Kissing the Demon (Seoksoo)

Epilogue

Joshua

SIX MONTHS LATER

The Closet was thumping tonight, but it was nothing compared to the atmosphere in the VIP section. The drinks were flowing, and everyone, including my siblings, was enthusiastically throwing themselves into the festivities.

It was the first time we'd all been together for months. Seungcheol had found Blaise's hiding place only to discover he'd been taken by a ghast. While it still smarted that I wasn't the one to end him, the knowledge he'd been kidnapped by the very thing he feared was strangely satisfying. We'd even tracked down Anya. Given she'd been the brains behind the whole idea in the first place, we figured she deserved what was coming to her.

However, when Vernon and I visited her, she was already dying. Unable to get out of bed and racked with pain, she'd hidden nothing from us. She'd told us in no uncertain terms that she'd told Blaise to drop the plan after his failed attempt at breaking into my house, but he wouldn't listen to reason.

And now, it was too late for Willow. There was no point in trying to rescue her. She was too far gone. Anya's impending death was evidence enough. When one mate left this plane, the other would follow. We could've ended her then. Perhaps it would've been the merciful thing to do. But Vernon and I had exchanged glances, and I'd known we were both thinking the same thing.

We'd suffer through every second of excruciating pain if we could still feel our mates on the other end of that bond. We'd cope with anything to steal extra time, even if we were separated by a great distance.

We'd left her on her deathbed, stopping only to deliver a firm warning to the remaining mages in her clan to keep their distance from us. Given the haunted look in their eyes and their lack of reaction, it was unnecessary.

They'd lost too much to come after us now. It was a brutal reminder that we needed to get this ghast problem under control. We didn't have evidence of them going after anyone other than mages, but there was no guarantee that it wouldn't happen.

Soonyoung volunteered to take the mission on. He'd gotten a lead on the ghasts that led him to China, but given the foul mood he'd been in since he'd returned, I was guessing that hadn't been successful. We'd had countless meetings over the past six months, spoken to every demon and supe we could contact, but no one had any concrete information.

Tonight wasn't about that though. All concerns had been shelved and bad moods hidden. Something I'd had to beat into Soonyoung, but he'd finally gotten the message after I ruined his third shirt. This was a special day for Seokmin and, like fuck, was I letting anyone ruin it.

Seokmin had opened the doors of his gym to the general public for the first time. It had gone off without a hitch, thanks to the hard work he'd put in over the last few months. By the time I'd discovered his business plan shoved in a drawer during the move, I'd already scoped out three prospective premises and researched all the relevant costs. I'd been waiting for the perfect opportunity to drop this information, like when my cock was deep in his arse, but it wasn't necessary. Now that Seokmin knew I wasn't going to walk away from him, he was happy to listen to my advice and set the wheels in motion. He'd insisted that my contribution be treated as an investment with us being co-owners, an idea I'd rolled my eyes to but gone along with. Let's be honest. There was nothing I would refuse this man. If it made him happier to also have my name on the paperwork, then that's what we would do.

He'd handed in his notice on his return to school, allowing him to leave in October. Although he was sad not to be working with Seungkwan anymore, he was appeased by the fact we hung out with him and Vernon all the time. He'd even managed to talk Seungkwan into accepting a free gym membership...not that any of us expected him to use it. From then on, we'd worked tirelessly to get everything up and running, spending many late nights painting walls, stripping floors, and moving equipment. I'd had a blast demolishing various walls, to the point where Seokmin had confiscated my hammer before I accidentally removed one that needed to be there.

But now, it was done, and it was time to celebrate. We'd started the party in the gym, but when his mom called it a night, we decided to take it to the next level. Given Seokmin's red cheeks and the way he slightly swayed as he and Seungkwan belted out the words to 'Truth Hurts' by Lizzo, he was certainly enjoying himself. Being bonded with demons meant Seungkwan and Seokmin's alcohol tolerance was much higher than before. It was a limit the two of them were thoroughly enjoying finding. I exchanged a bemused look with Vernon and knew we were both thinking the same thing. Not in a million years could we've predicted that two humans would have us wrapped around their little fingers, but we wouldn't change it for the world.

The song ended, and Seokmin staggered over to drop next to me on the sofa. "Thank you for all of this. For everything."

Swinging my leg over his, I straddled his lap. "I should be the one thanking you. You've given me purpose. Before you, I had this whole immortal life of nothingness stretched out in front of me, but now I'm so grateful for it because I'll have you by my side."

His eyes heated, and I lowered my mouth to his. Before I could make contact, someone disturbed the wards at the entrance to the VIP area. I was off Seokmin's lap in an instant, facing the top of the staircase with a snarl. I felt rather than saw my brothers move to flank me.

Standing at the top of the staircase was a tall man with slicked-back dark hair. Stormy grey eyes darted around the room, his chiselled jaw tight. Broad shoulders tapered down to a lean waist and long legs. Human. Immediately my defences dropped, dismissing him as a threat. Even if he had been a supe, the way he wrung his hands and shifted on his feet would've shown he wasn't dangerous.

Seungcheol strode forwards, a flirtatious grin I hadn't seen in a while dancing on his lips. Was this it? The moment Seungcheol met his mate? "Are you lost?"

The man's gaze swept over Seungcheol, and he gulped. Looked like a tall and built redhead was definitely his cup of tea. "Um...I'm looking for Seungcheol. I was told I'd find him here."

"And you found him," Seungcheol purred, stepping closer to run his fingers down the man's arm. I held my breath. Please let this be the guy Seungcheol had been searching for. Satan knew he'd waited long enough to find love again.

That hope was dashed almost instantly. Seungcheol stiffened, a look of displeasure dancing over his face before he wiped it away. His voice when he spoke was clipped and professional. "What can I do for you?"

The man took a deep breath, steeling his spine. "I want to make a deal. I've heard you've got certain...skills. Skills that might help me find my brother."

Seungcheol studied him for a moment. "Do you understand what you're asking?"

He nodded, but there was no denying the trembling in his hands. "Yes."

"Okay, head down to the bar and wait for me there," Seungcheol said. When he'd gone, he turned to us, his shoulders slumped. "I thought for a moment there that..."

"That he was your mate?" I asked sadly. Now that I knew what it was like to have a mate, to know love, there was no way I'd want to be without it.

"Yeah." He rubbed a hand over his beard. "But no. I felt nothing when I touched him. No pull."

My chest hurt for him. "I'm sorry."

"He's cute though," Soonyoung offered. "Nothing stopping you from taking him to bed a few times."

"No." Seungcheol's jaw was set. "Not now that I know my mate is out there, somewhere. I wouldn't disrespect them like that. It would be...wrong."

"Wonder what he's looking to exchange?" Vernon mused. It wasn't common for humans to search us out. They rarely knew exactly what we were, only that we were able to provide unusual services...for a price.

"Guess I'll go find out," Seungcheol said, chugging his drink before heading down the stairs.

Seokmin's arms wrapped around me from behind, his chin resting on my head. "Poor Seungcheol. I hope he finds his guy soon."

"Me too," I said, snuggling back into his chest. I hadn't been looking for Seokmin, but fuck was I glad he was in my life now. Hopefully, fate wouldn't keep Seungcheol waiting too much longer. "How about we go home and really...celebrate?"

Seokmin growled in my ear. "Or, you could show me this storage closet I've heard all about..."