Demi Read online

  * * * *

  Demi was taking one of his few free nights. No bills, no worrying over money. Just mindless chat with Noah—who was late. Of course he was.

  Demi wasn’t surprised, but he was kind of bugged. He twirled the straw in his drink and watched the ice cubes move. The music was loud around him, but not so loud he couldn’t hear the barman talking to the woman sitting on Demi’s right.

  He hadn’t wanted to go dancing and had chosen a quieter bar instead. Not what Noah preferred, but he’d just have to suck it up and convince Duncan to take him dancing another day. Not that it would take much—Duncan was so much in love with Noah it was ridiculous. And so incredible it hurt Demi to watch. He’d give just about anything to find that kind of love.

  He didn’t know if it was because Noah was Duncan’s mate or just because they were, well, Duncan and Noah, but he wanted that, too. It didn’t matter if it was a mate thing or not. Demi could do without a mating bond. He’d never really thought about the possibility he might be someone’s mate after all. He’d never really thought about shifters period. But now that he knew some of them, he couldn’t help but wonder from time to time.

  “Hey baby.”

  The half-relaxed state Demi had been in disappeared to leave in its place full blown tension. He risked a glance on his left, and sure enough, Larsen was leaning against the bar. He was positively gorgeous, but the way a poisonous flower would be. Beautiful but lethal.

  His see-through white shirt revealed his nipple piercings and the blue swirls on his chest, and his jeans seemed to be painted on his legs. Demi briefly wondered how his ex had managed to put them on before deciding it didn’t matter. It wasn’t like he was going to have to peel them off.

  “I already told you not to call me that.”

  Larsen pouted. “But why?”

  “We’ve already been over this. We’re not together anymore and I don’t want you back.”

  Larsen stroked his hand up Demi’s arm and pressed it against his chest. “But we were so good together.”

  “Yeah? And why didn’t you want anyone to know if we were?”

  Larsen glanced around the room, then back at Demi. “I can’t tell my friends I have a relationship with my gardener.”

  “Oh, of course. Stupid me.” Demi turned to look at his drink again. “Leave me alone, Larsen.” He really didn’t want the man to ruin one of his few free nights. It was already hard enough to try to stop thinking about his problems, and Demi didn’t want new ones to pop up.

  “You know you don’t mean that.”

  “You heard what he said. Leave him alone.”

  Demi smiled at the sound of Noah’s voice. He looked up to see his best friend glowering at Larsen, his arms crossed on his chest. Duncan was just behind Noah, smirking as he took in the scene.

  “Oh. Noah.” Larsen’s gaze slid to Duncan. His eyes widened, but he managed to keep most of his surprise from his expression. Demi had learned to read him over the weeks they’d spent fucking, though, and he knew Larsen was surprised. “I didn’t think we’d see you again, not now that you’ve... taken up with shifters.”

  The last word was said with such disgust that it made what Larsen thought of shifters obvious.

  “Oh, fuck off, you and the high horse you rode in on.”

  Larsen’s eyes rounded in surprise. Noah had become much more open about his feelings since he’d moved in Gillham, and much cruder. He didn’t hide what he felt anymore, and Larsen was getting an earful of that.

  Duncan laughed and slipped between Larsen and Demi. He sat in the free stool there before Larsen could protest and bumped Demi’s shoulder with a fist. “What’re you drinking?”

  Demi looked at his drink. “No idea. I asked the barman to surprise me.”

  “I think I’ll stick to beer myself. Noah?”

  “Beer, thanks.”

  The stool on Demi’s other side was free again, and Noah made to sit down, but Larsen moved in front of him. “So, Noah. Don’t you miss your people? You know, the civilized ones. Of course, you might not actually know many. Demi is your best friend, after all.”

  Larsen probably expected Noah to answer with anger, but Noah just shook his head and laughed. “Damn, Demi. What did you see in him?”

  Demi shrugged. “I’m still not sure.”

  “I guess he is hot, in a prissy princess kind of way, but once he opens his mouth...”

