that? Or is that what you’ve always been taught to believe?

Before Remi, they hadn’t thought Hellhounds could have mates either. Priest was pretty sure that was part of why Jeremiah had resisted so hard—he’d been so sure it wasn’t possible, so he hadn’t even let himself think about it.

And it had been the same for Priest.

How many months had he been drawn to the bookshop but then forced himself away, doubting the innate connection that had sparked to life the first time he’d seen Oliver through the shop’s front window?

Even after Jeremiah mated with the prince, Priest had convinced himself it was mostly because Remi was half Siren—and a royal on top of that. That had to be some extra-strong genes.

But that didn’t explain him and Oliver. The amount of Angel blood in his human made it unlikely, if not impossible, for their bond to start with Oliver. Maybe if he’d been aware and developing his abilities before they’d met, Priest could convince himself.

Which meant it came from him.

An Incubus.

A Demon breed so feared and reviled he wasn’t welcome in several countries.

And their bond was as strong as the one Jeremiah had with Remi. Oliver was like a second heartbeat in his chest now—always with him, always aware of him.

He fed him in ways that Priest had never been fed before. He was starting to forget what it felt like to be truly hungry. He was capable of being sated, which meant his fate of insanity from starvation might not be his fate at all anymore.

So what else about themselves had they been lied to about? Where had the misinformation come from, and why did Supes just accept it?

Priest was brought up knowing down to his very bones that he was not ever meant to be. That his purpose was to live, serve, and die in pain and anguish. Just like Jeremiah knew his purpose was to live, serve, and die completely alone. Never loved. Never mated.

But look at them now.

When he was certain Oliver was fast asleep, Priest crept from the bed, grabbing a T-shirt on the way out, and made his way through the house until he heard voices. He stopped nearthe corner of the kitchen, and he could hear Azriel speaking to someone.

“… a lot of pain, but it’ll pass. This is early days. But the more you fight it, the harder it’ll be.”

“How do you know? You’re an Angel? I’m… I’m this.”

“This is no less worthy. I don’t give a shit what some bigots on conservative TV say.”

“I literally have to eat people to survive.”

Azriel snorted. “No, you don’t. Knight survives on blood donations delivered in bags, and he’s not weak for that. No one has to die. But even if you choose to feed on people, that doesn’t mean you can’t find a balance.”

“Kill evil ones?”

“Maybe. Though I suppose evil is a bit subjective. But there are plenty of willing donors. They don’t have to be human, you know. There are strong beings out there who will happily and willingly donate.”

“There has to be a price for that.” Poe’s voice was soft, almost broken, and Priest hated that for him.

Azriel laughed softly. “Yes, my darling. There’s always a price. But there’s a price for food you eat too, right? And for what you drink. For where you lay your head at night. You might have changed, but the world hasn’t. You just need to take a breath and let yourself adjust.”

Priest didn’t want to interrupt. The moment was soft, a little tender, and a lot painful. It wasn’t his place.

Moving past the kitchen, he found his way to the side door that led to the garden. It was safer at night with the cover of trees, and he didn’t have to go far to find his friend. Knight was sitting against a wide trunk of a tall oak, his head tipped back, eyes closed. He tensed a little when Priest sat down, but it was obvious the Vampire had sensed him.

“Do you think we’re doing the right thing?” Knight asked after a beat.

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