Page 39 of Demon

“But he told me we’re miles from everything.”

A smile pulled up one corner of Xavier’s mouth. “You are kind to worry, but he will have to learn how to survive without his magic.”

“Let him suffer,” Callan said as he set Lonnie on his feet. He still didn’t let him go, keeping one hand wrapped around his arm. He pointed at the large preternatural Lonnie had seen in their offices earlier. “This is Dax. Thank you, Dax, for coming. Thanks to you all.”

Finn clapped his hand on Callan’s back. “A mate is a special, special thing. No way we wouldn’t do what we could to help, even if all we did was provide a shield around him.”

“Was all that was needed.”

Callan never let him go as they walked, moonlight lighting their path and giving Lonnie glimpses of mesquite and ironwood trees. He’d been to Arizona once before and had looked up what they were called. Now that the danger had passed, he could marvel over actually traveling to another state in the blink of an eye. He took a deep breath of the humid air, knowing that the rain had made the local bushes smell sweet.

“It’s really over,” he murmured as pure relief bled through him. He stopped, causing Callan to pause as well. The others kept walking. He looked up at this demon who was his actual soulmate. He’d told Callan he knew what those were, though it was something he’d always considered a part of fiction. He was going to have so many questions for Callan later. “If he comes after me again, at least this time, he won’t be able to use magic.”

“He won’t be coming after you,” Callan said softly.

“How do you know? He seemed pretty certain I was his reincarnated boyfriend. Not to mention he was seriously crazy.”

Callan tucked Lonnie’s hair behind his ear, his gesture so much more welcome than Roman’s had been. He did that thing where he seemed to be struggling to speak, his brows moving closer together with frustration. “To lose magic is devastating. Will take years for him to…adjust. He won’t be able to function for a long time.” Callan hugged him and pressed his lips to Lonnie’s temple. “Even if he tries, I will be there. I will always be there. I will not fail you again.”

Lonnie placed his hands on Callan’s chest and shook his head. “You didn’t fail me. I walked too far ahead trying to get out of the cold. With his magic, what could you have done? Please don’t think this was a failure on your part.” He smiled up at this demon he loved. “Let’s just focus on building a life together. How does that sound?”

“Perfect.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Callan

When Callan slowly came awake, he realized he’d slept through the entire night for a change. Then he realized that Lonnie was asleep sprawled on top of him. It wasn’t the first time Lonnie had crawled on top of him in his sleep, and now he knew it wouldn’t be the last. That soft, pretty hair had flopped up to cover Callan’s mouth, and he smiled as he inhaled Lonnie’s warm, musky scent deep into his lungs.

They’d had sex and that scent permeated the room as well, making him feel all sorts of things. Pride that he’d found a mate so well-suited to him, and even more…love. It had come fast, but it was there and deeper than he’d thought it could happen in such a short time. He didn’t know if it was because of the soulmate bond, that fate knew they were perfect for each other, and he really didn’t care. He had a lifetime of waking to this wonderful man draped all over him, and he looked forward to every single morning.

Lonnie smacked his lips noisily, then turned his head, his hair sliding over Callan’s lips. Then his head popped up.

“I’m asleep on top of you again. Sorry, I’m not sure why I keep doing that.”

Callan hugged him tight. “Don’t be sorry. I love it.”

“I hope so, since I’m not aware I’m doing it.”

“You feel good on top of me.”

Lonnie crossed his arms over Callan’s chest and propped his chin on them, blowing a hunk of hair out of his eyes as he gazed at Callan. “So, what now? You don’t have to be my bodyguard anymore.” His mouth turned down. “I don’t want you to leave, but there’s also this whole mate thing.”

“I’m going nowhere.” Callan tucked Lonnie’s hair behind his ear. “We’re bonded, so we will be together.” He took a deep breath, unsure how Lonnie was going to respond to what he needed to say. “Lonnie, it’s quick, but I love you more than I’ve loved anything in my life.”

He lifted his head again. “You do?”

Callan nodded. “How do you feel about that?”

Lonnie pushed himself up to straddle Callan, his lovely form on full display. He’d lost all his inhibitions about his body, and Callan couldn’t be happier about that. Especially since he loved that body so much. He settled his hands on Lonnie’s hips.

“I’m thrilled since I feel the same. I love you, Callan. But compared to yours, my life will be short. What would that do to you?”

Of course Lonnie thought of Callan first. His chest grew warm, and he couldn’t help but smile. “We’ve already started bonding, but if we fully do, your life will be as long as mine.”

Pretty blue eyes flared wide. “Really?” He placed his palms on Callan’s chest. “Oh my god, I could live hundreds of years? Write so many books! Are you serious?”

“Very serious.” Callan stroked his thumbs over Lonnie’s silky skin. “But you have to really think about it. You’d be with me allthose years and—” He broke off, cursing his inability to get the right words out. “You’re so smart and I’m?—”

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