Chapter 24: Ignited by her touch

Mikhail:

We’re in literature class right now watching Romeo and Juliet. Nevaeh and I are sitting in the back of the classroom, enjoying our closeness. My heart stutters with every touch of her fingers against mine, and my mind is running a mile a minute. I can’t stop thinking about finding a private spot so we can release some of our pent-up stress. I can tell she’s thinking the same thing because when I look at her, she gives me a heated smile. Unable to take another moment, I take her hand and slide it beneath my arm. “Quit teasing me, princess,” I mumble softly.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve settled comfortably together as a couple. We go to school together, eat together, make love, argue, and make love again. It’s amazing.

I also had to tell Alex about Azazel. I mean, if Azazel was going to be part of my life, Alex needed to know. He didn’t seem happy about our friendship. But after I told him about my father and Azazel’s relationship, he agreed to meet him.

I introduced them to each other a couple of days ago over dinner. At first, I was worried, but surprisingly enough, they hit it off. We’re all now working on solving this issue with Lukan and the council. I’m still worried about what the council will do if they find out about Nevaeh and me, which is why I still haven’t fully mated to Nevaeh.

Demons must follow a certain ritual to make their mating official. However, it’s also dangerous because other supernatural beings can see the mating mark. Nevaeh does not have the mark yet. Unfortunately for me, she finds out, and that’s where the big fight ensues.

Azazel invited us to his loft to hang out when the shit hit the fan. We were both sitting in front of his television playing Call of Duty—Hey, I may be supernatural, but I’m still a guy. Nevaeh was sitting in a window seat playing with her phone and Azazel, and I are arguing over the remote. I can’t help but look over every few minutes to look at her. She looks stunning in her white lace dress with its delicate spaghetti strings, open back, and a short billowy skirt that makes me think bad thoughts.

Unfortunately, I’m so distracted that Azazel keeps kicking my ass in the game. “So, mate, I have a few men looking into Lukan’s activities. A bloke I know from the old country was able to confirm that Lukan was in the city at around the time of your parent’s death. It took us a while to get that information, but it’s genuine. Surprisingly enough, Lukan is brilliant at keeping secrets. But I’m better at finding them and will find everything he’s hiding eventually.”

I quirk a brow at Azazel’s determined words. It’s good to know that I have someone like him as a friend. “Have you found anything else about my parents?”

He shakes his head. “No, but after some thought, I have concluded that your mother was the one that left you in the abandoned house. Perhaps to draw her attackers away from you. The house you were found in is near a territory your father’s family lived in years before they perished. My guess is that someone found you before Lukan could finish the job. He probably hoped that as soon as your origins were revealed, the council would eliminate you. I guess he didn’t count on the council growing a heart. However, now that you’re older, he can be rid of you without any suspicion falling upon him. All he needs to do is find a reason that the Council will believe.”

I shake my head, amazed at the destruction one man has caused in my life. “God, I hate that bastard.”

Azazel lay the remote down on the coffee table and glances in Nevaeh’s direction. The sun is shining brightly, creating a halo around her stunning face and golden body. His eyes become wistful as he gazes lovingly upon her.

I know that he’s in love with her, and it tears me up inside. Not because I think he would try something with her, but because he is my best friend, and it hurts me to have something he wants. I also know that Nevaeh cares for him, as well.

She loves me and would never cross that line, but I’m blind to their shared affection.

It’s an affection that I’m going to use as a means to keep her safe—even if it hurts me to do it. After a couple moments, he turns to me and says, “You’re both mated, then? Congratulations. I don’t see the mating mark, though.”

Nevaeh must have been listening because she gets up from her perch and walks over with a questioning frown. “What do you mean, mate mark?”

Azazel’s eyes widen with surprise. He knows that he made a mistake but doesn’t know how to backtrack. “Never mind, luv, I misspoke,” he says.

But Nevaeh is not deterred. “No, I want to know what you mean by mate mark. What mate mark?” She asks with a note of annoyance. I consider my approach as she stands before me with a determined expression. Her arms are crossed in front of her chest, and her eyes are narrowed. I realize at that moment that it’s time to set my plan in motion. It needs to be done.

“I…when demons mate, they mark each other to show the supernatural world that they have an official union. If there’s no mark, it just shows that they are the property of a demon, but free to find a mate with someone else.”

My mouth goes dry at my words. It’s not an easy thing to say. And it doesn’t help that she looks angrier. Her face is rigid with tension, and she’s breathing heavily. Not a good sign.

“What you’re saying is that until you mark me, all supernatural beings will only see me as a demon fuck buddy?”

I shake my head. “You know it’s not like that, princess. I love you. You’re my heart.”

Tears gleaming in her eyes, which instantly makes me feel like a heel for not telling her sooner. “Then, why? Make me understand.”

