Chapter Ten #3
The magic inside was angry and fighting to be released. If Theo hadn’t practiced control, he was sure that he’d have already lost it.
“Here he is!” Micitian spread his arms wide. “What are you going to do with him?”
Theo shook his head.
“Or should I release him?” Micitian threatened. “Do you think he’ll stop coming after you or your mates?”
There was no question that Bramley would never stop coming after Theo or his mates.
“You can end it all now,” Micitian stated. “End him.”
“There are other ways,” Theo said.
Bramley screamed as flames burst from the bottom of the chamber. It was muffled but obviously very painful.
“For the unseelie king? If you send him back to face his own court, they will reward him not punish him,” Micitian said.
Was that true? Theo was aware that demons could and would lie about everything.
“He’s had days of torture at my hands,” Micitian claimed. “Still he looks at you with hate in his eyes. What will it be, Theo? Will you end his suffering and keep your mates at the same time?”
Theo wasn’t a killer. He’d spoken at length with Seb about what it meant to yielded unseelie magic.
The one thing that Theo had learned was that his magic was a tool for him to use.
Theo’s heart was pure and he didn’t intend to change that.
Yes, there was a time to fight and battle, but this wasn’t it.
“What would your mates think?” Micitian asked. “If you chose your brother over them.”
Theo took a step back. “It’s not even a choice. My mates know that I love them.”
“But would you do anything to keep them safe? Would you kill?”
The answer was simple. “No.”
Micitian froze. “What?”
“My mates know what is in my heart,” Theo stated firmly. “They would never ask for me to take another life.”
“Fool!” Micitian boomed. “He would kill you.”
“I’m not him,” Theo replied.
“That’s for sure.” Micitian was mad enough to spit fire at him.
Theo jumped back.
“Maybe I picked the wrong side. The wrong brother,” Micitian said.
Hellcats! He’d messed this up. But Theo meant every word that he’d said. And he wouldn’t go back on his words now.
Micitian swiped his hand toward Bramley. The chains rattled as they slowly dropped from holding Bramley in place.
“You can stop this at any time,” Micitian told him. “Just take your revenge.”
Instead of spurring Theo into doing what Micitian wanted, the words helped Theo hang on to his resolve. Was he scared? Absolutely.
“Have it your way.” Micitian raised both hands, lifting Bramley from the coffin, chamber, whatever.
Theo closed his fingers over the amulet that hung from his neck. The amulet throbbed with the bond that was Theo’s entire reason for living. The love echoed in the tiny piece of jewelry.
Bramley landed in front of Theo and the gag was removed.
There was hatred in Bramley’s eyes. That made Theo feel bad for him. Theo was the chosen, had four wonderful mates, he was just starting his life. Bramley’s darkness had rotted his insides and he had nothing and no one.
“Face-to-face with your brother,” Micitian taunted. “What will you do?”
Instead of facing his brother, Theo turned to the demon. “You said that you wanted Mitch to bring us to you. That we should have come to you for helping me use the unseelie magic.”
“I am just as capable as the chosen. I am a god!” Micitian declared. Howling echoed around the hallway.
Theo wanted to run and hide, knowing that only the hounds of hell would make a sound like that. His feline side was not happy with him. He had a plan.
“But are you as trustworthy?” Theo asked.
Micitian scowled.
“The chosen would have never put me in this position. They wouldn’t ask me to kill. Or allow danger this close. Do you even have to ask why Mitch didn’t want me anywhere near you?”
Smoke flew from Micitian’s nostrils and fire flickered up his arms.
Oh! Was the demon angry? Good, so was Theo.
“You’re a demon god,” Theo said. “You’ve reminded me several times already. And demons do love their deals, don’t they?”
Theo knew he had Micitian when the demon god slowly nodded.
“Then let’s make a deal,” Theo offered.
Micitian’s surprise was evident and gave Theo the upper hand.
“A deal, you say?” Micitian’s voice echoed.
“Yes.” Theo nodded.
“You think to make a deal with a demon?”
“I am making a deal with you. The sire to my mate,” Theo said.
“I am the master of deals,” Micitian claimed.
Maybe but Theo wasn’t being controlled by his emotions. He was using his brains. And the knowledge that he’d learned from the journals and Mitch was going to benefit Theo in this deal.
