Chapter 19
Nineteen
Pythor
It'd been a week since our 'sky date,' as Codie had taken to calling it, and it seemed to have unlocked something in my mate.
He was lighter and even more determined to get his life back.
He'd insisted on spending at least an hour training with me every day, and he was pushing himself more and more, and while I supported his progress wholeheartedly, I was determined to make sure he didn't push himself too hard.
Case in point, we were at the community center. We'd teleported here, but it was still a big step for Codie, and I was so damned proud of him.
The center ran out of an old six-bedroom house that'd been refurbished for the purpose, with different classes and activities hosted in what used to be the bedrooms, while the living room was used as a communal space.
I'd brought us straight to my class—after making sure it was empty—and just in time, since the kids had started trickling in minutes later, and now the most curious of the lot surrounded us.
"Are you really Pythor's boyfriend?" Peter asked Codie, and my mate grinned.
"I am."
"But you're so pretty!" Katie said, and I raised a brow at her. These kids were being far too friendly with my mate and me, but I didn't have the heart to send them away when they were making Codie smile with their antics.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing," she replied quickly, an impish grin on her face that had me narrowing my eyes at her. She was in so much trouble.
"Have you seen how strong he is?" Codie said, jokingly giving my biceps a squeeze. When there was barely any give, he shot me a wide-eyed look, making me chuckle.
"I suppose that's true. He's like the Kung Fu Panda," she said sagely, which made Codie laugh. I had no idea what this Kung Fu Panda was, but I'd seen videos of the animals called pandas, and I did not like being compared to those clumsy creatures, even if they were a little cute.
"All right, enough messing around. Time to start the class. Places, everyone," I called, and the kids hurried around to claim their spots as Codie moved back to give me space. He'd insisted he'd prefer to watch than participate, and I didn't want to push him.
With younger kids like this, my focus was always on teaching them how to escape. No kid their age could fight off an adult, so they needed to be fit, and quick enough to find a way to escape and find someone who could help.
As the class progressed, I was aware of Codie watching, and my attention was split between him and the kids. Luckily, I was a demon and I could do that without compromising the kids' lesson.
Once class ended, the kids slowly drifted out, though Peter and Katie came over to us.
While Peter asked Codie something about art, Katie sidled up to me and waved me closer.
I kneeled down so she could whisper in my ear, curious what she had to say.
"You're really lucky to have a pretty boyfriend like that who loves you so much. Don't mess up."
Those were sage words coming from a seven-year-old, and I probably shouldn't take them seriously. And yet I found myself asking, my voice just as soft, "You think he loves me?"
She made a "Psh," sound, then rolled her eyes at me. "Of course he does! He watched you the whole time."
Far too pleased with this, I gave her a grin, then made a solemn promise. "I won't mess up."
"Good."
Seeing Peter was done talking, she grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the room as Codie raised a brow at me.
"What were you two whispering about?"
"Oh, she was just telling me you were too good for me and I better not mess up," I said, which wasn't a lie.
Codie laughed, and I stepped closer to him, smiling down at him. "So? Did you enjoy spending time here?"
"I did. I know there's a lot more out there," he said, waving toward the door, "but I don't think I want to brave the adults today."
"That's okay. We can head home if you like. I don't have another class today."
Before Codie could reply, Jonah stuck his head around the doorway, his blue eyes flicking from me to Codie and back.
"Hey, Pythor. Do you have a moment?"
I felt Codie stiffen beside me, and I shook my head. "Not right now. Catch me later."
I turned back to Codie as I heard Jonah hesitate for a moment before walking away.
"Codie?"
He flinched, then pressed himself against me, as if he was trying to hide under my skin.
"C-can we go?"
Unsure what was wrong but needing to make him feel better, I nodded and wrapped my arms around him.
In seconds, we were in his living room, and I led him to the couch as Hella pressed into his legs, her concern clear as she watched me seat him before climbing onto his lap.
Codie pulled her close, burying his face in her fur as his heart raced far too fast.
I rubbed his back, unsure what else I could do to make him feel better. Make some tea? Hold him? Leave him alone?
"Sorry," Codie said a few minutes later, his voice barely more than a low murmur.
"Don't apologize. Can I ask what happened?" If it was something I'd done...
"It was stupid. The guy who came in," Codie explained, a drawn look on his face. "His eyes reminded me of him. That was all it took."
He sounded disappointed in himself, as if he'd failed somehow because he'd panicked, and I shifted closer to him, sliding an arm behind him so I could pull him toward my chest. He snuggled in immediately, as if he hadn't been sure if he could before.
"It wasn't stupid, Codie. That's how fear works. Trust me, I know."
He glanced up at me, giving me a curious look, and I found myself telling him something I preferred not to admit even to myself.
"Remember what I told you about Mammon?"
Codie nodded, his brows furrowing in confusion. "The demon who went dark?"
"Yeah. Well, before that happened, he was my friend. We were pretty similar, though I'm a couple of centuries younger than him. Our personalities matched perfectly, though, and we got along well. Ever since he went dark, I've been terrified of becoming like him."