Just then, Azazel rises from the seat, looking uncomfortable. “I’ll leave you two alone.” He mumbles. It’s almost funny to see how alarmed he looks. His eyes are wide, and his eyebrows are nearly touching his hairline. One thing that I learned about Azazel is that he’s a strong man, but when it comes to Nevaeh, he’s as soft as mush. I guess I’m the same way, which is why I’ve taken my sweet time in telling her about the mating mark.

I shake my head and grip his elbow. “No, wait…stay.”

He looks surprised, but I ignore him.

“Why does he have to stay?” Nevaeh asks warily.

I clear my throat and give them both a careful look before I continue. “Nevaeh, it’s not that I don’t want to mark you. But with the council on my back and Lukan trying to kill me, I can’t take the chance that they will find out about you. My mark would be a death sentence for you and my family. I can’t do that. Do you understand?”

Her resigned sigh makes something inside of me hurt. She doesn’t deserve this. “I know that I can’t keep you unmarked because it would be too dangerous for you. Any supernatural can see you as free game, and that’s not what I want.”

I look at Azazel. “That’s why I need you to mark her.”

Azazel’s face flushes with disbelief. “Are you off your rocker, mate? You know what a mating mark entails. Have you thought this through? You would have to agree to what would need to be done for her to carry my mark.”

I nod my head slowly, even though it pains me to ask. “I know Azazel, and it wasn’t an easy decision for me. But I also know that you’ll do anything within your power to protect her. You’re the only one I can trust to do this. Please…”

Nevaeh’s face drains of color but quickly changes to anger when she sorts out my meaning. “What the hell makes you think that you can plan something like this out and expect me to fall in line? I’m not something you can give away, Khail. I love you, but this is ridiculous.”

Before she becomes angrier, I reach for her shoulders and mutter. “Listen, Nevaeh, I know you love me, but I also know that you need to be safe. And the only way I can assure that happens is if the council thinks that you belong to someone else.”

Azazel shakes his head in agitation, but I persist. It’s not an easy decision to make, regardless of how fond they are of each other. “I know that you’re in love with her Azazel… and… she…she loves you too.” They shake their heads in denial, looking embarrassed. “Look, I know that you love me, Nev. I also know that Azazel is too honorable to do anything to hurt me. However, I’m not blind. You might be in love with me, but a part of you holds something deep for him, and I can accept that. That’s why I’m asking you.” I turn back to Azazel. “Please Azazel, if there's anyone I trust to protect my love, it’s you. I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t think that you wouldn’t treat her right. I know you’d die for her. It’s the only way to ensure that my unfortunate parentage does not affect her. You know what they did to my parents. Can you live with yourself if they did it to Nevaeh?”

Azazel’s solemn eyes look painfully into mine before he carefully nods his head in agreement. “Very well, mate. I will do this. But only if Nevaeh agrees.”

I look at Neveah, who is nervously shifting in place and pull her close. “Please, princess, I cannot live with myself if you’re hurt by my actions, and I will not be angry if you do this. I would never hold it against you—either of you. Trust me, princess, the mark is only until we can figure out how to deal with the council. Keep in mind, you are not Azazel’s true mate, so the mark will never supersede our bond. Then, once everything is settled, I can do the ritual and replace his mark with mine. Do you understand?” A tear escapes her eyes, but she nods her head in resignation. I know that she’s bothered by this, but I must remain strong for them.

I turn back to Azazel. “Okay, then we’ll do this now.”

Azazel and Nevaeh give each other a nervous look. They look so uncomfortable that I almost take it back. Neveah bites her lip hesitantly before she straightens her spine and asks. “What do we have to do?” Azazel sifts his fingers through his hair with a sigh. He looks harried, which is a bit amusing. “The ritual only requires some intimacy. We don’t have to shag. I just need to get to a point where my arousal produces the power to transfer the mark through my teeth. Once we get to a level of arousal, my teeth to produce enough mating enzyme, I will need to bite you in the peripheral artery. The peripheral artery is the one between your thighs, love, so think carefully before you agree. A demon’s mating bite is supposed to be very pleasurable and intimate. Once I bite you, my mark will appear on your back. It will look like a tattoo.” He lifts his shirt on one side and shows us his demon mark. The mark is located beneath his arm on his ribcage. It has black demon wings and a ring of blue fire wrapped around it. However, unlike a regular tattoo, the ring glows as if it is alive. “Your mark will look like this one, but smaller and with a crown over it representing your status as my…mate.” He chokes slightly on the last words.

Swallowing hard, I search the room in hopes of calming the jealous pangs in my heart. “How about you two go somewhere quiet? I will go fly around for a few hours and come back. That should be enough time.”

Nevaeh looks away to avoid eye contact. A blush adorns her cheeks, and her hands are fluttering on her sides as if she doesn’t know what to do.

Azazel calmly nods his head.

Before I can change my mind. I step out of the open balcony and fly away.