Hunkering Down
Dominic
Stepping inside Lucas”s beach bungalow, I was immediately struck by its cozy charm. The living room unfolded with a welcoming embrace, filled with furniture that promised comfort at first sight. Each piece, from the overstuffed sofa to the inviting armchairs, seemed to beckon for a moment of relaxation. The walls were adorned with beach motifs—framed photos of sunsets over the ocean, shells arranged in artistic patterns, and paintings of serene seascapes. It was clear Lucas had created a sanctuary here, a perfect reflection of the calm yet vibrant spirit of Crystal Cove.
I paused for a moment, taking it all in. The storm outside might rage, but inside, the atmosphere was calm and oddly reassuring. This was Lucas”s world, a stark contrast to the chaos that often followed me like a shadow. As I wandered through the small, open-plan space, I couldn”t help but feel a twinge of envy. Here was a place shaped by a clear and peaceful vision, so different from the ever-shifting sands of my own life.
Glancing around, I noticed the attention to detail—the way the cushions matched the hues of the sand outside, the driftwood centerpiece on the coffee table, and the soft, ambient lighting that cast a warm glow against the evening dimness. It was all so… harmonious.
This was not what I was used to. I was used to darkness, betrayal, sex, and not just in the demon realm. My sex club mirrored the feel of my home.
“It looks like you’re both stuck here for the duration,” Lucas said from behind me.
I turned and flashed him a grin before jumping onto the comfy couch and making myself comfortable. ”I don’t think that will be such a burden,” I replied, waggling my eyebrows. ”I can think of so many fun ways to occupy our time.”
Lucas rolled his eyes, and Talon shook his head, their expressions a mix of amusement and exasperation.
“I think we may have some other things to discuss,” Lucas remarked, glancing toward the boarded windows as the sound of rain intensified. “Especially with that storm bearing down on us.”
“Lucas is right,” Talon added, settling into the chair opposite me. “We have a lot to talk about.”
”Talking can be overrated. I mean, we could have a great time exploring and getting to know our bodies instead,” I suggested, the flirtation clear in my tone.
Their initial silence stretched, their expressions alight with a flicker of interest, before Lucas shook his head. “I—I really think we should talk first,” he said.
Talon cleared his throat, agreeing, “Yeah, talking first is a good idea.”
“Fine, we’ll talk first,” I conceded with a dramatic sigh. “But I’m sure my ideas would be more entertaining—and pleasurable,” I muttered just loud enough for them to hear.
Lucas laughed and walked to his kitchen. “I’m sure it would be, but we need to clear the air and discuss some things. Things like, what are you? It’s been bugging me since running into you. I mean, I know you’re an ‘other,’ but I don’t know what kind.”
Damn, straight to the point. Talon and his pride had issues with my demon nature—hell, they’d even threatened me. How would Lucas react? Would he run, too?
“Anyone want a drink?” Lucas called out from the kitchen, pulling a bottle of water from the fridge.
“Water’s good,” Talon replied.
“Yes, water for me too… or scotch,” I mumbled the last part hopefully.
Talon rolled his eyes this time, and Lucas shook his head as he returned, handing me a bottle of water and tossing another to Talon before settling on the edge of the couch next to me.
“You know we’re shifters, and our hearing is impeccable—mumbling doesn’t help. So, what are you?” Lucas pressed.
I sighed and closed my eyes, bracing myself. I couldn’t bear the thought of seeing disgust or fear in my du?a’s eyes. “I’m a demon.”
“A demon?” Lucas echoed, his voice tinged with a mix of awe and excitement. “Holy shit, that’s awesome! Do you have wings or horns? What does your true form look like? How old are you?”
My eyes snapped open at Lucas’s barrage of questions and his clear excitement. “You’re not… scared of me?”
Lucas shook his head vigorously. “No, why would I be? Wait—” He paused and looked at Talon. “Is Dom the demon you mentioned three weeks ago? The one that had an issue with Mike?”
“Fuck, you heard about that?” I blurted out, caught off guard.
“Yes, he is,” Talon said.
Lucas”s gaze sharpened as he turned back to me. “Do you still want Jake? That’s why you threatened Mike, isn’t it?” His tone was serious, and the question pointed.
“No, I—”
“No, you don’t want Jake, or no, that’s not why you threatened Mike?” Lucas cut in, seeking clarity.
“No to both,” I said, biting my lip before continuing. “I admit when I first met Jake, I was all about bend—sleeping with him. But after meeting Mike and realizing they were mates, I just wanted to fuck with them.”
“Fuck with them?” Lucas asked.
“Yeah, I wondered about that, too. You told Walter that day at the club you were bored. That’s why,” Talon added.
I leaned back on the couch and shrugged. “I’m a demon. We like stirring shit. It’d been a while since I had and figured what the hell.”
