Chapter Five
It wasn’t all in his head. Everyone acted weird around him.
When Stone had appeared for his shift, he had assumed word had already spread about his possession.
Stone didn’t know what he had expected, but the side eye and open pity hadn’t made the list. Stone wasn’t one to fade into the background, but he still didn’t feel like himself.
Their reactions sent him scrambling inside to Frost. He didn’t stop to chat.
It was his job to hover over the sexy doctor all day.
Plus, he kind of looked forward to seeing Celina.
Now that he knew he wouldn’t transform into something horrible at any second, he wondered if Frost would let him hold her. She truly was adorable.
The moment Stone stepped inside the cabin, he froze.
Nothing looked the same. Stone stepped back out onto the screened-in front porch, ensured he was definitely at the right place, and then stepped back inside again.
While the outside of the cabin was unchanged, the inside had completely transformed.
It looked like a miniature hospital. Complete with a grumpy-looking front desk worker, and all.
The guy eyed Stone with heavy suspicion. “What do you want?”
The snapped question stiffened Stone’s spine. Before he could respond, a tall, slender, and dark-haired man walked into the room. A chuckle that sent chills racing down Stone’s body rumbled through the air.
“Now, now, Mordred. We’ve talked about this. You can’t greet patients like that.”
Mordred sneered.
“I’m not a patient.”
The new arrival’s glowing blue eyes focused on Stone. Every warning bell he possessed rang. He smelled smoke and brimstone. “My apologies. How may we help you?”
The warrior in Stone wanted to pounce. It was his job to keep Frost safe. This creature screamed danger. “I’m Frost’s guard for the day.”
The unnatural blue gaze swept down Stone’s body. “Lucky him. I’m Desir, his new office manager. Come this way.”
Stone followed as Desir led him down a hallway that hadn’t existed the last time Stone had been here. He eyed the unusual entity. A dawning suspicion grew as unwanted desire filled the air. Stone blinked. That was it. He was a lust demon.
Frost and Celina came into sight. Before he could act on his recognition, Desir headed for Celina.
Stone nearly tripped trying to get to her to stop him. “No. Don’t let him touch the baby. A demon’s touch is poison.” Stone’s shout startled Celina. Her cries filled the air.
Desir shot him look, letting Stone know exactly who he blamed.
Frost looked baffled. “Celina’s my daughter. She’s immune to demon sickness.”
Now, Stone was the one who was confused. He looked between the two.
Desir comforted Celina.
Frost looked unbothered.
Stone couldn’t take it. “What do you mean, immune?”
Desir and Frost exchanged a glance, but Frost kept his calm demeanor. “I’m Lucifer’s son. She’s his granddaughter. We are literally Lucifer’s blood. It’s impossible for either of us to be sickened by a demon’s touch.”
Celina’s tiny wet hand gripped Desir’s shirt. Desir seemed unbothered as he focused on Frost. “I’ll take her home.”
Another realization hit. It was almost worse than recognizing Desir as a demon.
“Wait. Do you not trust me around Celina? You’d literally let a demon leave with her rather than have her near me?
” That shattered Stone’s heart. Everything had been too much lately.
Maybe it might seem like a small thing to anyone else, but knowing Frost didn’t want Stone near his daughter was the line, apparently.
He hit his breaking point. Stone made a sharp bow with a swollen throat.
“It’s been an honor to serve.” Stone dissipated and reappeared deep in the forest. He couldn’t do a job he wasn’t trusted to perform.
Celeste would have to assign someone else…
or not, since apparently, a demon could do his job better than him.
My chest hurts from your pain. What’s happened?
I’m fine.
Stone kept his thoughts behind a wall. It was humiliating to know his friends weren’t really his friends, and he was seen as a monster.
Stone wasn’t used to having people look at him the way they did now.
He had always been the flirt and jokester.
No one had ever taken him seriously, and Stone loved that because he made people smile.
Now, this thing had happened. He was the victim, yet everyone saw him as the villain.
Whatever the dark one’s intentions had been, he definitely accomplished ruining Stone’s life.
Stone climbed to the top of the nearest hill.
Flowers swayed in the breeze. Stone sat.
