Chapter 23
twenty-three
DANTE
I’m doing everything I can not to think of the mental images Cielo sent me of him curled up in the dark, on a wet, hard, stone floor, covered in bleeding wounds, feeling like he would never see the light of day again. But with this connection he and I share, it’s almost impossible not to.
It’s almost as if it happened to me, and it once again makes me want to fucking rage.
How could anyone hurt him? How could they justify causing that kind of pain to someone who would never, ever hurt another being in his life?
I don’t let myself dwell on it. Once we have Cielo’s clothing situation handled—and that’s using the term loosely because I can still see the fucking panties, but at least they’re partially covered—I shower and get dressed.
I’m still feeling little tendrils of a budding ache tugging at me, letting me know that a flare might be on the horizon, but I have the zitha, heat sex, and cum herbs on my counter from the accidental bag swap. And if it means a month with no pain in exchange for a wild night with my monster, well…
It’s not exactly a hard ask.
The movie will be over before we know it, and considering Cielo and Rathyn aren’t really into human food, I can use that as an excuse to skip dinner. I’m sure Rathyn would prefer to eat out with just Everest anyway.
Cielo makes a little hum of excitement when he sees Everest and Rathyn standing outside near the ticket booth. “Friennnnds!”
I grin at him as I pull into a parking space. “Yep.” Turning the car off, I touch Cielo’s arm before he can open the door. “Do you have any questions before we go in?”
He frowns. “Quesssstions?”
“About this. I mean, we haven’t done this, you know? I know Everest sort of explained the concept of a date, but…”
“Fannnncy clothes, pooopcorn…”
I lift his hand and kiss the tips of his claws. “Yes. Hand holding. Cuddling over the arm of the chairs. Watching a movie.”
He does a little eyeroll. ‘I know movies,’ he signs.
“Yes, but this is going to be on a huge screen and loud,” I warn him.
We’re seeing a rom-com, so at least there shouldn’t be any jump scares or massive explosions.
But Gia and Amara never go because the noise is always too overwhelming, and it sends Amara into sensory overload.
“If you feel uncomfortable, just tell me, and we can leave.”
Cielo quickly shakes his head. “No. No leave date. Exxxxsitted.”
I pull him close and kiss him for a long moment before leaning back and grabbing my keys. “Okay. But it won’t bother me at all if you want to leave early.”
He gives me another annoyed look, and my heart twists. He feels comfortable enough to do that now.
“You are late,” Rathyn says as we near.
I let out a laugh. “We’re on time. Don’t worry. They have like hours of previews before the actual movie starts. We could walk in twenty minutes after the start time, and it would be okay.”
Rathyn’s eyes narrow, and his lips curl down. “You did not tell me this, my Everest. You said we must arrive early. It is why I have not had my fifteen deposits today.”
“Oh my god, Rath. It’s not literally hours. It’s like fifteen minutes of trailers.”
Rathyn doesn’t say anything to that, just continues to frown, seeming to mull it over.
“Fine, but I would like two more cum deposits before the end of the night.”
Everest’s cheeks redden when a woman ushers her child through the doors, her hands over her ears. I bite back a laugh. Oh my god, this is going to be wild. Maybe staying a little longer won’t be the end of the world.
“Come on. Let’s get the tickets,” I say, trying to distract everyone.
Rathyn attempts to move to the front of the line, but Everest drags him back to where Cielo and I wait. “Remember, Vyastil wait in the human world,” he murmurs.
Rathyn says something under his breath in Eretharian, his tone making it sound like a swear word. If Cielo’s startled gasp is anything to go by, it’s a bad one.
Cielo’s tail curls around my waist, his arm around my shoulder, and I can’t help but let my fingers dip under the fabric tied around his waist, teasing his skin.
In my mind, I can feel lust rushing through him. How much he wants to pull me into his arms and stick his tongue down my throat. He doesn’t, though. Instead, he just sends filthy images into my head until I’m in a slight fog.
Ordering the tickets is a little more complicated when I’m attempting to hide the boner in my pants.
Luckily, Everest takes over, purchasing the tickets for all of us.
“Come on. Let’s get some popcorn and candy.”
“Yes!” Cielo says, following Everest and Rathyn into the lobby.
We hand a teen girl our tickets, and she smacks her gum loudly, murmuring boredly where the theater is located. “Theater fourteen is down the hall to the right.”
Rathyn peers down at her. “Do you get paid to speak like this, or do you do it for free?”
