Chapter 8
Chapter
Eight
Daniel's phone buzzed for the tenth time since they'd left the police station. Adrian's name flashed on the screen again, but Daniel couldn't answer while driving. Not that he wanted to explain this mess over the phone, anyway.
Leon's phone started ringing next. He glanced at the screen and immediately declined the call.
"I'll leave you to explain this when we get there," he said, his tone making it clear exactly how much he didn't envy Daniel's position.
Daniel's hands were sweating on the steering wheel as he pulled up to the rental house. He'd spent the entire drive rehearsing how to explain Caelen's presence, but somehow "I accidentally on purpose summoned your mortal enemy while trying to save some teenagers" didn't sound great no matter how he phrased it.
Caelen had insisted on taking the back seat, probably to maintain some sort of villainous dignity. In the rearview mirror, Daniel could see him staring out the window, expression unreadable. The Shadow King hadn't spoken since they'd left the theater, which was somehow more unsettling than if he'd been threatening everyone.
"This is going to be bad, isn't it?" Daniel asked Lyrian, who tried to keep as much distance between himself and Caelen as possible.
"Absolutely," Lyrian said without mincing his words. "Knox will try to kill the Shadow King on sight, and I hope he succeeds." The siren glared daggers at Caelen, who seemed to consider it beneath himself to even acknowledge Lyrian's existence.
"Great." Daniel turned off the engine but didn't move to get out. "Just great."
"Let's get it over with," Leon said, opening the door on his side.
Daniel sighed and followed. "C'mon." He motioned for Caelen to climb out of the car. "Or are you scared of Knox?"
Caelen's gaze narrowed, and he didn't dignify the question with a response.
The front door opened before they could reach it. Knox stood in the doorway, his expression darkening as he caught sight of who was approaching.
Without warning, his eyes flashed molten gold, and in the next instant, he launched himself at Caelen with inhuman speed. Daniel's heart lurched into his throat - he'd expected Knox to be unhappy, but he hadn't expected this.
Shadow magic crackled around Caelen as he deflected Knox's first blow, jumping backward.
"You dare show your face here?" Knox snarled, pressing forward with another attack. "Are you going to threaten my mate again?"
Caelen blocked each strike but didn't counter-attack. His movements were precise, controlled, and his power restrained.
It was almost as if he was being the reasonable one in this encounter.
"I did not come here for your mate."
His words did not seem to pacify the incubus. Clearly, Knox didn't believe him.
And why would he?
"Knox, stop!" Daniel moved forward, about to step in front of the demon, but before he could do anything monumentally stupid, Leon caught his arm.
"Bad idea," Leon muttered. "Very bad idea."
Knox's next attack sent Caelen stumbling back against Daniel's car. The metal groaned under the impact, and Daniel winced. He could barely afford that car. He could definitely not afford to fix it if it broke.
"You should have stayed in Veridia," Knox growled. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't end you right now."
"Because he helped us!" Daniel yanked free from Leon's grip, frustration building.
But Knox wasn't listening. He didn't care what Daniel had to say. But even as Daniel cursed under his breath, he knew who Knox would listen to.
He sprinted for the house, his mind racing even faster than his feet. Knox wouldn't actually kill Caelen, right?
Right?
When Daniel burst through the front door, he found Adrian already headed his way. Of course his friend would have been watching, even if Knox had told him to stay where he was safe.
"Put your boyfriend on a leash!" Daniel demanded, the words coming out harsher than he'd intended.
Adrian's expression hardened in a way that made Daniel's stomach drop. "Why would I? Caelen deserves every blow."
Daniel couldn't argue with that. Caelen did deserve a good beating for everything he'd done, but… but… "We need him!" The words tasted bitter in Daniel's mouth, but they were the truth.
"Need him?" Adrian's eyebrows rose. "We don't need the Shadow King! What were you thinking bringing him here?"
"I was thinking," Daniel said, fighting to keep his voice steady, "that we need a solution that doesn't involve Knox becoming human or getting banished to Veridia. Caelen can stabilize the zones of overlap. He did it at the theater."
That made Adrian pause, conflict flickering across his face. Daniel knew what was going on with him. He loved Knox more than he hated Caelen.
"He saved me and Lyrian," Daniel pressed, seizing the moment of hesitation. "And look! He's not even fighting back. Just... please. At least hear the man out before you kill him."
Adrian pressed his lips together, glancing between Daniel and the fight outside. "Fine. But if he tries anything…"
"Then Knox can tear him apart, yeah, I know." Daniel hoped that wouldn't happen, but it couldn't be ruled out. "Just... help me stop this?"