He stared at the moon. The sound of tiny whispers and moans had a small, sad smile tugging at his lips.
Before meeting Lysander, he hadn’t heard the fairies all around him.
Now, their presence soothed him. He wasn’t an outcast in Faerie.
He closed his eyes and let the calming sounds wash over him.
The air shifted, and a solid warmth formed at his side. Stone opened his eyes, knowing exactly what he would find.
Lysander took his hand. He didn’t speak.
Together they gazed at the night sky. The stars were clear here.
Sometimes, he missed the old days when city lights didn’t pollute the night.
The stars had been so clear and bright back then.
In Wulfe, there were several similar places where he could find comfort in the night sky.
His heart skipped a beat at the thought.
He had to screech to a halt and backpedal.
There used to be a lot of places in Wulfe where he felt at peace. He wasn’t welcome here anymore.
“The sky is even more beautiful in Faerie. Everything is closer to the heavens there. That’s why the sheer power of Celeste’s creations spawned lives of their own. But our most powerful fairies are born of the stars.”
Stone smiled. “Like Stellar.” He got it now.
Their hierarchy was built on the bright fires in the heavens.
“He’s in love with you, you know. I felt it the moment I saw his rage at the idea of your leaving him.
” Stone wasn’t jealous. Lysander was his, and he could see Lysander’s mind.
He would rather pass from this existence than betray Stone.
Lysander leaned his way, relaxing more of his weight against Stone’s shoulder.
“Stellar and I have been best friends for a long time. I imagine it would hurt him to lose me. After all, it would break me to watch his light die. But our love isn’t quite what I think you’re picturing. He’s my prince. You’re my other half.”
Stone put his arm around Lysander and tucked him tighter against his side.
He kissed Lysander’s temple. “Damn right I am.” Stone released a long, heavy breath.
Some decisions were always harder than others, but this wasn’t the first time Stone’s life had completely changed course.
“Does Stellar have room for one more citizen?”
The sweet smile Lysander gave him proved Stone’s thoughts correct. Lysander wanted to continue living in Faerie. The love for his realm shone brightly each time Faerie was mentioned. “I’d rather hoped you’d prefer to live with me over Stellar.”
Stone laughed at Lysander deliberately misunderstanding him. “I suppose that sounds good too.”
They shared a smile.
Lysander’s fell first. “If you’d like to stay here, we can work something out. I understand neither of us saw this coming.”
Stone tried to envision staying, but his heart immediately locked down at the idea. Wulfe no longer felt like home. He wasn’t needed or wanted here. The way Desir had immediately rushed to take Celina away filled his mind, breaking him all over again. He was done.
“Let’s go home.”
With one remark, they sat on the same hill with fairy lights surrounding them.
Stone looked at the sky. Lysander was right.
The stars were nicer here. He took a cleansing breath, letting his past go.
The air smelled amazing. He would have a good life here.
His gaze moved back to Lysander. How could he not? He had the perfect mate.
Frost sat in silence, rocking Celina while she worked furiously at consuming her bottle.
He practically felt Gemini pacing the floor of their new home.
It was a mirror image of the cabin before any changes had been made to accommodate patients.
They wanted Celina to feel as safe and stable as possible.
Plus, they were happy with what they had always had.
They didn’t want the grand structure Lucifer had tried to create for them.
Everything had changed so quickly. Frost just needed a little time alone with his miracle.
His last patient had been seen for the day.
When Celina finished her bottle, they would go home.
He had set the demons free from their duties for the night.
Frost was alone without protection, but he was also more dangerous than the two beasts put together.
He didn’t need guards right now. Frost had a heavy heart.
He couldn’t stop picturing Stone’s face.
Frost had a growing feeling that he was the bad guy.
First, Celeste. Now, Stone. He definitely had a way of pushing people away lately.
His only excuse was life had been pretty damn overwhelming since moving to Wulfe.
Frost genuinely wanted to breathe a little and just savor being a husband and father.
Unfortunately, he had a bad feeling that would never happen if he didn’t handle all the things he had shoved to the back burner.
Frost wasn’t a coward. He wouldn’t keep acting like one.
“I’d really love to see you, Celeste.”