Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Justin was already smiling when he opened his eyes. He didn’t need to see the room around him to know he was home. Even better, he was out of that fucking cell in which he’d spent way too much time.
He was free.
And he wasn’t the only one. Mynor’s arm was around Justin’s waist, holding him close.
It was as if he were afraid that something would happen if he weren’t there to protect Justin, and he wanted to be sure that Justin wouldn’t do something stupid like sneak out of the bedroom without him.
Mynor didn’t believe that they were safe just yet, but that was okay.
He would eventually. Now that they were both here, they could build a new life together.
Justin wasn’t sure what that would look like yet—he and Mynor hadn’t had the easiest beginning, and they’d need to learn how to be together in the real world—but Justin was hopeful.
He’d been hopeful the entire time, although it hadn’t been easy.
He’d known that Calyx would find him eventually.
It had taken more time than he’d expected, but that didn’t matter.
He was home, and it was almost Christmas.
Justin would spend the holidays with his family.
Even Caitlin was back. She was a ghost, and Justin wasn’t quite sure how to feel about that yet, but she was here. That was all he cared about.
“What are you thinking so hard about?” Mynor muttered against the back of Justine’s neck.
Justin turned so he could lie down on his back and look at his demon. “Many things.”
“You can finally sleep without fearing someone attacking you or dragging you out of your cell, and instead, you decide to think?”
Mynor’s eyes were still closed. He looked different from what Justin was used to, probably because he was clean and his hair was combed. It was like a sheet of white silk over the pillow, and Mynor wrinkled his nose when Justin gently touched it. He still didn’t open his eyes, though.
“We’re home,” Justin said.
“You’re home.”
“Since we’re together, this is your home, too.” Justin needed Mynor to understand that.
Mynor had nothing to go back to. The only thing that mattered to him in the underworld was Alphan, but Justin was sure they could find a way to get him here.
When he’d asked about Mynor’s home, Mynor had shrugged and admitted that the place where he lived wasn’t important to him.
Besides, he’d been pretty sure that Anya would ensure he had nothing to go back to, and, knowing his mother, Justin tended to agree.
But he could show Mynor that he could be happy here, too. It wouldn’t be the same, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t be good.
“Do you celebrate the holidays?” he asked.
Mynor finally opened his eyes. He was frowning slightly, but Justin wasn’t worried. “Do you really think anyone wants to celebrate the holidays with your mother in charge?”
“I’m sure some people celebrate.” Probably in private with family, which was why Justin had asked. Mynor hadn’t gone into details, but Justin knew that he didn’t have anyone but Alphan anymore.
“Some people do,” Mynor confirmed. “It’s a very human thing to do, though. It’s not something most demons ever think about.”
That made sense, too. Justin hadn’t realized how different the culture in the underworld would be. Maybe he should have after everything that had happened with his mother. He was sure they had other holidays and things to celebrate. “We’re going to celebrate with my brothers. Is that okay?”
“Whatever you want, Justin.”
Justin wiggled his eyebrows. “Whatever I want?”
“You already know I have a hard time saying no to you.”
“But I want you to be happy, too. I want you to like being here. We don’t have to spend time with my family if you don’t like them.”
Mynor snorted and pressed a kiss against Justin’s forehead. “Your family’s the most important thing to you. Of course we’re going to spend time with them. Besides, I should get to know them, shouldn’t I?”
“Probably.” Justin was looking forward to that.
He was curious about how everyone would take Mynor’s presence here.
He had no doubts that Yancey, at the very least, would grumble.
That was how Yancey was, and Justin doubted he’d ever change.
He didn’t have to change. As long as he wasn’t a dickhead, he could grumble as much as he wanted.
Justin was pretty sure that Yancey and Mynor would get along well from that point of view.
The two of them were worriers and protectors.
Justin set up. “Let’s go, then.”
Mynor groaned. “I didn’t mean that I needed to get to know your brothers right now.”
“We can come back to bed later,” Justin promised. “I don’t think any of them will be offended, considering what we’ve been through. I just really want to have breakfast with them, if that’s okay with you.”
Mynor’s sigh was deep and heavy, but he nodded. “Of course. Let’s go have breakfast with your brothers.”
Justin was giddy as he quickly got dressed in the first comfortable clothes he found in his drawers. He almost bounced down the stairs, smiling at the sound of voices coming from the kitchen. He really was home.
When he heard someone mention love, he got curious. “Who’s in love?” he asked as he walked in, glancing around to see who was there. Mynor was right behind him, as always.
Shelby grinned at him. “Griffith and Calyx. They finally got their heads out of their asses and started dating.”
“They got their heads out of their asses?” Mynor asked. “That sounds painful.”
Justin snickered. Clearly, that wasn’t an expression commonly used in the underworld, which made the situation even funnier. Calyx moaned and hid his face in his hands. He didn’t argue, though, which meant that what Shelby had said was true. He and Griffith really were together.
“It was about time,” Justin said.
“That’s what I said,” Shelby told him. “Although I could have done without walking in on them kissing while making breakfast. I don’t want their love cooties all over my food.”
Justin arched a brow. “Love cooties? What are you, twelve?”
“No, but clearly, I’m the only one in this house who’s still sane. Calyx and Griffith are together, and you have your demon.”
“What about Yancey?”
“I’m pretty sure there’s a reason Travis is still around, and it’s not because he loves Christmas.” Shelby wiggled his eyebrows as he said that, which unfortunately, brought images to Justin’s mind that he’d rather not think about.
He playfully punched Shelby’s shoulder. “Please don’t make me think about Yancey having sex.”
Shelby grimaced. “Well, I wasn’t thinking about it until you mentioned it. I need brain bleach. In fact, I think we need to kick Travis out of the house. We can’t allow him to be with Yancey.”