  “You—” Larsen spluttered. “You can’t say things like this!”

  “Puh-lease. I know you’re trying to get Demi back, and you insulting him isn’t going to help you do that. Not that I think it’s something you can actually achieve, of course.”

  “I always get what I want,” Larsen hissed.

  “Not this time.”

  Noah walked around Larsen and sat on Duncan’s free side. There was already a beer waiting for him on the bar, courtesy of a smirking barman, who’d probably heard most of their conversation. Demi should’ve been worried, since they were in a human bar, but they hadn’t mentioned anything demonic, and the three of them had their tails and horns covered. The only things that made them stand out were the swirls, because even their odd eye colors weren’t obvious in the half-light, and Noah’s and Larsen’s blue hair could pass as black in the dim light.

  Larsen slammed his hand on the bar between Noah and Demi. They both looked at him, and he was seething. “I always get what I want, no matter what I have to do to get it. You know you need your job, Demi. What if I started telling people that I caught you stealing from my house? Or your father?” The last part was said with so much venom that Demi didn’t doubt one moment Larsen would do just that if he pushed him.

  “Larsen—”

  Noah swung around on his stool and stood, facing Larsen. He was taller than Larsen, and while they both were blue demons, Noah’s swirls were a lot darker than Larsen’s, and Demi could almost feel Noah’s power in the air that surrounded him. He was already coming into his powers, and Demi’s eyes widened at the realization.

  “Don’t you dare threaten him, Larsen, because I will kick your ass.”

  “You can’t do that.” Larsen’s voice wasn’t exactly steady.

  “I can, and I will if I need to.”

  Larsen seemed to gather his courage and straightened. “You can’t touch me. The conclave won’t allow it.”

  And Demi knew it was true. Noah hadn’t been officially booted out of their small town because his father was too high up for them to be able to do it without heavy consequences, but the conclave wouldn’t allow Noah to hurt Larsen, even if he happened to be in the right. Noah was now viewed as an outsider, which meant that the conclave would always support any other demon over him.

  “I don’t care about the conclave.”

  Larsen opened his mouth to reply, but the barman cut him before he could. “If you two want to fight, take it outside.”

  Larsen shook his head and scowled at Demi. “You’ll be mine, period.” He stalked away, leaving a confused Demi behind.

  Noah sat back down and patted Demi’s hand. “You’ll be fine.”

  “But he threatened to say dad and I steal. You know he could take away our business that way, if not worse. I don’t want my dad to end up in a cell for something he doesn’t even know about. Maybe I should just... give in.” Demi tilted his head forward and let his hair fall in front of his eyes. “I don’t like Larsen, but it’s not worth losing everything.”

  “We’ll help you,” Duncan said.

  Demi chuckled darkly. “How? No offense, but you’re just a shifter to them, and Noah is little better since he chose you over them.”

  “What about the council member? Selena?”

  “She can’t do anything. It’s already a miracle she actually accepted to link the council with our conclave. If she tried to intervene, the conclave would close the town off again and deal with it as if the rest of the world didn’t exist.”

  “W
hy don’t you come to Gillham for a little while?” Noah proposed. “You can stay at our house. Maybe if Larsen doesn’t see you he’ll let it go.”

  “But what about dad? He can’t do all the work alone.”

  “Look, I know you don’t like this, but I can give you enough money that it won’t be a problem.”

  “Noah...”

  Noah held a hand up. “No. I know you don’t want it, but you need it. You have to stop working for the Esslemont, and you have to stay away until Larsen lets go.”

  Demi sighed. He knew Noah was right. “I’ll repay you somehow.”

  “I’m not worried about that.”

  “I know, but I still will.”

  “I know you will. Just... stay safe, okay? And tell your dad to be careful.”

  Demi buried his face in his hands. How was he going to explain the whole thing to his dad?

  * * * *

  Reed heard the voices before he could see who they belonged to, but he knew who it was. He groaned and wondered if staying in the laundry room would be enough for him to avoid his mother.

