Epilogue
NICO
Ten years later.
“Are you ready?” Nico called.
“Yes. Keep your panties on,” Onyx shouted from the bathroom.
“I’m not the one wearing panties.”
“Neither am I, but that can be arranged.” Onyx threw open the bathroom door and leaned against the doorframe. “How do I look?”
Nico shamelessly raked his gaze over his mate. “Good enough to fuck.”
Onyx stuck out his bottom lip in a pout. “But I’m always good enough to fuck.”
Nico shook his head. “You look smoking hot, little butterfly. You’ll turn heads.”
Onyx wore skin-tight black leather shorts that hid his tail tattoo and—though Nico couldn’t see from this angle—had a zip up the back. The rest of his outfit consisted of a leather collar and ring-shaped nipple piercings connected by a gold chain.
Onyx toyed with the chain between two fingers, metal glinting. “You look hot too, but you could lose the jacket.”
Nico ran a hand through his hair. “I’ll check it once we get there. We don’t all have immortal fire to keep us warm.”
“True. Shall I wear my faux fur to blend in on the street?”
“Floor length fur will never blend in, my love.”
Onyx pushed off the wall and sauntered over to the clothing rack. “It’s as blended in as I feel like being tonight.”
The loft had undergone a few renovations since Nico had moved in.
Their main wardrobes were arranged on racks like their very own boutique, and Nico had a substantial gaming set-up next to the library.
Onyx had also installed a kitchen for him, though they ate out enough that Nico was saved from cooking most of the time.
Lucia still kept his freezer stocked. She visited The Herb Emporium regularly, always bringing him something, and he had dinner with her family once a month. It was unreal to see Emilio’s kids in high school.
“Do you think Harper and Ash will come with us one of these nights?” Onyx asked as he slid on his faux fur coat.
“Harper’s been asking you about the club, too?” Nico had an in-depth conversation with him about kink clubs the other day. “He’s turned into one of the most outgoing people I’ve ever known. I don’t doubt he’ll bring Ash along at some point.”
Onyx sighed wistfully, like a proud parent. “Our sweet little witch is all grown up. He’ll try anything once, just like me.”
Nico laughed. “I haven’t found anything you’re satisfied with trying only once.”
“Can you blame me? Anything we do together is worth repeating.” Onyx fluffed his coat. “I’m looking forward to tonight.”
Nico and Onyx were making an appearance at the exclusive kink club that Onyx had belonged to for years.
It was a human-run establishment, so no horns, biting, or other magical elements were allowed, but holding back around unsuspecting humans—even as their bond heightened every beautiful sensation—was its own kind of fun.
And the second round, when the two of them got home, was never short of explosive.
There were few beings Onyx was intimate with in full demon form. On those rare instances when he let completely loose, Nico couldn’t have been more full of love or felt closer to his mate.
Watching his demon open up over the years was a continuous joy. Onyx was less guarded these days and revealed his demonic features in non-sexual situations often, no longer afraid to show others his emotions or be honest when he was emotionally attached to someone.
Nico tipped Onyx’s chin and planted a kiss on his lips. Onyx opened for him, and Nico slid his tongue inside, his hand coming to rest over the leather collar. Nico squeezed Onyx’s throat, gentle but firm. His mate purred, and the bond between them vibrated like a violin string.
“Careful, or we won’t make it out the door,” Onyx warned.
Nico brushed Onyx’s lower lip with his thumb. “Rowan and his mate will be sad they missed you.”
The vampire was all loved up in a way that had shocked Nico at first. Even Onyx hadn’t been able to resist liking Rowan after seeing his dedication to his chosen mate.
“We can’t leave them as the only magical beings at the club,” Onyx agreed. “I suppose I can wait until we get there.”
“Mmm. That’s my good boy.” Nico swatted Onyx’s ass, the sound muffled by the fur coat.
“Am I a good enough boy that you’ll finally let me commission a portrait of you?”
Nico bit back a laugh. Leave it to his demon to try and sneak that into the conversation. “Depends. Is Fiona the artist you have in mind?”
Onyx pursed his lips. “Who else? All I want is a tasteful boudoir painting of my mate. Why is that so much to ask?”
“As I’ve said, you can have as many as you like, if you promise not to show them to Scott.”
“But Scott appreciates art.”
“He can appreciate art, not my ass.”
“Why not? We’re off to a club where you’ve done all manner of lewd things to me and others. With an audience. If you’re lucky, tonight I’ll let you finger me until I’m sobbing in a room full of people. How can you be so hung up on a little painting?”
Nico’s face heated, and pleasure tightened in his core. “Let me? I’ll do what I please with you. Think you can take that much teasing without your tail popping out?”
“If you do it right. I trust you to only give me what I can handle and save the rest until we’re home.”
“Fuck. I’ll always do you right, little butterfly.”
“That’s the mate I love. Now, let’s go. We’ll discuss the painting later.”
Would they ever. Nico loved how riled up Onyx got when he refused, but he had every intention of giving in soon, whether Scott checked out his painted ass or not.
They headed out of the loft and onto the street to wait for their ride. Nico pulled out his phone, and a text from Ash popped up.
Nico read it and turned to Onyx. “You’re still free for the Center’s community night next week, right?”
“Yes,” Onyx hummed, bounding on the balls of his feet. “I already told Ash. He’s so funny, fretting like either of us would miss it.”
Nico bit back a grin and replied to Ash.
He’d become close with the grouchy demon through the process of helping Ash and Harper open the Center, a place for witches escaping abusive covens. Nico and Ash saw eye to eye on most things, and Nico was proud of what Ash and Harper had accomplished together.
He ran The Herb Emporium as always, though he had a full-time shop assistant these days, which freed him to volunteer at the Center. Rowan had gotten involved too, behind the scenes, of course, and Nico was busy liaising between the Valeros and the official staff.
All in all, the magic world had adjusted to the demons’ return to Earth well enough. It hadn’t been without some serious hiccups, but ten years on, things were starting to feel settled. Looking back, it hadn’t gone as badly as Nico had initially feared.
Even Lucifer had surprised Nico. He’d always hoped the Devil would do right by Onyx, and it was a work in progress, but Luc had accomplished more than anyone had expected that day in the courtyard.
“You got the invite for lunch tomorrow, right? To find out about Ollie’s new job,” Onyx asked as the car pulled up.
Nico held the door open. “Yeah, Dante texted me the details.”
“Good. I don’t know why Ollie’s worried. He’s got the position in the bag. That man is a natural teacher. Knows when to give praise and when to give direction.”
“You’re about to crack a Dante joke, aren’t you?”
Onyx swatted him. “I’d never. Dante is too soft and gooey to tease about his sex life. He’s turned into a candy bar, and might melt if he gets embarrassed.”
Nico cracked up.
“Ash, on the other hand, I can roast all day.”
“You can, but be careful. I almost died of embarrassment when he threw it right back at you yesterday.”
“You can take it. You’re my mate. Ash can’t out-snark me.”
“That he can’t.” Nico took Onyx’s hand as the car pulled into traffic.
Onyx and Ash’s teasing was nothing but good-natured these days. They’d both done the work to close the gap between them, and Dante never failed to keep Onyx updated on everything, to the point that it had turned into a joke.
They were a family. Not perfect, bound to piss each other off—Ash and Onyx still got under each other’s skins—but love sat at the center of everything, holding them together, and everyone was committed to putting things right if they got off track.
Nico couldn’t have asked for more. He loved his mate to bits. Onyx was his rock, his confidant, someone he could rely on, no matter what, and their family was one that would stand the test of time.
The End