Adrian's jaw clenched, but he nodded and headed for the door. Daniel was right on his heels.
Outside, Knox had Caelen backed against Daniel's car, one hand on the half-fae's throat. The car's side mirror hung limply, barely attached by a few wires. Shadow magic crackled between them, neither willing to give ground.
"Knox." Adrian's voice cut through the tension. "That's enough."
Knox's head snapped toward Adrian, eyes still blazing gold. "He?—"
"I know what he did." Adrian put some steel into his voice. "But Daniel says he can help with the barriers. Without the keepers."
The mention of the keepers made Knox's grip on Caelen's throat loosen slightly. Daniel held his breath, hoping his gambit would work. After what felt like forever, Knox stepped back, though the fury didn't leave his face.
"Talk," Knox demanded, directing the word at Caelen. "And make it good."
Caelen straightened, brushing off his clothes with far more dignity than someone who'd just been slammed into a car should possess.
"The barriers between worlds are destabilizing faster than the keepers realize. But I've found a way to stabilize them without their interference."
"And how exactly would you do that?" Knox's eyes still glowed, though the gold had dimmed slightly.
Caelen's gaze settled on Daniel. "Through our connection."
"What connection?" Knox's power flared again, as if he would launch another attack if Caelen didn't explain himself better.
"It's true," Daniel said quickly, before Knox could throw himself at Caelen again. "I saw him do it at the theater. He used our... whatever this is... to stabilize the zone."
"He did," Lyrian added, sounding like the admission physically pained him. "I don't like it, but I saw it happen. The barrier fixed itself when he kissed Daniel."
Knox stared at Caelen. "What are you doing to my mate's friend? Wasn't it enough for you to kidnap him once?"
Daniel held his breath. He'd like to know the answer to that himself.
"Really, Knox?" Caelen showed another one of those infuriating smiles. "I know you're not the brightest incubus known to man, but do you need to have everything spelled out for you?"
"Humor me," Knox said darkly.
Caelen's gaze flicked to Daniel. "During the time we spent together, I discovered something unexpected. A connection that should have been impossible in this world."
"You mean when you kidnapped and terrorized him," Knox growled.
"Yes." At least Caelen didn't try to deny it. "But what I discovered then changed everything. Daniel is my mate."
Daniel's mind went blank. The words didn't make sense. Caelen couldn't possibly mean... He had to be lying. But why? What could he possibly gain from claiming something like that?
"I don't believe you." Knox's voice cut through the stunned silence. "This is just another manipulation."
But Daniel barely heard the argument that erupted.
He couldn't be Caelen's mate. He couldn't be.
He'd promised Jamie he was done with bad boys. Done rushing headlong into disaster. Done letting his heart override his common sense.
And now here was Caelen, literally the worst of them all, claiming they were mates ?
Daniel had read enough books to know what that meant. Inevitable fate. A connection that would catch up with him whether he wanted it or not, and then, after some struggle, they would find their happily ever after.
And have mind-blowing sex.
Why did his mind always circle back around to that?
And why was he entertaining these thoughts about the Shadow King ?
Knox's voice finally cut through his thoughts. "This is exactly the kind of manipulative bullshit I'd expect from you." The demon's voice was tight with barely controlled rage. "You can't just claim someone as your mate to serve your purposes."
"I claimed nothing," Caelen said. "I merely stated what is."
"You're lying." Daniel's voice came out hoarse, breaking into their argument. Both men turned to look at him, but Daniel kept his eyes fixed on Caelen. "You're lying," he repeated more firmly.
Caelen's gaze held his with an intensity that made Daniel's breath catch. Those emerald eyes seemed to see right through him, past all his defenses.
"I expected them to doubt me," Caelen said, his voice softer now, meant just for Daniel. "But you? You should feel it. You must have felt it in the theater."
"I don't feel anything." The lie tasted bitter on Daniel's tongue. "And I don't want to. I'm done with bad decisions masquerading as romance."
"Romance?" Caelen shook his head. "What's between us is far greater than romance."
"There is nothing between us."
"Then explain the barrier." Caelen took a step toward him. Knox tensed, but didn't interfere. "Explain how our kiss sealed that zone. Explain why you can summon me across dimensions with just a thought."
Daniel opened his mouth, then closed it again. He had no explanation. No rational reason why their connection could do what it did.
But that didn't mean... it couldn't mean...
Could it?
"You don't need to fight this so hard." Caelen stepped closer, his presence overwhelming everything else. Daniel's heart thundered in his ears as Caelen reached for him, clearly intending to prove his point with another kiss.
And damn it if Daniel didn't want to let him. Right here, in front of everyone.