  “I just think he would be better with his family. God knows he’s been through enough. He needs peace.”

  “He’s an adult, Mrs. Thayer. He doesn’t need me or anyone else to tell him what to do.”

  Reed mentally thanked Kameron for speaking up for him. He was the first to know his mother wasn’t easy to deal with when she was being stubborn, and she definitely was in this case. She thought Reed would be better at home, but she really only wanted to coddle him to death.

  “He might be an adult, but the things he’s been through are bound to have consequences. I really don’t think he’s able to think clearly at the moment. He needs someone to take care of him.”

  Reed tightened his hands into fists. He’d already told his mother that he didn’t need anyone. But had she listened? No, of course not. Reed had tried to convince her to go back home, but she was adamant that she wouldn’t leave Gillham unless he went with her.

  Reed shuddered at the thought. He knew how things would end up if he did. He’d be unable to leave home without her, because who knew what could happen to him if he was on his own? He wouldn’t have peace in the house either, because she’d be on him every time he’d try to do something harder than watch TV. That was how things had gone every time he or one of his sisters had been sick while they still lived at home with their parents, and he couldn’t imagine things would be different now. Her words were enough to tell him they wouldn’t.

  “Mrs. Thayer, I’ve known Reed for only a few months, but he doesn’t strike me as someone who needs help in his everyday life.”

  “He needs to heal, and that means he should rest, not clean your house. I don’t want to be disrespectful, Alpha Rhett, but I don’t like the fact that you’re taking advantage of my baby the way you are. He needs to go—”

  Reed burst from the laundry room and both Kameron and Reed’s mother turned to look at him. Kameron didn’t look angry even if he ought to be, but weary. Reed knew exactly how the alpha felt. Dealing with his mother was tiring on the best of days, and beyond exhausting on the worsts. Today seemed to be one of the not-so-good ones.

  “Mom, leave him alone. He’s not taking advantage of me!”

  “Reed!” Mom rose from her chair and hurried to Reed’s side, her hands already up to grab his face. She did that every time she saw him. Apparently, she could tell how well he was just by looking at his face.

  Reed sighed and let her cup both his cheeks. She tilted his head to one side, then to the other, before exclaiming, “You look so tired! Have you been sleeping and eating decently? You’re too thin, honey. I wouldn’t let you go hungry if you were home with me.”

  Reed gently pushed her away. “I’m not going hungry, mom. I’m eating normally, don’t worry.”

  She tried to put her hands on Reed’s waist, but he stepped away in time to avoid it. “And why are you saying those things to Kameron? He was the one who saved me.”

  “Oh, don’t worry about me,” Kameron said. “I’m going to go to my office and let the two of you talk.”

  Reed scowled at him, but Kameron merely smirked back. He leaned forward and whispered in Reed’s ear. “Better you than me, Reed. But remember, this is your home. You can stay as long as you need or want to.”

  Reed’s mom huffed and Reed clamped his lips together to avoid laughing. She had to have heard that, and the fact that Kameron wasn’t listening to her but rather telling Reed he could stay wasn’t helping her case.

  Reed fixed himself a mug of coffee while carefully avoiding looking at his mom. He wasn’t about to offer her one, even if it was rude. She’d settle in and wouldn’t leave for hours if he did.

  Reed sat at the kitchen table and looked at his mother. “So, mom. Aren’t you going home soon?”

  She sat in front of him and reached for his hands, but Reed clamped them on his mug, even if it was too hot and uncomfortable. She noticed the gesture and pressed her palms on the table. “I’m not leaving without you, Reed. You need to come home, be with people who love you and can help you get better. This place isn’t right for you, honey.”

  “This place is exactly what I need, mom.” Reed bit on his thumbnail and tried to give the words he needed to say a softer edge. “I know you love me, and that’s the reason you want me home, but you can be overbearing sometimes. I don’t need that right now.”

