Page 14 of Mated to the Human: Volume One

“Derek,” Hollis whispered. His voice sounded strange. Almost…afraid. “Your eyes.”

Lifting his gaze, he met Hollis’s wide brown one. His pupils were blown, and for one gut-wrenching moment, Derek wasn’t sure if it was from the arousal of a moment ago or the fear Hollis was oozing now. Derek turned his head and looked at his reflection in the door of the microwave. His own burning red eyes looked back at him.

Demon eyes didn’t look like any other eyes he’d ever seen. There was no white. No pupil. No color other than an otherworldly red threaded with the deepest black. They emitted their own light, like flames, and he’d only ever had them appear a handful of times since he’d been in this realm.

A gentle touch landed on his arm.

He looked back at Hollis. At that bruise.

“I didn’t know it’d left a mark.” He looked so defeated.

Derek stepped back into the cradle of Hollis’s body and wrapped him up, pulling him close to his chest. Hollis clung back just as tightly. Derek held him for a long moment before he stepped back and sought out Hollis’s gaze again. “I know they’re your family, but this is the last time one of them gets to touch you without your permission. The only marks you’ll be wearing from now on are mine.”

A shiver visibly went through Hollis. He nodded.

“I have to go take care of this, Hollis. Right now.”

“Okay,” he said, biting at his lip. “I want to come with you.”

Derek wasn’t sure he liked that plan, but he wasn’t about to try and control Hollis the way his family did. “Okay.” He set Hollis back on his feet and reached over to turn the stove burner off.

Dinner would have to wait.

* * *

Hollis kept his arms wrapped tight around Derek’s waist as their motorcycle sped through downtown to the police station. Two other motorcycles carrying two of Derek’s enforcers flanked them.

Nerves swirled in Hollis’s belly. He’d never truly stood up to his uncle, and this felt like more than standing up. More than standing his ground. He’d told Richard no, and he was sure that message had already been delivered. He was just as sure that Neal already had his punishment planned.

What he didn’t know was exactly what Derek planned to do, but Hollis was glad Derek was with him. He didn’t answer to his uncle—not anymore—and it was time Neal and his sons accepted that.

Derek turned the bike into the police station parking lot. The others followed. Once they were parked, Hollis slid off the back of the bike to surprisingly steady legs. With nimble fingers, Derek unlatched Hollis’s helmet before he’d even reached for it and stowed it in the saddlebag.

Hollis watched him and placed a hand on his arm. “What are you planning to do?”

With a small step, Derek moved into his space, putting them chest to chest and wrapped his arms around Hollis. Hollis rested his chin on Derek’s sternum and looked up at him.

“What do you want me to do?”

“I think—” Hollis started and had to stop to clear his throat as the nerves tried to choke him. He could do this. Especially with Derek standing beside him. “I think I want to talk. I want to tell him no to his face and that he and my cousins need to leave me alone.”

Derek nodded, a small smile turning up the corners of his mouth. Hollis thought he looked proud. “Then I’ll back your play. If he tries to get rough though, Hollis—”

“I know,” Hollis said with a smile of his own.

“Alright.” Derek stepped back, taking Hollis’s hand and looking over at the others. “Let’s go.”

It was easy enough to walk through the door and tell the reception officer that Hollis needed to speak with his uncle. They rode the elevator up. Hollis’s heart hammered as it opened to Neal’s floor.

Derek squeezed his hand and led the way down the hall. When they reached Neal’s office, his assistant looked up from her desk.

“Hi, Hollis,” Jane said, a hesitant tremor in her voice as she took in Derek and the two other hellhounds. “He’s expecting you.”

“Thank you, Jane.”

Derek looked at his enforcers and gave them a nod. They moved to the small waiting area and sat down. Turning to Hollis, Derek met his gaze. “Ready?”

Hollis nodded and took a deep breath. Walking forward, he pushed his uncle’s door open and stepped inside, Derek at his back. Neal was across the room, not sitting at his desk, but standing in front of the large window looking out at the city.

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