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"We'll keep them safe," Nico said, and I nodded in agreement. I had a hard time believing Mammon had lost so much of himself that he'd condone doing something like this, but whether he wanted to or not, he'd do what his summoners asked of him. If it came down to it, I wouldn't hesitate in taking him down, old friend or not.
Dakota
"DUCKY!" I jumped in my chair, then twirled it around to glare at Divya as I pulled one of the earbuds out of my ear.
"What?" I snapped, and she scowled at me.
"Don't you dare snap at me when I've been covering for you. What the fuck is up with you? You've been staring at the screen without doing anything for the last fifteen minutes. You've barely gotten any work done all day," she said, and I immediately felt like shit. She was right. I had no right to snap at her, not now or ever.
"I'm sorry," I said, lowering my head. I couldn't tell her that my demon boyfriends were out hunting a dark soul and that their lives—I didn't care what they said. To me, they were very much alive—were in danger. That I hadn't done any work today because I'd been busy listening to them. That if I could, I would quit right now so I could join them.
Dakota, if you're listening, we're heading back home. Everything has calmed down, so don't worry. See you at dinner. Nico's voice seeped in through the earbud in my right ear, and I breathed a sigh of relief. They were okay.
Glancing back up at Divya, I smiled. "I'm really sorry for snapping, Divya. I'll get back to work now," I told her, then turned back to face the computer screen.
While I still couldn't focus completely, I managed to catch up on the work I'd fallen behind on by the end of the workday. The moment the clock hit 5 p.m., though, I was all packed up and out of my chair.
"Date night?" Divya asked with a raised brow, and I grinned.
"Sort of." I had no interest in going out though, not tonight. Tonight, I just wanted to go home, have dinner with my boyfriends, and then drag them to bed and spend hours exploring every inch of their bodies to assure myself they were okay. As I took the elevator down to the parking lot, I texted the trio, telling them I'd be home soon.
Ryk: Yay! Can't wait! Nico's making cookies!
Me: Cookies, huh? I'll be there in 20.
Of course, it took me a little more than twenty minutes to get home in the evening traffic, but when I got there and got my first look at my boyfriends, all safe and sound, my worries drained out of me in one big whoosh, leaving me almost unsteady on my feet.
"Dakota, you're here!" Ryk cheered as he ran across the room and threw his arms around me. I grabbed him as he jumped at me, and he wrapped his legs around my waist, clinging to me like a monkey. Thank fuck I was strong enough to hold him, or we'd both be on the floor now.
"Hey, Ryk. Did you miss me?" I teased, dropping a soft kiss on his cheek.
"I did. I missed you so much," he exclaimed without hesitation, and I fell a little more in love with him.
Wait.
Wait a minute.
A little more? When did I fall in love in the first place?
"Are you okay?" Ryk asked, gazing up at me with his baby blues, and all I could do was give him a besotted smile. Fuck, maybe I was in love.
"I'm okay."
Since he didn't look like he intended to stand any time soon, I carried him deeper into the house, finding Star in his usual spot on the couch. I could almost believe today was just like any other day, but unlike most days, Star's expression wasn't lax in sleep, but furrowed in a grimace instead.
"Hey, Star," I said as he looked up, and some of his frown lines disappeared as he smiled up at me, his dark eyes lighting up.
"Hey, Dakota. Welcome home," he said as he sat up, and I deposited Ryk into his lap.
"Hold him while I go greet Nico," I said, and Star chuckled as Ryk snuggled right into him, happy as long as one of us kept holding him.
Sticking my head into the kitchen, I smiled when I saw the look of focus on Nico's face as he stared at the oven.
"Hey, Nico. What are you doing?" I asked as I joined him, and he looked up at me with a bright smile.
"Dakota! I didn't hear you come in. I'm making cookies. I thought they'd cheer everyone up."
"That's a great idea," I said, and the look of pride on Nico's face made my heart skip a beat. He adored taking care of us, didn't he? I truly loved that about him. He was such a kind-hearted, caring man, and not at all what you'd imagine when you thought the word 'demon.'
