Chapter 46

Hours later, Selene found herself dutifully clapping from her usual spot at the back of Maynard's Tavern. Kevin was on stage, dripping with sweat, and strumming his guitar. When he got to "He Died of Poetry," Kevin made a big show of dedicating it to her. Selene waved from behind the merch table and tried to appear gracious. The display was a bit excessive, but she was grateful to see him show some appreciation.

The artist appearing after Kevin had a much bigger following, so Maynard's was beginning to fill up before Kevin left the stage. It was the usual crowd of Nashville locals—women wearing sundresses with chic hats, the men dressed in ripped jeans and old concert shirts. But as Selene watched the people file past her, goosebumps broke out on her arms. There it was again, that feeling like someone was watching her.

She looked around the bar until she spotted the source—a tall man leaning against the retro jukebox. The cowboy. He was wearing the same clothes he wore at the restaurant, and when their eyes met, he nodded. She gave half a smile, then kicked herself because he seemed to have taken it as an invitation to approach her.

"Evenin', ma'am," the cowboy drawled in a deep voice that added to the whole outlaw vibe he had.

"Uh… hello." He smelled like gunpowder, but his smile was engaging. Selene wasn't sure what to make of him.

"You come here often?" he asked.

Seriously?

"Sure, when my boyfriend plays. Did you see his set just now? We have some things for sale here," Selene said, motioning to the table. The word boyfriend tasted like poison in her mouth, but she wanted to make sure this guy knew she wasn't interested. "Or you can sign up for the Kevin P. Norton email list—"

"Lady, you don't have to play games with me," the cowboy interrupted, his brown mustache stretching into a smile. The way he said lady was strange. Like it was a title. He looked at her expectantly. "Since I saw you the other day, I've been trying to track you down. Glad I found you tonight."

"Excuse me? Do I know you?"

After a moment, he frowned, then looked left and right. Bending forward, he gripped the center of his hat and lifted it slightly—just enough to reveal something that made Selene gasp.

Two horns.

They were brown and squat, nestled within his dark hair. These horns were much smaller than Sam's, like the ones you'd see on a baby cow. Selene dropped her gaze to meet the cowboy's eyes. As she did, they flicked from hazel to bright red. His grin was conspiratorial.

Demon.

Selene felt stupefied. A real demon! Here? But he looked so normal! Sort of. Unable to help herself, she blurted out, "Y-you're not from around here!"

"No, ma'am. I'm from down south," he said, pointing at the ground. "Deep south."

"How did you get… up north?"

He crossed his long arms. "The usual way, by a summoning. I was called here in 1865 by a seance," he said, then extended his hand. "Halphas, demon of Delusions. But I just go by Hal in this realm."

Selene grasped his hand and shook. His grip was strong and reassuring. For some reason, it made any anxiety she had about him melt away. "I'm Selene Riley. Just… Selene."

"A pleasure, Lady Selene." He surveyed the bar eagerly. "Is your mate here? I'd love to meet him."

Selene's mouth went dry. "M-my mate?"

"Forgive me, is it a she?"

She quickly glanced at Kevin, who was chatting near the stage. "I'm not… he's—"

The cowboy cut her off with a laugh. "Come on now. I know for damn sure it's not that pipsqueak you're selling trinkets for."

She swallowed. "What makes you think I have a mate?"

"Lady, you've got demon glittering all over you. Down to your aura. You've been claimed. And quite thoroughly," he said with a wink.

Selene's face heated.

"Aw shucks, I didn't mean to be so crude. I've just never met a human mated to a demon before. I've always wondered if it was possible. Hoped it was, to be honest."

"You can see his claim on me?"

"Clear as day."

Hal's words buzzed through Selene like an electric current. She bit her lip as sadness, regret, confusion, yearning, and deep heartache tightened in her chest.

Suddenly, the area around them fell dark, as though a light bulb directly above them winked out. All at once, it became difficult to see anyone else. Shadows cloaked the two of them.

"What in tarnation—" Hal said. A cluster of black shadows swarmed above them then curled around Selene's shoulders like a shawl. Her mouth opened in surprise while Hal chuckled. "Ah, I see. Now that's a rare trick! You must have learned that from your fella."

Hot tears pricked at Selene's eyes. The dark shapes seemed to pick up on her emotions and pulsed more strongly. They chilled her skin, but their presence was comforting.

Is your mate here, he had asked.

You've been claimed.

Her experience in Aurelia was real; she didn't have to fool herself anymore. All the anxieties she had about her ability to separate fact from fiction were swept away. Hal and the shadows weren't a hallucination, which meant Sam wasn't either.

Relief hit her along with a wave of longing for her demon so strong she sagged in her seat. Selene wiped her eyes then waved the shadows away. Hal was watching her with concern.

"Hey, why the sad face? Has your mate been cruel to you?" He punched a fist into his palm. "Where is he? I'll straighten him out."

"He isn't here," she said quietly. "We're… separated."

Pulling up a chair, he said, "Did y"all have a quarrel?"

"It's complicated."

"Can't be all that bad, can it?"

"I don't know," she sniffed. "I"m not even sure he"s alive."

"Of course, he is. I wouldn"t be able to see his claim if he wasn"t."

"Really?" she said, feeling as though a great weight had lifted from her chest. "I'm glad to hear that."

"Is that all that's troubling you?" Hal asked.

"Yes. No. It"s more than that. He…he had some plans that I didn't agree with. And said some things—" She shook her head, remembering how Sam had used his strength to intimidate her in the cave. How could she love a man who acted that way? It was ridiculous to cry over someone who wanted to claim her like a piece of meat.