  “But—”

  “Mom, I need to be able to be alone when I need it. Sometimes I snap at people even if they didn’t do anything. Sometimes I get angry for no reason, or lost in my memories. Those are the times I need to be left on my own, and I know you wouldn’t be able to do that. You would push me to talk, nag until I snapped, and I don’t want that.”

  “But Reed, I can leave you alone if that’s what you need. I just want to be able to make sure you’re doing well, that you have everything you need.”

  “And you won’t take my word for that? I’m fine, mom. I like living here, and I like taking care of this house.”

  “But you went to college, Reed. You became a lawyer, and for what? You’re cleaning someone’s house! That’s not right.”

  “I wouldn’t get back to being a lawyer even if I moved back to Florida, mom. I couldn’t stand the stress.”

  “Kameron? Zach?” someone called from the front of the house.

  Reed hoped whoever it was could save him from his mother, so he got up and walked to her. He kissed her forehead to try to soften the blow. “I’m not coming home, mom. This is my home now, and it has been for months. I need to go forward, not backward, and coming back to Florida would be exactly that.”

  “Reed...”

  “Isn’t knowing I’m doing as well as I can enough?”

  “Yes, but how can you know you’re really going to get better? You need your family, Reed.”

  “But I am with my family.” His mom’s face fell and Reed hurried to continue. “You’re my mom, and I’ll always love you, but I’m not a kid anymore. The pack is like a second family. They took me in when I was hurt and helped me get better. Gentry is helping me wade through this, and everyone is respectful of what I want and need. They don’t even react when I get angry or whatever. You... you’re making things harder by being here and pushing for me to leave the steady ground I have under my feet for something I don’t know anymore. I’m not the same Reed as before, mom, and I need to build this new Reed a new life.”

  Reed’s mom looked like she always did when she was riling herself up. She was probably about to try to destroy every argument Reed had just used, but he wasn’t going to allow her to. He wasn’t going back to Florida, period, and she had to understand that. She couldn’t stay in Wyoming forever.

  The kitchen door opened behind Reed and he mentally thanked whoever it was. He straightened and turned around, smiling when he saw it was Noah. His gaze slid to the man standing to the side and slightly behind the demon,
and it stopped there.

  He was gorgeous, there was no other word for it. His hair was short but long enough to fall to his ears, and the most amazing pastel green color. His eyes were wide and a darker green swirling with black, just like Noah’s. He was taller than Reed but thinner, lither.

  Reed took a step forward without even meaning to and his nostrils flared. He knew Noah was talking, but he ignored the man and pushed past him to stand just inches away from the green man.

  Reed leaned in, careful not to frighten him, and it was enough for him to know the green man was his mate.

  Chapter Two

  Demi stayed very still when the brown-haired man walked closer, so close their noses could’ve touched. He saw the way the man’s nostrils flared, and his heart beat accelerated.

  Demi had learned a lot of things about shifters since Noah had met Duncan, and he knew they found their mates by scent. He just couldn’t believe he might be this guy’s mate. It would be... an incredible coincidence, confusing, but mostly welcome, at least for Demi. He just hoped the guy wasn’t about to tell him he was straight, or didn’t like demons, or maybe that he was already married.

  The man leaned backward and looked up at Demi, a serious expression on his face. He stuck his hand out and Demi took it. “I’m Reed Thayer.”

  Demi gave Reed’s had a shook. “Demi Radner.”

  “I think we should talk.”

  “I know.”

  Reed arched a brow and nodded after glancing Noah’s way.

  “Reed, honey. We were talking,” the woman who’d been in the kitchen when Noah and Demi had arrived said.

  Reed grimaced and rolled his eyes, then let go of Demi’s hand. Demi hadn’t even realized they were still touching and he looked around as Reed went to the woman, a little embarrassed. His gaze locked with Noah’s, and he could see the laughter in them, the joy Noah was feeling for him. Of course he’d have realized what Demi was to Reed.

  “I know, mom, but I already said anything I needed to tell you.”