Chapter 1 #2
“Do you work out a lot?” Asmodeus asks, his gaze lingering on Flynn’s form.
“Asmo!” I yell, my cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and amusement.
“Sorry, right. Just need the keys to your place. Kinda need to get some shit ready like you asked me to,” he says, looking Flynn in the eyes, his smirk never leaving his face.
Flynn grabs the set of keys and throws it to him without saying a word.
“Looking good, Tal,” Asmo teases, clearly having a death wish.
“I’m going to rip your eyes out if you don’t leave.” My vampire is ready to tear him to shreds if his tone alone is anything to go by.
“Possessive much?” Asmo says, laughing.
“Get. Out,” Flynn growls, and Asmodeus obeys, his laughter echoing as he exits the room, leaving us to resume our encounter.
As soon as the door closes, Flynn grips me tighter than before, like he’s making up for the interruption, as he empties himself in me.
He lets out a low breath, forehead dropping to my back while he tries to steady his breathing.
“I’m gonna fucking kill him,” he mutters, the words half spent, half serious.
“You can do that tomorrow,” I say softly. “Let’s go celebrate now.”
The corners of his mouth lift, tension easing from his shoulders. “Yes,” he says, amused. “Let’s go.” His lips brush mine in a quick, lingering kiss before we pull apart and get dressed, the moment settling back into place between us.
We get to the apartment, and the party has already started, voices and movement spilling into the hallway the moment we step inside.
“Nice of you to join your own celebration,” Asmo says, winking at me as he leans against the counter.
“Had to take care of a few things,” I reply, licking my lips when my eyes instinctively land on Flynn.
“You’re lucky you’re still alive,” my vampire adds dryly, closing the door behind him.
Cassandra is stretched out on the couch, watching TV with Kaden, their shoulders almost touching.
It’s strange—in a good way—to see them all in the same room like this, relaxed.
After everything we’ve been through, it feels like a small miracle that they all tolerate each other.
Set is in the kitchen, busy with a bowl of chips, humming to himself as he works.
“Hey, Tal, congratulations!” my best friend’s brother calls out, waving at me from across the room.
Raven is there too, hovering near the kitchen. A new addition to the Drusus coven. She escaped her family after they discovered her powers, they thought she was basically the Devil and somehow ended up crossing paths with Set. She’s very nice—very quiet—but I’m glad she’s here with us now.
“Congratulations,” she says, a shy smile slowly appearing on her face.
“Thank you.” The corners of my lips lift as she steps closer, and they both pull me into a quick, warm hug.
I jog to the bedroom to drop off my bag and freshen up, my head still buzzing from the day.
As soon as I step out of the en suite, I freeze.
Kaden is sitting on the edge of the bed, his back to me, shoulders slightly hunched.
I hadn’t even noticed him leave the living room, but here he is, like he’s been waiting.
“K, what’s up?” I ask softly. “You okay?”
He turns his head just enough to look at me, the corners of his lips lifting as his eyes meet mine. “Just wanted to say congratulations,” he says. “You did it.”
I move toward him slowly and sit down beside him, the mattress dipping under our weight. “Thank you,” I reply, my hand settling over his. “It’s nice having you here.”
“You know that—” He exhales, cutting himself off, then shakes his head slightly. “I’m happy for you, Tal. You deserve a new beginning.”
My eyes widen, and I keep my gaze fixed on him, caught off guard by the weight of his words.
We haven’t really talked about what happened between us, not directly.
But after everything—with his dad, with my kidnapping—we’ve somehow grown closer than ever.
As friends. Something he needs desperately. Something I realize I need too.
And, strangely enough, even Flynn has reached a point where he respects Kaden after all he’s been through. They’re absolutely not friends, and probably never will be, but there’s a quiet understanding between them now. A kind of mutual respect I never thought would be possible.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be more for you,” I say quietly, squeezing his hand. “I mean it.”
“Don’t apologize for finding the other half of your soul,” he replies without hesitation. “I’m not mad at you. Never mad at you. I’ll be okay.” His voice is steady, even if his eyes give him away.
“Are you sure?”
“Tal, we weren’t meant to be. We both knew it long before Flynn showed up.” He pauses, his jaw tightening just a little. “Besides…you know my heart was already broken.”
I do. The reason Kaden is the way that he is—so guarded, so careful—is because he never let himself love again after losing so much.
His parents. His brother. And, from what he once hinted at, a girl from a long time ago too.
“Maybe one day,” I say gently, “you’ll be able to tell me about the girl who completely shattered your heart. ”
“She…” He trails off, then exhales. “It’s complicated. It couldn’t work.”
“Are you so sure about that?” I ask. “If I’m making it work with my mortal enemy, why couldn’t you be with her?”
“You’re mates,” he says simply. “There’s no other solution.”
I snort softly. “I still can’t believe you’re the one who told us the news.”
“It was obvious,” he replies, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
“Have you decided what you’re going to do?” I ask.
His grin slowly reappears. “Yeah,” he says. “Dean Jefferson actually offered me a position.”
“Did he?” I turn toward him. “Are you going to teach?”
“Something like that.”
I cock an eyebrow. “Way to be cryptic.”