"Anything I can do to help?" Hal asked.

She considered the demon. Even in the dim bar lighting, she could see the rim of red around Hal's hazel irises. If anyone could help her translate the mysteries of demon matehood, it was this guy. "May I ask you a question?"

"Of course," he said.

"What does it mean for a demon to call you his mate? To claim you?"

"He didn't tell you?"

"No. I think he meant to, but there wasn't time."

Hal nodded, and Selene was grateful he didn't ask her to elaborate. "Our kind believes that fate matches us with another to increase our power. If you're his mate, then he can share his strengths to enhance your abilities, while you do the same for him. It looks like that's already happened with the shadows."

"But what about the claiming part? Does it mean I'm like, his property?"

Hal threw back his head and laughed. "I take it you've never met any female demons, huh? They would never stand for that."

"Then what does it mean?"

"It just means he's felt the bond and wants to be yours. He wants other demons to know that you're his mate, and not to be trifled with. But that doesn't mean you have to accept his claim. Oh, that must be the problem. You haven't claimed him, have you?"

"I can do that?"

"Yep. Our kind believes in fate, but we also believe in free choice. He can claim you all he wants, but until you claim him, the mating bond isn't fully in place. He really should have told you these things. Has he taken on any traits of yours?"

"I'm human. I don't have any traits worth sharing."

"Now, that can't be true."

She reconsidered. "Actually, he said I calm him."

"My, my." Hal raised his eyebrows. "That's a precious gift to a demon."

"Is it?"

Hal nodded.

Selene slumped in her chair. "It sounds like a lovely sentiment, but I don't want to be in charge of his emotions." Her gaze bounced around the bar anxiously. "I can't take that on. I don't want to."

Hal adjusted his hat. "No, no, no. He's got it all wrong. Mates help bring their partner's inner qualities to the surface—they don't control those traits. Have you felt differently since meeting him? Acting in a way that people say isn't like you?"

"I've been a lot angrier," she said. "My tolerance for BS is gone."

"Do you think that came directly from him? Or was that anger within you all along?"

"Definitely within me," she said thoughtfully. "It always felt trapped, though. Bottled up. For decades."

"Exactly." Hal smiled. "Your mate pulled the cork on that bottle. You did the same for him, but with a different emotion."

Selene considered his words. She was going to question him on the topic further, but found herself asking, "How does a human claim a demon? Do we have to live in the Underworld?

"Not unless you want to," Hal said then shrugged. "I'm not sure how the claiming works with non-demons, honestly. But I do know this—the first step is to decide you want to. What is it that you want, Lady Selene?"

Her jaw tightened. She thought back to that day when Sam asked her about her ideal life. "I hate that question."

"Why?"

"It"s not easy to answer. There"s a lot to consider."

Hal gave her a skeptical look. "Is there?"

"Always."

Then shaking his head, he said, "Darlin,' I"m feeding on your delusion right now."

Before Selene could reply, Kevin was at her side, nudging her with his elbow. "How much have I sold?"

"Nothing yet," she replied, bristling at his touch.

"Not quite," Hal said, rising to his feet. He tapped his finger on a CD. "I"ve got to mosey along to see more acts tonight, but I'll take one of these. It will help sustain me when I can't get out to see new talent." He pulled out a hundred-dollar bill from his pocket and handed it to Selene. "Keep the change."

"Wow! Thank you. I'm so glad you enjoyed my set!" Kevin gushed. "I love your hat. Are you in the music industry?"

Hal smirked. "Thank you, son. I'm no big wig, just a fan of aspiring musicians. And as for your music, let's just say it… fed my soul."

"That's really profound," Kevin replied with a hand over his chest. "It's my honor."

Hal clapped him on the back. "Keep trying, boy. Always keep trying." Then touching the brim of his hat, he whispered to Selene. "Dark blessings to you, Lady."

Kevin looked puzzled while Selene smiled and said, "Thank you, Hal. You've given me a lot to think about."

"Don't think, just feel. If there's something you want, claim it." Then he gave her a small salute and turned to walk out of the bar.

Kevin flopped into the seat Hal had occupied and began drumming his fingers on the table. "He was interesting. Did you hear what he said about my music? Fed his soul."

"Yes," Selene murmured. As Kevin blathered on about music and souls, she stared at the jukebox where Hal had been standing. Suddenly the answer to the question she hated most wasn't so complicated anymore.

She thought about all the experiences she had wanted as a child but wasn't allowed to have. Summer camp, weekend sleepovers, studying abroad. And then as an adult—out-of-state college, travel, adventure, a partner who listened to her and respected her desires. She always had an excuse for not taking what she wanted. Not enough PTO hours, too expensive, more trouble than it was worth, too disruptive to her family, too unrealistic to hope for.

But if she took all of that away—eliminated all of the complications and self-imposed barriers? Then what did she want?

The truth spread throughout her limbs like effervescent bubbles. Bright, fresh, and real.

I want to be with Sam.

There was simply no other option for her. She had to go back to Aurelia. She wasn't going to be Sam's emotional crutch in the way he seemed to think she was, but she had to see him. At least talk to him. She had a stone that could take her anywhere! If Sam couldn't accept her terms to be the partner she wanted, then she could say goodbye and come home. But at least she would know. Then she could move on. It was pointless to waste another moment.

Turning to Kevin, she said, "We're breaking up. I wish you the best, but it's over."