“I will deal with the devil.”
Theo turned back to his brother, shocked that he could forget Bramley was still standing there.
“Silence. There is nothing you have to offer that I would want!” Micitian shoved his hands in Bramley’s direction, lifting Bramley and flinging him back into the capsule. The lid slammed closed and Bramley screamed.
Hellcats! Micitian wasn’t one to cross.
“Now.” Micitian rubbed his hands together. “We deal.”
“I want my mates,” Theo stated. “And the pizza you promised. With an ice-cold Coke. We will deal once you keep your word about everything else.”
“This is going to be fun.” Micitian grabbed Theo’s shoulder, transporting them again.
All four of his mates stood around an ugly living room with way too much red and gold.
“Theo!” Wylder ran to him, pulling Theo into his arms.
Theo hugged his human mate but heard the explosion of glass. He whirled, placing Wylder at his back.
Mitch had tossed his sire into a long mirror that had been beside the door.
“You seem angry, my son,” Micitian said as he pulled himself out of the mess of glass.
“You stole my mate!” Mitch roared.
“Borrowed,” Micitian said. “And as you can see there is not a hair harmed on his head.”
“Because he offered you a deal!” Mitch yelled.
How did his mate know about that? Theo turned and saw the screen that showed the capsule. Had his mates seen everything? Tricky demon. That just worked more in his favor. Theo’s plan was totally coming together.
Theo crossed the room, pulling Mitch away from his father. He rose to his tiptoes and cupped his demon warrior’s face.
Mitch was breathing hard as he stared down at Theo. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Theo promised. “Just let me handle this.”
“I trust you,” Mitch said and kissed him.
Theo kissed his mate back. The words bolstered him and Theo was not going to lose this negotiation with the demon god. He drew back to drop on his feet. “I was promised pizza,” he told Mitch.
Mitch laughed. “Come on, wildcat. We’ll get you fed.”
Theo turned and caught the look on Dario’s face. Devastation. Theo knew that look well. He had to pass Alek on his way to Dario and stopped to kiss Alek as well.
Then he was facing his golden dragon.
Theo beckoned Dario to lean down.
Once Dario bent, Theo kissed him with all of the love that he had in his heart. He only separated from Dario an inch or so. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Dario whispered.
“I’m sorry for being a brat earlier,” Theo said.
“You did nothing but support me and I was stressed. It won’t happen again.
I’ll never raise my voice to you ever.” Not after being summoned away right after doing it.
Too much could happen and Theo would make sure that he always told his mates how much he loved them.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there—”
“Shh.” Theo pressed his fingers over Dario’s lips. “Not here.”
Dario nodded.
“Pizza party!” Micitian said, clapping.
“You have a plan?” Dario asked softly.
“I do.” Theo winked. “Trust me.”
“Always.” Theo tugged Dario to the couch and instead of sitting beside his mate, Theo slid right onto Dario’s lap.
Dario wrapped an arm around his waist as Wylder plopped down beside them and handed Theo a plate with a hot piece of pizza.
Alek and Mitch sat on the couch beside them with Alek keeping himself between Mitch and his sire.
Micitian skipped over to a box and grabbed the whole thing then sat in the chair across from Theo. He was like a giddy child thinking that he was getting his way.
Theo chomped on his slice as he thought about how to phrase his offer. Words had meaning. And according to Mitch, his sire was the best at negotiating deals. That didn’t mean Theo wasn’t smart. Micitian’s downfall would be his overconfidence. Micitian already believed he won.
Micitian began a story about some demons in the realm that Theo had no interest in.
It seemed the demon god was incapable of sitting in silence.
Theo did learn that Micitian believed he was smarter than anyone else.
Even the other demon gods. He probably didn’t have many friends. No wonder he needed to kidnap Theo.
Finishing his third slice and an entire glass of Coke, Theo passed his dishes to Wylder then turned on Dario’s lap to face Micitian.
“Are we making a deal?” Micitian asked, noticing the change in Theo.
“We are,” Theo replied.
Micitian waved his hand and instead of the small coffee table with pizza, a desk now separated the couch from the chair. A parchment and pen sat on top of the wood surface.
Dario squeezed Theo’s waist.
