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Tallak eyed him. “And here I was thinking you had some brains.”
“Don’t make me pick up the spatula again.”
Tallak growled. “What makes you think she’d want to mate with me?”
“What makes you think she wouldn’t?”
Tallak grabbed the spatula and smacked Rhun with it. “You’re not my fucking shrink, so stop talking in psycho speak.”
“First of all,” the bluotezzer said, pointing his finger at him, “I will replace this spatula with a meat tenderizer if you keep acting like a godsdamn fool.” He snatched said spatula back from Tallak. “Second, you need to ask yourself why you’re so hung up on the idea that Hazel wouldn’t want to be with you.”
“Because she’s prim and proper and probably knows how to fold a fitted sheet, whereas I barely keep my place clean?”
“Nice try. Keep digging.”
Tallak shot the pesky demon a murderous look, which the other male ignored with irritable nonchalance. “Because she’s Goody Two-shoes and always does the right thing, and I’m the exact opposite?”
Without taking his eyes off Tallak, Rhun opened a drawer next to him and took out a meat tenderizer.
“Fine!” Tallak ground out. “Because I’m a bloody fucking mess and not good enough for her!”
Rhun nodded and set down the meat tenderizer. “Did she say that?”
“Not exactly.”
Rhun waved a hand in the air. “So that’s just a preemptive little paranoia you made up in your head.”
Tallak glared at him. “She’s too good for me.”
“So you think.” The other demon scratched his chin. “But that’s based on your issues. You don’t know if she thinks that way, too.” He shrugged. “Unless you ask her.”
“Like it’s that easy.” Tallak bared his teeth in a snarl. “Things are fucking complicated enough already. If I ask her and she shoots me down, I won’t be able to be around her anymore. And with Basil in the mix, that’s gonna be impossible.”
Rhun was silent for a moment, examining the contents of the bottle. “Tell me,” he said after a minute, “what will happen if you don’t try to mate with her?”
Frowning, Tallak contemplated that while emptying his glass. “I won’t be able to be around her anymore,” he said eventually, his heart heavy.
Because having the female he’d subconsciously chosen—in an unbidden, uncontrolled process that eluded all logic and reason—right in front of his nose and not being able to formalize the mating bond…it would drive a male crazy. The only thing that would help in this case was distance. The urge would fade over time, at least from what he’d heard here and there from others.
But every time he saw Hazel, it would flare back to life, and it would only get stronger the longer he didn’t act on it.
“So,” Rhun said and set the bottle down with a soft thump.
“So,” Tallak echoed.
“Same difference either way, except when you ask her, there’s actually a chance she’ll say yes and you and her get your own little demon-witch happy ever after.”
Tallak rubbed a hand over his face. “I don’t even know how to ask her.”
Rhun shrugged. “You work your way up to that.” At Tallak’s frown, he explained patiently, “Obviously, you need to prepare her a bit for that question. Make sure she’s more amenable to the idea of binding herself to you like that.” He made a flourish with his hand. “You know, court her.” Squinting at him, he added, “You do know how to court a female, don’t you?”
Tallak growled with his teeth bared. “I’m not some barbarian cave demon, you fuckbonnet.”
“Just checking.” Rhun raised both hands, palms out. “So, just court her. Find out what she wants and needs in a life partner and prove that you’re it. Make yourself indispensable.” He leveled a look at Tallak and added with emphasis, “Make her happy.”
Tallak grabbed the whiskey and took a swig right from the bottle. After a moment of savoring the burn sliding down his throat, he quietly asked, “What if I fuck it up?”
With utmost calm, Rhun picked up the meat tenderizer.
