Chapter 6

6

R aydon stood back outside, seeing a dim light on inside his mate's apartment, knowing Rush was seeing to one of his daughters. He wanted to be in there helping, but it was too soon. Rush was beginning to trust him, to accept their mating, and Raydon didn't want to do anything that might change that.

When the light went out, Raydon checked the area and made sure it was safe, then teleported home. Walking into his bedroom, he paused and looked around. Items he'd gathered over the years sat on shelves, books hundreds of years old, ornaments some might consider relics, all gathering dust because he hadn't been here in a while. His mate and family came first.

Trailing his fingers over his possessions, Raydon wondered what would stay and what would go with him when he made the move to live with his mate.

"Raydon."

Turning, Raydon saw Eurin standing in the doorway. "Eurin. How are you?"

"I have been waiting for you."

"I have been spending time with my mate."

Eurin smiled. "I'm happy for you." He glanced at Raydon's neck. "You have not mated?"

"My mate is human. We are taking our time."

"Humans." Eurin spat the word. "I am sorry you have to endure a human for a mate."

"Be careful what you say. We may not have mated yet, but he is mine, and I will not let anyone say anything against him. You know how long it takes for us to find our mate. I have been fortunate to have found him."

"But he is human. You know how unpredictable they can be. It is why we tend to avoid them. They are too emotional as a species."

"They can be that, yes. Some would see that as a positive trait." Raydon did. He liked that Rush showed his emotions on his face. He didn't want a man who hid what he felt.

"Are you going to live with him? You are not bringing him here?"

"He has children. Remaining there would be better for them."

Eurin gasped. "A human mate with children and he is male? They cannot have young."

"He has children already. We can discuss adding to our family in time."

"What about demon children?"

"As I said, we will discuss it in time. I am certain everything will work out. Now, about you. How have you been?"

"Bored. No one wants to have fun here. If there were more of us, it would not be so bad, but the ones around here are no fun."

"Go to Earth. You can have fun there in one of their clubs. Some humans are promiscuous. You can have all the fun you want." He could easily see Eurin in one of the clubs, and given how attractive the demon was with his messy blond hair and violet eyes, Raydon was certain he would have plenty of admirers to choose from.

"Hmm." Eurin picked up one of Raydon's books, then placed it back. "Fuck and run does have some appeal to it."

"They have many, many clubs. Visit a few. Find the ones that appeal and have humans that you find attractive."

"And it is nighttime somewhere right now, so there will be clubs open. I think I will." Eurin nodded, then disappeared, and Raydon sat on the edge of his bed. Eurin had his prejudices, but he was a good friend, and Raydon would miss him.

He felt the knock to his mind and opened up. Raydon. Are you free?

Yes, Balor. I will meet you now.

Locating Balor with his mind, he appeared next to him in the woods surrounding Salutem and watched a few clouds drift across the moon as he waited for Balor to speak. The night was surprisingly clear with a few fluffy white clouds dotting the night sky. It felt peaceful, but Raydon knew that could change in an instant.

"Indy is overwhelmed."

"I am not surprised. He has much to deal with right now. I imagine Deacon feels the same."

"More than likely. This situation with the president keeps him awake at night."

"What has he said when you have mentioned it?"

"That he can handle it. He's aware that I know he's struggling, but he wants to do this by himself. It's part of why it took so long for us to mate."

Raydon knew it had taken them some time to finally be together. "He talks to you though. That must help."

"He does, and it does. He values my input, takes onboard the suggestion I make."

"Then why are we here now?"

"I'm thinking of taking him somewhere when this is over. He needs a vacation. It has been so long since he had a break. I want to give him that."

"That is a good idea. Some time away from all the responsibilities he has here so he can relax and unwind."

"Yes, my thoughts, too, but I'm unsure where."

"Ask him about his favorite places. That will give you some idea or maybe one of those tours I have heard mentioned. A few different countries at one time. It would mean a few weeks away, but I believe he needs a proper break."

"Me, too, but I also know my mate would not want to be away from here for so long."

"True. He has been in charge for some time now, and relinquishing control to another may be difficult for him. But he needs a break from here. Time away to let the tension he has been under these past few years disappear. Be the Indigo he was before…before he knew what the humans were doing."

"That would need to be a long vacation."

"Have we exhausted this conversation?"

Balor smiled and nodded. "Your mate."

"Has concerns, but I hope to help him overcome them. I am positive we will, in time, mate and become a family."

"Humans need time. It's not the same as with vampires or shifters, as I'm sure you know. Most of the time, mating works out well for them, but there are exceptions—like Manu and Preston. Sometimes, the wait is worth it, and I'm sure you'll find out."

"I am uncertain if Manu and Preston are the exception to the rule. I believe both are too stubborn to admit how alike they are and how much they care for one another. As for waiting where Rush is concerned, I will wait as long as he needs me to. I have waited for decades, what is a few more weeks?"

"I agree, but waiting can be draining as well. Years I waited for Indy, but he was worth it. It hurt, and for a short time, I was angry, but I understood."

"As do I and Rush has had a lot to deal with in his short life. I want to be his protector, his provider, but I also want him to achieve his dreams whatever they may be."

"As any true mate would. We want our mate to be the best person they can be."

"Maybe when this is all over, Salutem and Morefield should come together in celebration and remembrance. A way to move past what has happened. A way to honor those who have died and celebrate those who fought and survived."

Balor appeared to think it over, then nodded. "I agree. I'll suggest it to Indy when I go home. I have patrol tonight."

"So do I." Even though he'd been scheduled to patrol, he always made sure Rush was safe and secure before he began.

"I'll leave you then. You know where I am if you need to talk. I've been where you are." Balor disappeared, and Raydon shoved his hands in his coat pockets and walked through the woods. The only sound was him and the wildlife who lived there, and it was times like this that Raydon could appreciate the natural world. So different but so similar to his own, he always preferred to be around nature whenever he visited Earth. He was glad this would be his home with his mate.

Rush. His thoughts always returned to his mate and Rush's daughters. They would be his daughters, too, and he wanted to get to know them. The idea of having them call him father appealed, and he smiled. He'd seen them the night he'd met Rush, their cute dark curls falling around their faces. He hadn't liked seeing the fear in their eyes, the way they buried their head into Rush's body, trying to hide.

He would protect them all until his dying breath.

His phone beeped, and he pulled it out to see a message from Rush. He'd assumed Rush would be sleeping by now, so was pleasantly surprised to see the message. Thank you for earlier.

Smiling, Raydon typed his response. My pleasure. I look forward to seeing you again.

I'd like that. Can I let you know?

Of course. I know how busy you are.

Thanks. Night, Raydon.

Good night, Rush.

Pocketing his phone, Raydon smiled to himself. In time, he knew they would be mates. He simply needed to be patient and that was something Raydon was good at.