*Andy’s POV*

I woke up abruptly, disoriented, a funny tickling in my ear. “Ugh!” I stuffed my finger in my ear to try and itch at it, but then I heard Jules yelling at me, felt her pulling my hand away. “Whut?”

I sat up and looked groggily around. Wait a second… Juliet and Oona were BOTH thinking that I was a doofus. “That’s not fair, I’m just reacting normally-“

“-It worked!” Juliet wrapped her arms around me, and I finally realized what she meant, why she was so happy. Joy blossomed in my chest as I realized that we had done it, we had succeeded, together! My mate! Jules was my official mate! And I was her’s!

I could feel Oona’s relief and happiness too, briefly, before she put a shield over her thoughts. She tapped me on the shoulder. “I’ll leave you two. This moment is for you two only.”

I just hugged Juliet, reveling in the stream of happiness and love coming from her. She really did love me! I was her crazy, little, blue-eyed white rabbit- “I’m not little!” I broke away with a laugh.

Catching Juliet’s eye, I was suddenly entranced. They were so vivid, green and blue dancing together like the waters of the most pure sea. My laughter died quickly as I started thinking about… stuff. “I, uh, I’m horny too, I guess.” I felt my face heating up a bit.

Jules just grinned at me, but I could tell she was wondering what I was going to do about it.

---

*Oona’s POV*

I took a moment to sit quietly, keeping my thoughts to myself. I was thrilled, of course, for both Andy and Juliet.

But I couldn’t help the unfamiliar feeling of loneliness from creeping up in my belly, like a walk of cold snails. It wasn’t really appropriate to feel that way; I recognized that. Andy cared for me in his own way, and Juliet was tolerating me very graciously. I couldn’t have asked for more.

And yet, still, that strange feeling of being isolated. In all my life, I’d always worked alone. Why would I feel lonesome now? Was I jealous, like a human?

I thought on it for a while. No, I was not jealous. But, hearing the boisterous sounds of lovemaking coming from the guest room, I supposed I was envious. There was no possessive aspect to the way I felt about Andy, but I wished that I had assurance of his feelings for me that Juliet now did.

After all, it still remained to be seen if Andy’s seed for me would work. If not, now that his seed for Juliet had functioned appropriately, I would know for certain that it was because he did not love me. The possibility of failure because he hadn’t made the seed correctly, or because his romantic feelings were unable to transfer, had been eliminated.

Showing her uncanny ability to sense anxiety, Femme came and sat next to me, wordlessly, on the couch. Her presence was comforting.

Just as I wondered if it would be best if I left for my own home for the evening, I caught the whiff of a scent the put lightning through my veins… brimstone. Femme ran quickly across the room.

I blinked, and abruptly the Lord of All Darkness was seated across from me. Immediately I groveled to a knee. “My liege.”

I kept my eyes trained on the floor as I heard him snort. “I’m not in the mood for that; get up.”

At once, I rose, my mind rattling in every direction at once. This was bad, bad, very bad-

Lucifer held up a massive hand, “Calm yourself. All is well.”

He regarded me steadily with an unusual neutral expression, and I felt my nerves begin to fray. “Your exploits have brought me steaming hot, fresh knowledge.” He gestured towards the guest bedroom. “Your persistent antics have brought me much amusement, and that is in short supply these days.” He rolled his eyes, “Very short.”

He rarely blinked, and he began to smirk, just barely showing that his mouth was full of far too many teeth. “Do you wish a reward?”

My eyes nearly popped out of my head. Lucifer did not give favors! While not ‘evil’ in the truly classical sense, he fulfilled his role to perfection. If he was offering something, there was likely a catch. I forced my voice not to tremble as I spoke, “I am humbled and honored to have earned as such in your eyes. However, I need for nothing. All I desire will either come to pass shortly, or be altogether impossible.”

He steepled his long fingers together and grinned more widely. “You show wisdom and prudence for one so young, little Oona. But I am wont to avoid standing debt.”

He cast a spell with mere thought, a massive amount of energy coalescing into his palm to form what looked like… a piece of candy? He held it out to me. “Give your lover this to eat, and he will believe he loves you with all his heart,” he raised an eyebrow, “regardless of whether he actually does or not. It is the closest I can offer to a guarantee of your success.”

I looked at the small, wrapped chocolate. “Such items are difficult to come by, little girl.” He stood, massively tall, nearly hitting the ceiling, then stooped to physically place the candy in one of my hands. “Use it, or do not. Either way, my debt is paid. I wish you well for your service.”

I blinked, staring at the small candy, and suddenly the Dark Master was gone, leaving only the smell of brimstone in his wake. I looked up to find both cats staring intently at me.

Notes

Uh oh.