Kissing the Demon (Seoksoo)

Joshua

We were all quiet as we made our way back to the bookshop, where Seungkwan was waiting for us. We threw our lingering powers into a compulsion net, keeping passers-by from paying us too much attention. We'd vanished our wings after stepping through the portal, but there wasn't much we could do to hide the gore covering us.

Of the four of us, Seungcheol and Vernon were clearly the most exhausted, having taken the brunt of the attack while we'd gone ahead. I suspected Soonyoung's silence was mostly due to the angel we'd left fighting in Hell.

And Seokmin and me? I think we were too busy reassuring ourselves that the other was there. That we'd really sealed the bond and walked out of Hell together. I still held him in my arms. Even my exhaustion was not enough for me to put him down yet. He seemed content there, his face pressed against my neck as he breathed me in. He hadn't stopped running his hands over my face, my arms, my chest, my back.

I still couldn't believe he was here. That he was mine. Only the bond thrumming in my chest, beating with the relief Seokmin had felt since we left Hell, was enough to ensure me that it was true. He was my mate.

Mine.

And with the bond between us, Seokmin would never doubt how I felt about him again. And if he decided to run again? Well, I'd have all of eternity to chase him and remind him where he belonged.

It was only when we got to the bookshop that I reluctantly allowed him to slip from my arms. He didn't move to go inside though. Instead, he cupped my face in his hands and met my mouth in a sweet and desperate kiss.

"Thank you for coming for me," he said hoarsely as we broke apart. His smile was tender as his fingers stroked my cheek.

"Always," I promised in a whisper.

A squeal erupted, and Seokmin was thrown towards me with an oof. I steadied him with my hands, grinning when I spotted the arms fiercely hugging him from behind.

"Oh my god, I didn't believe Vernon when he said you were safe. Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine," Seokmin said, turning around to grab him in a tight hug. "Not an experience I wanna repeat ever again."

"Definitely not," Seungkwan said, wiping tears from his face. "If you put me through this again, I swear to God, I'll kill you myself. What the fuck happened anyway? I came in, and that guy ran out...and you were lying on the floor covered in blood."

"That's something I want to know too," I said, stepping forward. Now that Seokmin was safe, my focus had turned to revenge. Someone had hurt him, killed him, and now they needed to pay.

We took the reunion upstairs into the flat, where my brothers were also waiting to hear Seokmin's story. As he told us how Blaise had cornered and threatened him, I could feel my temper getting higher and higher. My skin got tighter as my demon roared with the desire for justice.

Seokmin had just told us how he'd fought him off and made for the door when I couldn't take it anymore. All I could see was red. Blood rushed in my ears and everything in me screamed to find Blaise and tear him into tiny pieces.

Seokmin's voice cut off, and I felt myself being pulled onto someone's lap. Big arms wrapped around me, my instincts calming at the scent of cinnamon woodsmoke. Soothing words were whispered into my ear as gentle hands rubbed over my back.

I'm here.

I'm safe.

You saved me.

Seokmin repeated the words over and over again until the haze cleared and my pulse slowed.

He was smiling, but even without the bond, there would've been no hiding his concern. "Hey, there you are."

"Thank you," I murmured, leaning my forehead on his as my hands sat loosely around his throat. "I'm sorry."