Chapter Five

JACK WAS SEATED outside a grand oak door, in a wide hallway with high ceilings and polished floors, and he felt as nervous as he ever remembered being. He was at least as nervous as when he’d summoned Aaden and discovered demons were real, and far more nervous than the many occasions when he’d found himself sitting outside the principal’s office in high school.

It wasn’t a teacher he was waiting to see this time though, and it wasn’t Kris beside him playing the role of parent. He was waiting with Aaden to speak with the High Lord of the Order of Balance Demons, the man who controlled Aaden’s fate, and in a way, Jack’s too.

“Did my mom text back yet?” Aaden asked. Jack and Aaden’s mother had swapped several messages since Jack’s first text almost a week ago. He’d told her about this meeting, and she had warned them to be careful and told Aaden not to put her before his own safety. Jack thought she seemed like a good mom, and it had been making him miss his own a little. It had also kick-started his PTSD again. Aaden had been great about it, so supportive, just sitting up with Jack when he was too afraid of his dreams to sleep. Aaden was always willing to provide a distraction, sexual or otherwise.

“Nothing yet, but like you said, signal is weird over on this side,” Jack pointed out.

“Are you okay? I can do this alone if you’re having second thoughts. Your energy seems very chaotic,” Aaden offered gently. He put his hand on Jack’s knee, and Jack glanced at the people walking about the hallway before remembering that in this world casual affection between two men wouldn’t cause anyone to so much as blink fast.

“I’m glad I’m here. I want to help you,” Jack said honestly.

“Then what’s wrong?” Aaden asked.

“I’m afraid that after this meeting I’ll never see you again,” Jack admitted.

“They wouldn’t invalidate my deal. Even if they don’t agree to let me work in the human world, I’ll get to stay the time that was promised as part of our deal. They won’t forbid me from seeing you. I’m sure of that.” Jack knew Aaden was trying to reassure him. He didn’t have the heart to say that he was just as worried Aaden would get to work in the human realm and leave Jack for the wider world.

Jack tried to speak when he felt a strange chill across his nerves, and Aaden sat up straighter.

“It’s time,” Aaden said, standing, and Jack was quick to follow.

They walked over to the door. Aaden put his palm flat to the wood, closing his eyes briefly, then nodded and opened the door, gesturing at Jack to follow him. Jack wasn’t quite sure what he’d expected of a demon High Lord’s office, but the room they walked into was like a lawyer’s office, shiny and slightly sterile.

A large shiny black desk stood right in the center of the room and sitting in a large leather chair was a man who, at first glance, looked relatively human. Then Jack’s eyes lowered, and he noticed that the man didn’t wear fancy shoes with his slick suit because, instead of feet, he had hooves. And on a second look, Jack noticed he also had small horns curled amongst his red hair.

“Aaden, and Mr. Long, please take a seat.” The demon High Lord spoke in a cool, crisp voice. It was only slightly similar in accent to Aaden’s, so Jack guessed they weren’t from the same place, but he didn’t focus on that. He followed Aaden to the waiting chairs and sat across the table from the High Lord.

“Thank you, High Lord, for agreeing to meet with us,” Aaden said, and Jack could sense the nerves in his voice. He wasn’t used to Aaden being nervous. Aaden was always confident and in control, but right here and now, the demon in front of them had power over Aaden and his future.

“I must admit I’m curious as to why you would want to speak with me in the middle of a case. Do you and the witch wish to break your deal?” the High Lord asked, sounding disapproving.

“No, sir. We’re more than happy to fulfill the deal we made. I came to talk about my job, and thought Mr. Long, as someone who has worked with me and has, now, become a friend, might have some valued insight on the matter,” Aaden explained, and Jack wanted to hit himself for the slight pang of heat he felt at Aaden referring to him as Mr. Long. It was so formal, yet somehow it was sexy, and in that moment, Jack was glad he had been practicing on making his energy and aura harder to read. The High Lord didn’t have to know everything about him. He planned to keep certain aspects of himself private, such as what turned him on.

“What issue do you have with your job? I’ve had no complaints about your performance—the opposite, in fact. We are pleased with how you’ve been working.” The High Lord tented his fingers. His gaze focused on Aaden as if Jack were not even in the room.

“I have no issue. I want to keep my job, but…” Aaden hesitated.

“But what? Come now, Aaden. You have nothing to fear here if you have broken no rules.” The High Lord actually looked a little concerned, and Aaden had mentioned that the lords who ran the balance demons were fair and caring people compared to other demon lords.

“I want to do my job from the human world. I want to live full time in that realm and just come to this side to make deals with other demons and angels as part of my job,” Aaden explained in a rush.

The High Lord sighed. “And does this have anything to do with this witch?”

“In part, yes.”

“And you miss your mother. I had feared that would happen. I do think perhaps the other lords’ decision to ban you from seeing her was harsh, and clearly it has not had the desired effect. You still want to leave.” The High Lord looked troubled.

“I don’t want to leave my job though, not like my mother did. And yes, I would like to be able to see her freely. I wouldn’t work any less. I am feeling things in the human world that I have not felt before. I would like to have the chance to explore those feelings, to let them grow, instead of trying to hold back,” Aaden explained, and he glanced over at Jack. Jack’s heart raced. He was sure Aaden wasn’t just saying these things to get his own way. He hoped not, at least. He wanted Aaden to be as tangled in knots with him as Jack was with Aaden.

“And you, witch. What do you feel? You willingly came here with Aaden, so I suspect you wish to keep him in your life. But why? Do you just want the benefits of his more powerful magic?” the High Lord asked, focusing his pale-blue gaze on Jack.

