Like having a huge demon around was a source of comfort. Interesting.
Kai ignored Nix, gesturing to Matteo’s bag. “What do you have there?”
“Lemon bars.”
“Seth’s?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“They’ll be tasty, then. Want to eat them by the ocean?”
Matteo nodded eagerly, giving Kai a genuine smile. “Yes, please.”
Nix found himself absurdly touched by the exchange. He hadn’t thought Kai liked any humans besides his own mate, but he was being awfully sweet with the traumatized young thing. Apparently he was capable of not growling and grunting at every little statement, as long as it wasn’t Ivan or Nix talking.
Kai directed them to a path along the coast, and Matteo walked slightly ahead of them, looking back every now and then as if to make sure they were still there.
Nix nudged Kai with his shoulder, laughing when the touch made Kai scowl. “So you’ve decided Ivan’s not going to do away with Sascha in your absence?”
“I’ve decided no such thing,” Kai growled. “But Sascha wanted a moment alone with him.”
“He’s trying, Kai. Ivan.”
Kai scoffed. “Is he?”
Nix fought against the surge of protectiveness that threatened to make him match Kai’s grumpiness. He kept his tone light and airy. “Well, look who knows how to hold a grudge.”
“Why wouldn’t I? He’s selfish and cold, and he’s caused my mate immense distress. I don’t know how you can stand his soul piece in your chest.”
“Funny,” Nix said, his tone not quite as light anymore. “Because he thinks of Sascha and Alexei as the selfish ones.”
Kai kicked a rock off the path forcefully. “He’s unreliable in his judgments.”
“Or maybe Sascha is.”
“Watch yourself.” Kai stopped and turned to face Nix. Some yards ahead of them, Matteo stopped as well, waiting at a distance. “You’ve aligned yourself with a cruel man, incubus. Be done with your contract and find another. Sascha and I will do our best to make sure you’re summoned again.”
As if Nix would settle for another human. He cocked a hip. “And what if he wants me to stay?”
“You’re blinded by your wish to remain in the human realm. I told him as much.”
What. The. Fuck.
Nix stepped forward and gripped Kai’s arm, relishing in his wince when Nix’s talons came out against his will. He spoke slowly, despite the heat flushing through his body. “What exactly did you say, Kaisyir?”
“I told him you were desperate to stay. And to be wary of any mention of a bond.”
“And why in thefuckwould you do that?”
“I don’t want you to regret tying yourself to a monster just because you want to keep out of the Void.”
Nix wasn’t sure if he’d ever felt rage like this before. If he had, it surely hadn’t been toward one of his friends. It was hot and bitter and horrible, making his skin burn and his jaw clench.
He hadn’t even been thinking of a bond, mostly because the terms of his contract should have been enough to keep him earthside a very long time. But now that Kai had mentioned it…
Whyshouldn’tNix bond with his human? There would be no wife for Ivan, after all. Nix would never allow it. There would be only Nix. Not a spouse, but a mate.
Oh, Nix liked that idea very much.