Theo scented that his mates were nervous. And maybe he should be as well. The journals were full of deals and treaties that the chosen had seen through. Plus Mitch had spent a lot of time sharing his feelings about his sire. Theo felt like he had a pretty good read on the demon god.
Obviously Micitian didn’t know Theo as well. At first, he thought Theo would cry and be afraid in the throne room. Then Micitian expected Theo to kill his brother. The demon god had no clue who Theo truly was.
“How should we start?” Micitian asked.
“I will not kill my brother,” Theo stated.
Dario squeezed his waist as Wylder kissed his cheek.
“Disappointing,” Micitian stated.
Mitch growled but Alek was doing a good job keeping him calm and seated.
Theo knew this wasn’t easy for Mitch but they just needed to be there a little longer.
And Theo loved having his mate in his natural form.
They were already in hell so Theo hoped to talk Mitch into showing them around.
He at least wanted to see Mitch’s house since he’d only gotten a look from a video call before.
“It might be disappointing to you but I won’t budge on this,” Theo said firmly.
“What do you expect me to do with him here?” Micitian questioned.
That wasn’t really Theo’s problem but he couldn’t say that. Micitian would probably send Bramley after Theo just for revenge. “You’ll keep him in hell. Permanently. You will ensure that he doesn’t come after us.”
“You think I have that power?” Micitian replied.
“I know you do.” Theo interlocked his fingers, setting his hands on the desk in front of him.
“Why would I do that for you?” Micitian asked.
“Because you will siphon off his magic for your own needs,” Theo said.
Micitian sent a glare toward Mitch before returning his attention to Theo. “Agreed.”
Score one.
“Next,” Micitian said.
Theo knew it wouldn’t be as simple as that. He was prepared. “You want to help train me?”
The demon god couldn’t control his excitement. “I could help.”
“I will come to you for one day every three months for you to train me in magic and magic only,” Theo offered.
Micitian scowled.
“I get to pick the topic of each session. I do not want to use unseelie magic to harm others,” Theo added. “And I get veto rights if I think you’re trying to manipulate me.”
“Once every three months?” Micitian picked that point, which was what Theo had figured. “Once a week.”
Negotiating this Theo was willing to do. He did want to learn magic. He’d still practice with Seb but it wouldn’t hurt to get a different perspective. “Once every two months,” Theo offered.
“Once a month!” Micitian said quickly.
“Agreed!” Theo said. He’d gotten his way.
Micitian slammed his hand down on the parchment in front of him. He signed the bottom with a flourish before shoving the paper toward Theo. Theo signed as well.
Theo turned toward Mitch. “Take us to your house. I want to see where we’re stealing you away from.”
Mitch stood and opened a portal. “Come, my mates.”
“What? No drink to celebrate the deal?” Micitian asked.
Theo climbed off Dario’s lap and smiled. “See you in thirty days.”
“I’ll be ready for you,” Micitian responded with that awful smile. “Good work, little shifter. It will be a pleasure bringing you to the dark side.”
Not a chance. Theo tugged Dario to the portal. It was time to spend the rest of his nights with his mates. It had been an exhausting day and he wanted cuddles and love.
The portal closed behind them and Theo turned to bury his face in Dario’s chest.
“We are so proud of you,” Dario said, hugging him.
Theo lifted his head. “That was crazy.”
“I’m sorry that you went through all of that,” Mitch said.
“Not your fault,” Theo assured him. “You warned us. And at least we don’t have to worry about Bramley or the summoner any longer.”
“Bywater.” Alek snapped his fingers. “That’s who the other person was. I couldn’t place his face.”
“Micitian stole the tissue when I got a paper cut and used the summoner to take me,” Theo explained.
“We need to be more careful,” Alek stated.
“Lesson learned,” Theo told him before turning toward Mitch. “Now show us around. And maybe Sami can come visit.”
Mitch kissed Theo. “I would love to show you around my home and community.”
“Demons!” Wylder pumped his fist. “Yay.”
“Just as long as there are no hellhounds,” Theo commented. He was pretty sure he was going to hear those howls in his nightmares.
“It’s okay, wildcat,” Mitch teased. “I’m certain they’ll be more afraid of you than you are of them after the way you just played my sire.”
Theo grinned. He had done a pretty fantastic job there. “Do you have ice cream here? I totally deserve ice cream.”