Take Cover!
Lucas
“The storm is really picking up,” I murmured, my gaze fixed on the boarded windows. The howling wind seemed almost a reflection of the chaos churning inside me, especially after learning that Talon’s lion wasn’t certain about our connection. The revelation stung, but what gnawed at me even more was the thought of my brother warning him off. I clenched my fists, the anger at Brian simmering just beneath the surface.
“Yeah, that wind is fierce,” Talon agreed, his voice pulling me back from my brooding thoughts as he reached for the TV remote. The screen flickered to life just as the weather anchor came into view.
“Hurricane Ada is definitely a storm for the record books,” the news anchor reported, her tone serious as she continued, “It not only formed quickly, but has shot across the Gulf. Here on the west coast of Florida, we’re already feeling its effects.”
I watched, transfixed, as the radar image displayed the storm’s menacing swirl. It was small, yet it packed a formidable punch—a dark, spiraling giant on the screen.
“Damn, it’s almost on top of us. Insane how fast this thing developed,” Dominic said, echoing my thoughts. His voice was a mix of awe and concern, a stark reminder of the urgent situation we faced.
“Have you gone through a lot of storms? I mean, I’ve seen plenty growing up here, but you being a demon, I assume you’ve seen a lot more than me,” I said.
Dominic smirked. “Is this your way of asking how old I am?”
I shrugged. “Yeah, I’m still curious about your demon half.”
Talon didn’t speak, but nodded in agreement.
“I’ve been around a very long time—millennia,” Dominic admitted.
“Wow, that’s wow. Well, since you’re a lot older than us, have you ever heard of having two mates before?” I asked.
“Yes, have you? I was wondering about that, too. I think it may be why my lion is so confused,” Talon added.
Dominic nodded sagely. “In the nether realm, it’s not unheard of. Demons can possess fragmented souls.”
I frowned. “Fragmented souls?”
“Demons inherently lack a soul,” Dominic began. “Our mates, or ‘Du?a’, essentially become our souls, our anchors. Some demons, however, have more than one fragment in their soul, leading to multiple mates. Hell, I knew this one demon had eight fragments to his soul—a whole harem of men and women.”
“Eight!” I said, surprised. Holy shit, could that —
“Could there be another mate out there for us?” Talon asked before I could form the question.
Dom’s eyes grew introspective. “I doubt it. If there were, they”d be with us now. I suspect that once we bond, everything will become crystal clear.”
Talon snorted, “Quite confident about this bonding, aren”t you?” I couldn”t help but chuckle at the playful banter.
Dom’s expression softened. “Hope has been a rare commodity for me lately. But seeing both of you here, not running away? That instills hope.”
“I regret avoiding you and how I acted after the bathroom incident,” Talon murmured softly, his voice tinged with remorse.
“I forgive you,” Dominic replied, his tone gentle.
The mood was teetering on the edge of becoming somber again. Keen to steer the conversation away from dwelling on past regrets—though admittedly curious about the bathroom incident—I lightened the mood. “Speaking of demon stuff, can we see your true form? Are there horns or wings? What color are you? I bet you’re blue—like Smurf color blue,” I teased, trying to coax a smile.
Dom’s smile faltered, and the atmosphere tensed in a way I had hoped to avoid.
“Dominic?” Talon”s voice was soft, filled with concern.
“I—I can’t access my demon powers. A long time ago, I was betrayed, and my powers were stripped.” His voice cracked, and tears glistened in his eyes briefly before he looked away, wiping them away quickly. “It’s been a long time since I was in my demon form. I’m basically a glorified human now. Yes, I have a bit more strength and a seemingly endless life, but that’s about it.”
“I’m so sorry,” Talon said, taking a spot beside Dominic. “I can’t imagine losing my lion.”
Fuck, Talon had hit the nail on the head. Even though my rabbit and I didn’t see eye to eye on a lot of things, I’d be lost if something stopped me from feeling him.
“It’s been ages, I—I don’t remember what it’s like,” Dominic said softly.
”We don”t have to talk about it if it”s too painful,” I added gently, moving to sit on Dom’s other side. ”We”re here for you, no matter what.”