The girl looks up at him, her face scrunching up. She blinks at him and rolls her eyes. When she answers him, she has zero inflection in her voice. “It’s a hobby.”
Rathyn scoffs and strolls past, leaving Everest to profusely apologize to the girl. She seems entirely unfazed. She just picks up her phone and begins scrolling.
I snort softly, and Cielo trills as we make our way into the long line for the concession stand. It moves at the speed of molasses.
“By the time we get your popcorn and sugar, civilization will have fallen,” Rathyn grumbles. Everest ignores him and turns toward us.
“What are you going to get?” I ask Cielo. “Can I make a recommendation?”
Cielo nods, and I lean into him a little more, the ache in my joints starting to become more noticeable. I don’t want it to ruin my night tonight, though. I refuse.
“Okay, so I want you to try all of it, but it’s so expensive…”
“You know I can afford anything,” Rathyn interjects. “Even if they are…” he leans forward and examines two boxes a woman is holding as she strolls back. “Things that look unnatural.”
Everest makes a face while I consider taking him up on the offer. I don’t know how much Vyastil in Rathyn’s position make, but I’m guessing they have access to unlimited human currency. I mean, just look at how they live and how little respect they have for how much things cost.
I urge Cielo to look over the bright items on display. “I’m thinking something chocolate, something sweet, and something sour. And then of course, popcorn.”
“Yes. I want poooopcorn.”
Everest bobs his head and cuts in, “With lots of butter and salt. Yeah.”
“Yes,” I agree. It doesn’t matter if it’s poison. It’s also a necessity. Cielo glances down at me, and I lean up and peck a kiss on his cheek. “If you don’t like any of it, we can just toss it, or I can bring it home. Luca will for sure eat it.”
“Okay.”
His ears flutter as we finally step up to the counter and place our orders, Everest making sure to order way more than I could afford on my salary. I’m sure if I refused, Rathyn would be offended. But even though I try not to listen to the total, I end up hearing it and blanch.
Holy hell, that’s almost as much as my damn electricity bill.
We end up walking down the hallway with our arms full, Cielo leaning into me, trying to sniff everything I have in my grasp.
“Are these ancient artifacts?” Rathyn asks as he marches toward our theater number. “They cost far more than expected.”
Everest shrugs. “Movie theaters are notoriously expensive. It is what it is, babe.”
“I do not understand why you would spend so much money to chew in the dark.”
“It’s the experience,” Everest says, stopping near the theater door. Rathyn uses his tail to open it, and we step inside. “Now hush. Do not get us kicked out, or you may have to live with just thirteen tonight.”
The telltale grumble Rathyn makes means he’s not happy with this arrangement.
“Do you think he’ll be able to behave himself?” I ask Cielo through our connection.
His eyes meet mine, and they twinkle. “I do not know. He has always behaved with decorum on Erethar, but here on Earth, your ways are not ours. It is hard to conform.”
That makes sense. It is hard to move between cultures. I learned this with my brother and Deaf culture. Some things are just different. It must be hard for Cielo. I know he’s adapting, that he’s made friends, but it has to be exhausting.
He hasn’t brought up my offer to go through that secret portal, and I’m too afraid to bring it up again.
“Come on,” Everest says as the screen changes to the first preview. “Let’s sit in the back.”
“Why would we do this when we could sit in the front?” Rathyn asks. “The back is for the peasants.”
Everest ignores him and takes the stairs two at a time. “Maybe I’m a peasant. Have you thought of that?” he snaps when Rathyn follows a little too closely.
Someone in their seat turns to glower at us, but the stare Rathyn gives them makes them turn away.
Off to a good start, I think with a small laugh.
“Look, four seats right here,” Everest says.
“These are not adapted for those of us with tails,” Rathyn says lowly.
Everest peers down at them and chews his bottom lip. “Are you not going to fit?”
The way he says it has Rathyn’s face softening. “We will fit. Even if I have to rip the arms off the chairs.”
“Please don’t do that,” Everest says and then flops down, waiting anxiously for Rathyn to take his seat. He does it, the arms cracking slightly as he goes.
“I would like to remove these very much, my Everest.”
“And then we’ll get thrown out and probably taken away for destruction of property,” Everest snarks back.
Rathyn growls loudly. “I would not let them touch you. They would lose limbs before they set a hand on you.”
Everest sighs loudly as I take the seat next to him, and Cielo perches carefully on the one near the aisle. He twists his body so his tail drapes into the aisle, and I know it can’t be very comfortable, but he seems content.