Page 23 of Demon

“If it’s a student, I’ll be able to scent him now when I’m close.” Callan sensed Lonnie’s frustration, so he laid his arm around the man’s shoulders, smiling when Lonnie cuddled in close. “You have classes tomorrow?”

“Full day,” Lonnie said with a nod.

Xavier tucked his hair behind one ear, still looking at the notes. “Whoever he is, he’s escalating, so Callan, you’ll need to be vigilant. I can also bring in Finn, if you’d like. He can better sense these wizards.”

“Is that necessary?” Lonnie asked. “I’m not sure I want someone else in my home.”

“It could end up being necessary. This wizard is hyper-focused on you and your life. That makes him dangerous. But we can wait and see if Callan can pick up on his scent first.”

“Let’s do that.” Lonnie shivered, making Callan tighten his arm around him.

Xavier didn’t stay long after that, and once he was gone, Callan could tell that they’d lost the earlier mood entirely. Lonnie’s lips were pinched into a tight frown as he started to pace.

“I hate this,” he said when he stopped in front of the television and threw up his hands. “And I don’t get it. What about me would bring this out in someone like that?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m a chubby school professor. Not even that good-looking. I don’t do anything special outside of my job. I’ve never flirted with a student in my life, either.”

“May not be a student.”

His shoulders slumped. “That’s true. I’m wracking my brain, trying to think of where I could have run into an actual wizard.”

“They are everywhere. Could be anyone.”

Lonnie looked at him, features drawn and pale. “Yeah, Callan, that’s what’s scaring me so badly.”

Chapter Fifteen

Callan

Nothing happened over the next week, and Callan grew more frustrated every day because he had not caught that scent again. No more notes arrived, and since Lonnie was too scared to sleep in his bedroom, he’d been sleeping on the couch with Callan staying in the recliner.

They hadn’t kissed again, and Callan had held off giving his third courting gift. It wasn’t the right time. Not with Lonnie more restless than usual. His movements were more jittery, and he’d been rambling more than usual, his sleep so fitful he awakened often to sit up and look around the living room. Callan made sure to calm him each time, but seeing his mate so agitated and unnerved bothered him so much, he was finding it hard to not resume courting. He wanted to give Lonnie something else to focus on. But something told him it wasn’t the right time.

The stalker’s complete silence bothered him. It felt like the calm before a storm.

On Friday night, he and Lonnie were about to settle in for the new show they’d been watching, this one calledBleach. It was very different from the last show, but Callan had been enjoyingit. Though he found watching Lonnie’s face during it was even more enjoyable.

Lonnie had left the room to grab something out of his bedroom when someone pounded on the front door.

Callan briefly closed his eyes because he knew exactly who was out there. He shouldn’t have told Rafe where he was, but his brother had been insistent, and since he posed no threat to Lonnie, Callan had caved. So he had no doubt Rafe, Nathanial, and Bartholomew were the ones pounding on the door.

He got up to answer, growling at them all. “This is my job. Can’t just show up.”

“It’s your birthday,” Nathanial said as he shoved past Callan and strode into the house. He stopped, eyes going wide as he looked around. “Whoa.”

“Be careful,” Callan warned, sending each brother a pointed look. “And be nice to Lonnie. He’s…good.”

Rafe’s lips stretched into a knowing grin. “How good?”

When Callan didn’t answer, he whooped and walked into the house with Bartholomew on his heels.

“Where’s Shia?” Callan asked after looking to make sure she wasn’t coming behind them.

“Visiting her parents.” Rafe shrugged. “She said to have a fun ‘boy’s’ night.”

Lonnie picked that moment to step into the living room, his jaw dropping as he took in the huge demons taking up most of the space. But he didn’t cower, just blinked at each of them.

---