“No! I’d never use him like that. I won’t lie and say Aaden’s magic hasn’t improved my life since we met, and I appreciate it, but if I had just met him in a bar or a coffee shop, I’d still want to get to know him and have him in my life,” Jack blurted out honestly. He felt exposed, but he didn’t want to mess this up for Aaden, to leave Aaden trapped in a world where he was unhappy.

“You have spirit. I like that. Are you willing to make a deal for Aaden? To have him with you?” the High Lord asked.

“Yes,” Jack answered from his heart.

“No, he’s not doing that,” Aaden argued.

“Perhaps you should have gotten on the same page before coming here.” The High Lord chuckled.

“I don’t want Jack to give up anything for me. He’s lost enough in his life, gone through enough, and I will not be the reason for any pain in his life,” Aaden said firmly.

“If you don’t let me, and I have to say goodbye at the end of three months, that will cause me pain too,” Jack admitted softly.

“A deal does not have to necessarily mean pain or that we will take from him.” The High Lord looked almost sympathetic.

“What would the deal be? Please, Aaden, at least let me hear him out?” Jack asked, grabbing Aaden’s hand, not caring if his emotions were showing. If he wanted to get Aaden working from the human world, he was going to have to be honest, to bare his soul but hopefully not have to trade it.

“Okay.” Aaden nodded, squeezing Jack’s hand tightly.

“Work for me, use your abilities when I call on them,” the High Lord offered.

“Make deals?” Jack asked, surprised.

“He’s human though?” Aaden sounded equally shocked, but also confused.

“Witches have their uses, and within you, young witch, I sense great potential. With training from Aaden, I feel I could find use for you,” the High Lord said casually.

“I’ll make the deal,” Jack said quickly.

“Jack! Think first. You don’t know what using your magic to help with balance will do to you, how you’ll cope.” Aaden looked worried.

“I am thinking, and I can handle it. If I have you, I can handle it. I want you to be free,” Jack insisted.

“Give me your arm,” the High Lord instructed.

Jack reached over the table and the High Lord took his forearm in his large hand.

“You will be on call like Aaden for the cases we feel fit you, and in exchange, Aaden may work in the human world for as long as he wishes. Is it a deal?” the High Lord asked in a solemn voice.

“Deal.” Jack nodded, and he watched as a new mark swirled onto his skin, a strange symbol in a circle surrounded by small dots.

“Was there anything else?” the High Lord asked, taking his hand back, and Jack took his arm back too. It felt the same, but once again, he knew that everything had changed.

“No, Lord. Thank you for listening to us,” Aaden said, bowing slightly as he stood.

“A word of advice, Aaden?” the High Lord offered as they were headed for the door.

“Always welcome,” Aaden said, but he looked and felt weary.

“Keep your witch close. You have a good man at your side there. As your humans would say, don’t fuck it up.” The High Lord seemed amused with his own words.

Jack was surprised when Aaden took his hand. “I very much intend to keep him in my life as long as he wishes to be there.”

“Smart boy. Now run along. I have much to do, and you should enjoy your time before I put you both to work again.” The High Lord waved a dismissive hand, and Aaden opened the door and led Jack out.

They didn’t talk until after Aaden had brought them through a portal back into their home in Texas, causing Moon to meow once in complaint when they appeared out of seemingly nowhere.

“Did it really work? Can you stay? Was that all it took?” Jack asked in disbelief.

“All? Jack, what you did for me was no small thing. You have indebted yourself to a high-up demon, one with way more power than I have. I can’t believe you did that.” Aaden looked shocked, slightly less put together than usual. Jack thought it took a lot to stun a demon.

“Okay, relax. You deserved to be free, Aaden, to see your mother. I’m never going to get to see mine again, but you will see yours now. How could I not help with that? Before you even knew me, you gave me a deal in my favor when I was desperate, and outside the bar you probably saved my life. If that’s not enough… Well, I wanted to. I wanted you to stay,” Jack said almost angrily. Aaden was a good demon, had been so kind to him when he didn’t need to be. He could have taken anything he wanted without asking, but he never had. He’d given and given, yet somehow thought he didn’t deserve help from Jack, and that made Jack mad.

“You’re right, I’m sorry if I didn’t seem grateful or excited. I’m a little shocked,” Aaden admitted, and he moved forward to hug Jack. Jack moved into his arms willingly, pressing his face into Aaden’s warm, firm chest.

“You’re going to have to teach me more about your job and the demon world now, really teach me, so I know how to handle it. And we need to practice my magic more. I might even take Kim Joy’s invite and start going to meet with their coven,” Jack said thoughtfully.

“That’s a good idea. Kim Joy is a powerful witch, and being around other witches will be good for you.” Aaden nodded, his fingers smoothing over Jack’s hair.

“We can work this out together, right?” Jack asked, trying not to sound hopeful.

“Yes, we’ll do this together,” Aaden agreed.

“Hey, do you want to call your mom and tell her the good news?” Jack asked, and he saw Aaden’s face light up.

“We should Skype her; she can’t use a phone without tech to translate to text. I want her to see you too.” Aaden smiled, and Jack had to kiss him. His heart felt so full. He hoped Aaden would never feel indebted to Jack for what he had done, but thankfully he didn’t get that vibe from Aaden’s energy at all. Instead, he could feel hope, and something else. Love.

Aaden pressed him to the nearest wall as their kiss grew deeper, and they didn’t end up Skyping Aaden’s mom till hours later. Instead, they explored each other, showered, and enjoyed a quiet meal together.