Wasn't that the kind of shit you only read about in novels? Wasn't it the kind of love story Daniel had always wanted for himself?
It was.
Except that this wasn't a story. It was real, and Caelen was really dangerous.
Drawing on every bit of self-restraint he possessed, Daniel shoved him away. "Don't."
His voice shook, but his hands were steady. He couldn't let Caelen kiss him again. If he did, he knew the Shadow King would consume him.
Something flickered in Caelen's eyes. Was that hurt? Indignation? Daniel couldn't tell.
"You know how to call me when you need me." Caelen kept his voice soft. Then shadows swirled around him, and he vanished, leaving nothing but questions and tension in his wake.
Knox cursed, the sound harsh in the sudden silence. Daniel could feel everyone's eyes on him, waiting for explanations he couldn't give. Waiting for him to make sense of something he barely understood himself.
"I can't…" Daniel gestured vaguely at nothing. "I need a minute."
He headed for the house, ignoring Leon calling his name. His room wasn't much of a sanctuary—just a hastily decorated guest room—but right now, it felt like the only safe place left.
Daniel collapsed onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. Mates . The word bounced around his head, refusing to settle into anything that made sense.
Twenty minutes later, someone knocked on his door.
Daniel groaned. "Not now."
"It's just me." Adrian's voice. Of course it was Adrian. "Can I come in?"
Daniel considered saying no, but honestly? He could use a friend right now. "Yeah."
Adrian perched on the edge of Daniel's bed, his expression serious. "So," he began, as if he didn't quite know how to begin.
"So," Daniel repeated. "Now you know I kissed the Shadow King."
Adrian didn't say anything for a long moment. Daniel could read on his face, though, that he wasn't pleased. Of course not. Adrian was a reasonable person. Always had been. He'd hesitated even making out with Knox , and Knox was a fucking saint next to Caelen.
"You don't have to do it, you know," Adrian said next. "We can find another solution to fix the barriers. One that doesn't involve you getting anywhere near Caelen."
"Yeah." Daniel's voice sounded hollow even to his own ears. "Of course we will."
"I mean it." Adrian's jaw tightened. "Whatever he says about mate bonds, he's still dangerous. Still the same person who kidnapped you."
"I know." Daniel picked at a loose thread on his comforter. He did know. That was the problem. Knowing didn't seem to matter as much as it should.
Silence stretched between them until Daniel couldn't take it anymore. "What's it like?" he asked quietly. "Having a mate?"
Adrian's expression flickered. "It's... complicated. Sometimes overwhelming. And it's not like the books make it sound. There's no magical solution to relationship problems just because you're mates."
Daniel raised an eyebrow. "Really? Because you and Knox seem pretty perfect together."
"We work at it." Adrian wouldn't meet his eyes. "And sometimes the bond makes things harder, not easier. There's pressure, knowing you're supposedly destined for each other."
"You're trying to make it sound terrible," Daniel said. "But I've seen your face when Knox walks into a room. You light up like a Christmas tree."
Adrian sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. Yes. Having a mate is... it's everything. But Knox isn't Caelen. You have to see that."
"I do see that."
"Do you?" Adrian leaned forward. "Because you have this pattern, Daniel. Every time there's a guy who's clearly bad news, you…"
"Throw myself at him?" Daniel finished dryly.
"I was going to say 'get invested,' but yeah, basically."
Daniel flopped back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. "I know. Trust me, I know exactly how I am with bad boys."
"Then why? What is it about them that draws you in every time?"
The question hung in the air. Daniel opened his mouth to say he didn't know, but the words stuck in his throat. Because he did know. He'd always known, even if he'd never wanted to admit it to himself.
When he was with someone dangerous, someone broken, someone intense… his own intensity didn't seem like too much anymore. His constant energy, his overwhelming emotions, his tendency to feel everything at maximum volume... next to their darkness, his light didn't seem so blinding.
Hell, if it could fix them, it could even be a good thing. That was what he wanted, to pour all of himself into loving someone else and making them whole. He wanted to live and love with the kind of intensity that was deemed unhealthy outside of fiction.
He knew he needed a therapist more than he needed another bad boyfriend, but he wasn't sure this part of himself, this deep desire for all-consuming disaster romance, to be the one , could be changed. Maybe it could only be restrained.
That was what he would have to do.
Restrain himself.
"Daniel?" Adrian prompted softly.
Daniel forced a smile. "You're right. We'll find another way to stabilize the barriers."
Adrian studied him for a long moment, then nodded. But there was something in his expression that suggested he didn't quite believe Daniel's conviction.
That was fair. Daniel didn't quite believe it either.