“Really?” Talon asked while Lucas stared at me with his mouth hanging open.
I nodded. “Yeah. And trust me, after meeting you guys, I don’t have any interest in anyone else.”
“Okay…,” Talon drawled. “So, there’s a lot we need to learn about demons. So, do you have another form?”
“Yeah, what do you look like? Can we see your demon?” Lucas agreed excitedly.
I didn’t speak for a moment and just stared at them. They were excited to know me, but then why? Why did they run from me?
“Why?” I whispered.
“Why what?” Talon asked, confusion etching his face.
“I—I—Why did you run? Why run from me, mate?”
Talon’s eyes widened, and Lucas froze. It was the first time the word had been mentioned, and I didn’t give a shit. Anger surged through my veins. They had hurt me, and I was done with the dance. They were lucky I couldn’t transform; otherwise, they’d be seeing a very angry and terrifying demon prince.
“I mean,” I said, rising to my feet. “If you’re not scared of my demonic nature. Hell, you both seem excited about it. Why the hell did you both run?” I began pacing and stopped. “Is it me? Did I, personally, do something wrong?” I asked, patting my chest. I needed to know.
“I—” Lucas stuttered.
“Because I’m gonna be honest, it sucks when your soul, the people you’ve been waiting for, runs away from you,” I said, inhaling a deep breath and trying to calm my nerves.
The silence that followed was deafening, filled only by the sound of our breathing. It felt like opening Pandora”s box; there was no undoing what had been said. I glanced between Lucas and Talon as they seemed to be gathering their thoughts.
I opened my mouth to continue, but Lucas broke the silence first. “I-I was shocked by you. That I had a second mate. I never heard of such a thing before. I panicked and ran…. I tend to run.” He took a deep breath before continuing. “I haven’t had the greatest track record trusting my rabbit. There was this coyote shifter when I was younger, not just one. There was a group of them. I thought they were my friends, and my rabbit trusted them. Turned out they just wanted to use me as a chew toy. Mess with the little bunny and terrorize me—they made my life hell. Since then, my rabbit and I don’t always see eye to eye. It takes a lot for me to trust. I don’t share my shifted form and hell, hardly even shift in front of my family.”
“But you shifted the day I met you,” Talon interrupted.
Lucas offered a sad smile. “I did. I thought I could trust my rabbit. He said you were our mate, and I wanted to share it with you.”
His vulnerability was palpable, pulling at my own reserves of empathy. Instinctively, I moved to sit beside him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. “No one will ever hurt you again. I’ll destroy anyone who tries,” I vowed.
Talon moved to Lucas’s other side, his voice tight with anger. “Those coyote bastards are lucky they were driven out. I’d kill them myself.”
Lucas and I turned to stare at Talon’s outburst. It surprised me; hell, it flabbergasted me that he felt so strongly.
I opened my mouth to ask him why he avoided us then, but Lucas once again beat me to it. “Why? Why do you care? You’ve been avoiding me for weeks, and now I find out you’ve been avoiding Dom. Why?”
Talon hung his head. “I wasn’t…. I didn’t know if you were my mates….. The other mated couples said your lion will know when you meet your mate. And when I met both of you, I felt a connection to you both, but my lion, he didn’t tell me. He was just as confused as me.” He released an exasperated breath before continuing. “Then I had the king tell me to stay away from Dom because he had threatened Mike, and I also had Brian warn me away from you. I didn’t want to hurt you both, so I stayed away, but that hurt you more. I realize I should’ve not been a child and spoken to you.”
“My brother told you what? I’ll kill him. He really told you to stay away from me?” Lucas’s voice was sharp with fury.
Talon nodded sheepishly. “I confronted him about it. That’s why I came here, to make things right with you. And then to find Dom. I thought maybe together we could sort this mess out.” His eyes were pleading. “Are we really mates?”
“Your lion is really confused? He hasn’t told you?” I asked before jerking my gaze to Lucas. “What about your rabbit? Has he said anything?” Lord, help me if he wasn’t sure, too.
“My rabbit’s positive,” Lucas said firmly. “He knows you’re both his. There was shock and surprise at the two of you, but he was still sure.”
Talon looked down, disheartened. “Why is my lion confused, then? Maybe it’s just me. Maybe I’m the problem.”
Reaching across, I clasped Talon’s hand firmly. “Nothing is wrong with you,” I assured him.
Lucas added his own touch, placing his hand over ours. “Dom’s right. There’s nothing wrong with any of us.”
Talon offered a wry smile, a spark of humor lighting his eyes. “Guess there’s nothing wrong with us then.”
Our laughter filled the room, a light moment amid the chaos. The scene might have been corny, but it felt perfectly right—a rare moment of peace as we navigated the storm inside and out.
”Fate, you really do enjoy your games, huh?”I mused silently. ”Couldn’t you make this just a bit easier?”