Codie blinked at me, a puzzled frown on his face. "There's no way you could ever turn evil, Pythor."
I shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. But it still terrifies me, Codie. It was why I started volunteering at the community center, why I agreed to teach you at first, why I rush to help any human I see in need. It's all selfish, all a desperate attempt to avoid that fate."
Codie was silent for a long moment, and then he snorted. "Only you could twist helping people around to make it sound like a selfish thing to do."
I huffed, because he wasn't wrong.
"I see what you mean, though. Fears are irrational," he murmured, and I nodded, pressing a kiss into his fluffy curls.
"Exactly. You still took a big step forward today. Don't forget that."
Codie nodded, then snuggled into my chest, and I held him close, happy to do it for as long as he needed.
Codie
When the nightmare came that night, I wasn't surprised. After the panic of thinking I saw him earlier today, I was expecting it.
I wasn't in my house this time, though. Instead, it was that night, which I hated. The what-if dreams were bad enough, but the memory dreams were the worst. They left me feeling sick and hollow and wishing I'd died. I hated them.
I was alone on the street, and I stopped walking, knowing I'd be grabbed in a few steps. I glanced back the way I'd come. Could I go back, stay with the cab driver? Would that be safer?
My feet moved of their own accord, dragging me forward despite all my attempts to stop.
Then he was there, wrapping a hand over my mouth and dragging me into the dark. The dream blurred. Then I was on my back, my shirt torn as one of them tugged at my pants and he hovered over me, a smug look on his face.
I struggled, jerking at my arms and legs, trying to kick at them. Anything to stop them. But I knew nothing would work.
Suddenly, one of them glanced back at something I couldn't see, and I frowned, because that hadn't happened. No one had stopped them.
"Codie," a warm, achingly familiar voice said as Pythor stepped closer in all his demon glory. He grabbed the man near my feet and threw him over his shoulder like he weighed nothing.
It took him less than a minute to get rid of the other three until only he was left.
He tried to grab me, probably planning to use me as a shield, but Pythor reached him first, his hand wrapping around his face as his sharp nails dug into the bastard's skin, drawing blood.
A sharp snap, then the man fell limp and Pythor threw him away as if he was trash, then helped me to my feet, his magic patching up my clothes like they'd never been damaged.
"You saved me," I murmured, no longer sure if this was a dream or reality.
"I did," he said softly, leaning down to kiss my forehead. "You can sleep now. I'll keep you safe."
Nodding, I leaned against his chest, and the dream dissolved around me.
I groaned as I woke up, stretching my arms above my head before slowly sitting up.
Hella greeted me by licking my face, and I laughed as I pushed her away.
"Ew, Hella. Stop it."
I'd slept pretty well last night, which was a surprise after the events of the day. I'd been so sure I'd have a nightmare, but instead I'd slept through the night.
"Huh," I mumbled, scenes from a dream drifted through my mind, and then all at once, I remembered the nightmare-turned-dream I'd had.
Pythor had saved me. Did my subconscious really trust him that much that it'd rewritten my past in my dreams?
Shaking my head, I stumbled to my feet, then went through my morning routine before heading to the kitchen to make some breakfast, Hella at my heels.
My phone buzzed as I stuck some bread in the toaster, and I checked it, smiling when I saw Pythor's name.
Pythor: May I come over for breakfast? I have fresh cookies.
Me: You're always welcome.
"Hey," Pythor greeted, and I glanced up with a smile.
"Hey, you! Scrambled eggs and toast okay?"
"Sounds good," he said as he placed the box of cookies on the counter and eyed me.
"What's up?" I asked as I got some eggs from the fridge, and he leaned against the counter as he continued watching me.
"Did you sleep okay?"
"Yeah, actually," I admitted, then smiled. "Well, I did have a nightmare, the start of one anyway. But then you showed up and saved me."
Pythor... didn't look surprised.
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Why do you look like you already knew what happened?"
Pythor blinked. "Oh. Well, because I was there?"
It took me a long moment to realize what he meant, and when I did, I almost dropped the eggs.
"You mean that was really you? Like you you, and not something my subconscious made up?"
"It was me," he admitted, and I didn't know how to feel.
On one hand, he'd protected me like he'd promised to, and hadn't I wished just last time that he could protect me from my dreams too? But on the other hand, he'd seen me like that. Like I was that night.
"Are you okay?" Pythor asked, and I nodded mutely. "I'm sorry if I overstepped. I just heard you having a nightmare, and I couldn't stop myself."
"You didn't. I just... I guess I didn't want you to see me like that."
Pythor stepped closer to me, his eyes soft as he cupped my cheek. "All I saw was a brave man fighting hard, and five cowards who would be better off dead."
Swallowing hard, I nodded, and when Pythor kissed my forehead like he had in the dream, I sank into him, letting him hold me for a few blissful moments.
I pulled back when the toast popped, and we made breakfast together before eating at the counter as I leaned into his side, feeling happy and content to enjoy this moment for as long as I could.