Demon and the Mage (Jeongcheol)

Jeonghan

My pulse was still racing. Seungcheol hadn't said a word since our exchange about where to head towards. I'd considered making conversation a few times, but the silence was safer, given how close I'd come to exposing my true identity.

I mean, what was I thinking, questioning him about everything? I never had this much trouble keeping my guard up, but something about Seungcheol slipped under my walls and tripped me.

When Seungcheol asked for something of Blaise's, I panicked. Sure, I had his chain with me. It had been the first and only thing I'd grabbed from his place when I'd gone there to see the scene for myself.

I hadn't clutched Blaise's chain in my hand out of sentimentality or because the thought of parting with it was painful, but because I'd needed to put a glamour on it. I wasn't sure how Seungcheol's tracking skills worked, but the last thing I wanted was him touching it and realising who it really belonged to. The trace of Blaise on there would be enough for Seungcheol to track him, but hopefully not enough to recognise him.

I only clocked what Seungcheol was after when he grabbed me. Imprints. He used imprints to track, along with his demonic instincts, no doubt. Most supes weren't even aware of what imprints were, let alone how to differentiate between them. This obviously wasn't an issue for Seungcheol.

It was, however, causing an issue with me. The glamour hid my true imprint showing me to be a mage, meaning Seungcheol couldn't determine which imprint was mine and which was Blaise's. Before he unleashed a wave of power on me that would reveal my imprint and wash away my glamour, I'd shoved the doctored version I'd put on the chain to the surface. Thankfully, it'd been enough for him to drop my hand.

Well, my sense of preservation had been thankful, at least. The rest of me, especially my dick, had positively sulked at the loss of contact. In any other situation, I'd be directing Seungcheol down the nearest back road to test how durable the suspension was on this awesome car.

Given the speed with which he'd pulled away, Seungcheol didn't share the sentiment. Which was good because I needed to keep him at arm's length. Unfortunately, the erection I was now shifting in my seat to hide didn't agree. My brain knew our priority was to save Blaise, but my dick refused to listen. Thankfully Seungcheol didn't even so much as glance in my direction.

I'd been frustrated when it became clear he didn't know which direction to head in—it confirmed my worst fears. Like me, he was unable to pin down Blaise's exact location.

Thanks to Blaise and my bonded powers, I had an approximate location. I'd tracked him within a fifty-mile radius, but that's where the trail had gone dead. It was like there was a wall around his position, preventing me from getting closer.

Hence my need for Seungcheol. Besides, if the ghasts were what they were rumoured to be—half-demon, half-spirit—what better supernatural to have bound to keep me safe than the son of Lucifer himself?

The silence continued until Seungcheol pulled off the M1 and into the services. He parked the car and looked at me expectantly.

"What?"

He inclined his head towards the services. "We've been driving for three hours, and it's way past lunchtime. I assume you need to stop for food or a comfort break."

"Oh," I said dumbly. That was...surprisingly thoughtful of him. And a pointed reminder that I wasn't doing great at pretending to be human. Sure, I still need to eat and all that shit, but I could go a lot longer than three hours. "Thank you."

Seungcheol nodded, his attention already on his phone, which he'd thumbed from his pocket. He clearly had no intention of leaving the car.

I pulled my jacket tighter to ward off the cold March air as I made my way to the entrance. I hadn't been inside one of these places in years, but nothing seemed to have changed. A small convenience shop, several fast food outlets, a coffee shop...it was all standard. There was even a cleaner mopping the floor—something that seemed to be happening no matter what time of day you visited. Honestly, they must have the cleanest fucking floors ever.