“I don’t know. Maybe he’ll distract Yancey, so Yancey won’t obsess over what we’re doing and try to protect us when we don’t need to be.”
“I don’t think he’ll need to protect you from anything.” Shelby waved in Mynor’s direction. “You have your own protector now.”
Justin grinned at Mynor. He did, didn’t he?
Yancey finally arrived, too, with Travis right behind him. Justin and Shelby exchanged a glance and started giggling like idiots, which caused Yancey to look confused, which in turn made Justin laugh harder.
God, he’d missed his family.
It was as if nothing had changed, especially with Caitlin hovering by the window. She couldn’t participate, but she watched over them the way she had when she’d been alive.
They were almost done eating when Calyx cleared his throat. Yancey watched him with narrowed eyes as if he expected not to like what was about to happen. Since Yancey didn’t like anything, there was a good chance of that happening, but that wouldn’t stop Calyx. Not much did.
“So, today is Christmas Eve,” Calyx declared. “I organized some stuff we can do as a family. I have everything to bake cookies and several Christmas movies lined up.”
Justin’s eyes burned. This was what they’d done when Caitlin had been alive.
Things might be different, but Calyx was trying to keep up the traditions, and Justin loved him for that.
He hadn’t been sure they’d ever do this again, and after the time he’d spent in the underworld, he was happy they would.
“I like cookies,” Mynor declared, cutting through the silence.
Calyx smiled at him. “That’s good. You can be included. You too, Travis. It’s a family tradition, but I’m sure no one will mind if you participate.”
Yancey opened his mouth, probably to say that he would, but he jumped in his chair instead, jostling the table and everything that was on it. He glared at Griffith, who glared back. Justin was confused.
“We’ll all be happy to do this,” Griffith said, still staring at Yancey as if silently daring him to refuse.
Justin was surprised when Yancey didn’t argue, but maybe he shouldn’t have been. Yancey was stuck here with them if he wanted the holiday designs to vanish from his skin, and Justin had no doubts that he did. They were too cheery for his doom and gloom personality.
“I don’t know what’s going on,” Mynor whispered, leaning closer to Justin.
Justin shrugged. “I’m not sure, either. You’re going to have to get used to being confused when it comes to my brothers.”
“I don’t think I like that.”
“Trust me, I don’t, either.” Justin winked at him. “What do you say we go back upstairs for a few hours to rest?”
Mynor slowly smiled. “I could use more rest.”
Mynor didn’t know what to think of these people, but understood that no matter what, they were in his life to stay.
They were Justin’s family, which meant Mynor would have to get used to their presence.
He was pretty sure that Calyx and Shelby, along with Travis, were harmless, but he wasn’t quite sure about Griffith and Yancey.
Griffith was incredibly protective of Calyx, but Yancey was harder to read.
Mynor wished Alphan were here. He could always read people better than Mynor, and usually, his opinions were correct.
“Do you think we’ll manage to get Alphan here?” he asked Justin as Justin dragged him into his bedroom.
That stopped Justin right in his tracks. He let go of Mynor’s hand and turned to look at him, a frown on his face. Mynor felt sorry. He hadn’t meant to interrupt. He also hadn’t meant to make Justin worry.
“Of course we’ll get Alphan here,” Justin said. “If anything, we can summon him, right?”
“We could, but I’m not sure he’d answer.”
“I could hear Calyx saying my name when he summoned me. We could try that. I’m sure that if Alphan hears you, he’ll come willingly.”
“And you think your brother would agree to do this for me?”
“I’m pretty sure Calyx would agree to anything to keep me and the others happy. He took what happened this past year pretty hard. He wants to keep us around.”
“But you wouldn’t hold it against him if he said no.”
“I wouldn’t, but I really don’t think he will.
” Justin grabbed Mynor’s hand again and squeezed.
“I promise we’ll get Alphan here. Calyx will be happy to summon him, and if, for some reason, he says no or it doesn’t work, we’ll find someone else.
Maybe we can go to the witch who opened the portal for me. ”
“I don’t think I like her,” Mynor grumbled.
“If she hadn’t said yes, I wouldn’t have met you.”
“She still didn’t think anything of sending you to Hell on your own without protection or preparation.”
“I don’t think she cared. It’s not like she’s my friend or anything like that. She just wanted to get paid, and she did.”
Which meant she could have sent Justin to his death for money. Mynor liked her even less now.
“I’m just saying that we’ll find a way,” Justin said.
“I don’t want you to worry. I promise that Calyx will be more than happy to help you.
I haven’t told him and the others the entire story, but he’ll understand once I do.
I just don’t want to crowd him now, you know?
He and Griffith just got together, and it’s Christmas tomorrow.
He’s been yearning for this for an entire year.
Hell, I have, too. That’s okay, isn’t it?
We can have tomorrow, and the day after that, we’ll talk to Calyx about Alphan. ”
Mynor nodded. He’d give Justin anything he asked for, but he didn’t think it mattered, anyway.
Alphan hadn’t known what was happening to him when he was still in their cell.
He probably didn’t realize that Mynor wasn’t there anymore.
There was no way Anya would want anyone to be aware of the fact that Mynor had found a way out and had taken her son with him.
No, one day wouldn’t change anything for Alphan, but it looked like it would change things for Justin, and Mynor found that he was powerless not to give Justin everything he wanted.
He kissed the top of Justin’s head. “We can wait,” he said.
“But not too long,” Justin promised. “You and Alphan miss each other, just like me and my brothers. It wouldn’t be fair to wait longer than one day. I want you to be as happy as I am, and you can’t be without your brother.”
And that was one of the reasons Mynor had fallen for Justin.