Page 53 of Unleashing Mayhem
Matteo nibbled at his lip, looking up at Nightmare with a furrowed brow. Nightmare didn’t need their soul connection to know his human was torn. Nightmare even knew why: the loyalty and gratitude Matteo held toward this couple, the ones who had saved him from his old life of pain and misery.
And for that reason alone—the part those two had played in saving Matteo’s life—Nightmare would quell this dark surge of possessiveness and allow Kaisyir to keep all his limbs, despite the warm smile Matteo had displayed upon seeing the other demon.
“Kai,” Matteo called softly, a note of pleading in his voice. “You remember your friend Sarkaron.”
Kaisyir grunted. “I can remember him with you over here.”
And there. That was enough protectiveness from the warrior toward a mate that didn’t belong to him.
Nightmare tugged Matteo into him, wrapping an arm around his chest, his front to Matteo’s back. He watched the way the gesture made Kaisyir’s eyes narrow. And maybe centuries spent with Chaos’s mischievous nature had infected him, because Nightmare lifted a hand to cup Matteo’s fragile throat, pleased beyond measure when Matteo relaxed into the touch.
Kaisyir growled.
Nightmare grinned, and the gesture was all sharp teeth. “You’re aware I can’t harm him, warrior. Not with a contract in place.”
“I know that he’s a sweet soul,” Kaisyir ground out. “And that you’re trickier than Chaos when you want to be.” The warrior stepped forward—even in his human form, he was a massive presence—and then he froze, sniffing at the air. His brutish facefell, and he gave Matteo an oddly imploring look. “What have you done, little chick?”
“Why?” The warrior’s mate—Sascha—looked between them all, his pale eyes wide with panic. “What happened to Matty?”
“They’ve bonded.” Kaisyir turned toward the house, shepherding a gaping Sascha in front of him. His parting words held a dark finality. “We’re already too late.”
Nightmare watched them go, his arm held secure around his mate.
His grin never faltered.
16
Matty
Matty watched Kai stalk off with Sascha in tow, something heavy sinking in his stomach. Those were his friends. Hisonlyfriends.
With some effort, Matty loosened Nightmare’s hold across his chest enough to turn around to face his demon. He peered up at Nightmare’s severely handsome human face. “Is everyone mad at me?”
Nightmare’s sharp grin dropped immediately. “No one’s angry with you, sweet.”
“It feels like everyone is.” Matty craned his neck to frown at the open doorway behind him. “Kaidefinitelyis.”
A vaguely sinister rumble left Nightmare’s chest. He set long fingers on Matty’s chin, turning his head back to face him. “I will speak to the warrior.”
“But you won’t hurt him.”
There was a suspicious pause before Nightmare’s answer. “No.”
Matty narrowed his eyes, wishing for the first time for a little less of a height imbalance between them. He felt like maybe he needed to really get into Nightmare’s face for this one. “Or paralyze him,” he pressed. “Or stomp his psyche into mush.”
Nightmare let out a long, put-upon sigh, although his lips twitched up at the corners. “He will remain unharmed.”
“He saved me,” Matty reminded him.
A muscle ticked in Nightmare’s jaw. “I’m aware.”
Matty cocked his head, studying his demon. He was getting a little more used to this human form of his. And it was easier to read Nightmare’s expressions this way too, especially without the shadows shrouding his face. Plus, Matty could feel it through the bond, this vague air of discontent and itch for violence.
“You wishyouhad saved me?” Matty guessed.
That muscle ticked again. “Yes.”
“You did.” Matty stood on his tiptoes, tugging Nightmare’s face down to his for a kiss, murmuring happily as he was enveloped in the scent of smoke and shadow. His demon smelled the same like this, at least. “You are, all the time.”
