Chapter Three

Not-demon Kai stares expectantly.

Mate bonds? I know what those two words mean separately, but together they make no sense.

"Mate bonds?"

He nods and takes my hand, turning it over so it's palm down, then does the same with his affected hand.

"See? They match. It means we are mates."

The look on his face is so serious, I can't help but laugh. This has to be a prank. Or one of my ex-husband, Rey's, schemes to get proof I've found someone else so he can stop paying alimony. He's done stupid shit before. The ink wasn't even dry on our divorce papers when he hired a private detective to follow me on girls' nights. He's even had someone attempt to catfish me through a dating app a friend talked me into trying. Except the jokes on him. After putting up with his bullshit, it will be a cold day in hell before I let any man into my life again.

"Okay, okay, I see what this is…Rey put you up to this, right? Well, tell him he can go fuck himself. He's going to be paying me alimony until the very last day of the five years the judge ordered. Dad's medicine is way too expensive for me to afford on my own. I've got to work, so if you would, please, leave."

I turn my back to Kai without waiting for a response and get back to work. Fucking Rey, that man will do anything he can to keep from paying. Thank God we never had kids.

Unfortunately, Kai does not move from the spot. Maybe he's thinking how he's going to break the bad news to Rey…I have no clue. Why can't I have an ex who hires a hot male stripper to get me into bed instead of a crazy man in a costume?

I've just reached the bumper of the car I'm working on when I feel it.

Pain lashes at my insides, traveling up through every nerve ending. I stop in place and suck in a deep breath, trying to breathe through it like I did when I went into labor last year, but nothing I do makes it stop.

"Take two steps back," Kai says calmly from his post by the sink.

I can barely focus enough to understand the meaning of those simple words.

"What?" I breathe.

"Take two steps back."

I'm in no position to argue. I obey and instantly the pain subsides. I turn to face him, suspicious. With my eyes on him, I take a half-step back.

Nothing.

Then another.

Still good.

The third half-step is too much. I feel the pain immediately and step forward. "What are you doing to me, Kai?"

He shakes his head and breaks the distance between us. "As I said before," he answers, holding up his hand. The solid, shiny black of his skin is marred by pale white bands that look like rings around all the fingers on his right hand. "We've gained our mating bonds."

"I'm not "mating" a man who cosplays as a demon and thinks he's an alien. I've dealt with enough crazy men to last a lifetime." I turn heel and head toward the car, hoping Kai's close enough to stop whatever is causing the pain every time I move away from him. I get close. I'm two steps from the driver's side when the pain nearly knocks the breath out of me. I step back and turn on Kai. "You see I'm working, could you PLEASE MOVE CLOSER TO ME?"

Kai crosses his arms across his chest.

Asshole.

"You requested I leave," he retorts.

"People are waiting for me to finish this job so they can go home. Please come here."

He breaks the distance between us. When he's about six feet away, I hold up my hand. "That's close enough. Just stay there."

I'm tempted to rush, but incorrectly installed tires are a huge safety hazard. Even though he's certifiable and a friend of Rey"s, I have to turn my back on Kai again as I work to secure the last tire. Thankfully, he doesn't move. Once the tire is in place, I move around the car, checking each lug nut. I don't have to say a word to Kai. He follows me around dutifully, maintaining six feet of distance.

I lower the car back to the ground, drive it just outside the bay door, and head back inside, closing and locking the large bay door behind me. "Come stand at the door while I drop off the key."

Kai says nothing, he simply obeys, then stands to the side of the door that separates the bay from the retail area. I make it to the counter without a hitch, say goodnight to Adrian, and head back, locking the door between the bays and the retail side behind me.

Kai stands, arms still crossed.

"I'm going home," I announce.

"Then I will accompany you to your domicile."

I roll my eyes. This act Kai is putting on is really good. "You can cut the alien act already. I don't know what you did to make this happen or why we have matching marks on our hands now, but this has gotten out of hand, so I'd appreciate it if you'd just leave me alone. Tell Rey…" I sigh and shake my head. "Don't tell Rey anything…I'm tired, and I can't change the past. It's time for us both to move on. Don't let him suck you into his bullshit. Hopefully, he at least threw a little cash your way, because this whole costume you've got going on is involved."

"Araceli, it's not a costume."

I rub my neck and meet his eyes for a moment. They almost seem to glow. "On that note, I'm out. See you hopefully never."

Kai watches me walk away. I turn heel and head to the break room, grab my purse, and make it two steps toward the back door when the pain returns. I refuse to let it hold me this time.

I take another step and find myself leaning against the wall as every nerve in my body feels like it's on fire.

Breathe.

Just breathe.

I take another step forward.

One thousand invisible blades slice through my body.

Maybe if I just keep pushing through it…

I force myself to take another step forward and the pain becomes too much. I hear my name being called and footsteps approaching just before I slide down the wall and let the blackness overtake me.