Dominic looked from Talon to me; the corners of his mouth twitched in a faint smile despite the sorrow in his eyes. ”Thank you,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. ”It”s just that… sometimes I feel like I”m less because I can”t be the demon I once was.”
”That’s not what defines you,” I insisted earnestly. ”What matters is who you are now, and who you are is someone I—we care about.”
Talon nodded in agreement. ”Lucas is right. You being a demon, powers or no powers, doesn’t change how we feel. You”ve shown us kindness, laughter, and a bit of mischief,” he added with a slight chuckle, trying to coax a fuller smile from Dominic.
Dom’s smile widened. ”It means a lot to hear that from you both. Honestly, I’ve spent so long being wary of attachments because I didn”t want to get hurt again. And well, I thought I lost everything, so don’t rock the boat. Finding both of you it—it gives me hope.”
I squeezed Dom”s hand. ”Let’s not focus on the past anymore. We’re together now, and that”s what counts. We”ll face whatever comes as a team.”
”Yeah, and hey, you”ve got two—”
Talon’s words were cut off by a loud crack of thunder. The lights flickered and died. Crap, I was hoping not to lose—. The simultaneous blare of our phones caused me to jerk in surprise and forget my train of thought. I looked to Talon and Dominic, who had quickly silenced the alarms.
“It says to take cover. Go to an inner room and stay—” Dominic started, but stopped abruptly and jumped to his feet.
The room suddenly grew cold, and the thunder rumbled like an approaching train—a train of doom. “Fuck!
“Tornado!”
The word was barely out of my mouth when chaos erupted in my living room. A red-skinned giant burst through the darkness out of nowhere. I didn”t know who or what this terrifying creature was, but it was clearly after Dominic. Its skin, a fiery blend of bronzed gold and molten lava, seemed alive with an inner fire. The creature”s hair was a fiery red-orange, moving as if flames danced within the strands. From its back sprouted two pristine white wings, broad and majestic, creating a stark contrast to its fiery demeanor. Its tail, sinuous and tipped with a blade-like structure, swished aggressively.
“Julian, you fucker!” Dominic shouted as he dodged a large spike tail.
It had a name, Julian, and Dominic knew him.
Talon roared, transforming instantaneously into the largest lion I’d ever seen. His mane was full and the color of coal, his pelt a mix of dark and light brown hues, glowing with an intensity that seemed to match the storm’s fury.
Talon’s roar filled the room again, a sound so primal and fierce that it momentarily distracted Julian. The giant demon turned its glowing amber eyes on Talon as if assessing the new threat. Despite the chaos, Dominic didn’t back down; he darted around the living room, narrowly evading another lashing from the deadly tail.
Dom’s agility and speed were a reminder that he was more than just human; his demonic heritage still lent him a formidable edge. If we survived this, I’d need to remind him just how capable he still was.
“Lucas, stay back!” Dominic yelled over the noise, his voice urgent.
But I couldn’t just watch. Not when both were risking their lives. I may be a prey shifter, but I was no coward. As Talon engaged, his massive lion form became a blur of speed and power, the epitome of a perfect predator. Despite my efforts to find an opening to help, Julian’s swift movements made it nearly impossible. His tail lashed out again, this time aiming for Dominic, who was cornered near the bookshelf.
Without thinking, I sprinted forward, my only thought to push Dominic out of harm’s way. Just as I reached him, I felt a searing pain across my back. Julian’s tail had found its mark, but not on its intended target. The force of the blow sent me flying across the room, crashing into the wall.
The pain was immediate and overwhelming, a white-hot agony that blurred my vision. Sounds became muffled, the roars of Talon and the shouts from Dominic echoing as if from a distance. I tried to stay conscious, tried to understand what was happening, but the room spun wildly around me.
“Lucas!” Dominic’s voice was the last thing I heard, tinged with panic and fear.
Then everything went dark. The last sensation I felt was the cold floor against my cheek and the fading sounds of the battle raging around me. As consciousness slipped away, I was enveloped by the terrifying thought of not knowing what would happen next.