Chapter 8: A Taste of Trust

​Nos noticed Cal's tail finally relaxed into its usual S-shape, and the sight filled him with relief. If today counted as the first day out of the week Zuma had granted him, then he was already off to a rough start. He only hoped Cal would give him a crash course in incubus etiquette soon.

Savvie relayed their previous conversation to Sven the moment he returned, and his reaction was priceless.

“Of course you can call me Uncle Sven!” Sven said with warmth and pride in his voice. “You were already my nephew in my heart.”

For Nos, calling Sven and Savvie ‘Uncle’ and ‘Auntie’ wasn’t just playful. It was a silent acknowledgment. They were his real family now. The words felt unfamiliar at first, but settled over him like a weighted blanket: solid, protective, and right.

Sven's response was immediate and strong. He gave him a crushing bear hug that left Nos laughing and breathless, then a proud, satisfied grin formed on his face. If Nos wasn't mistaken, he could have sworn he saw a sheen of unshed tears in Sven's eyes.

“About time, kid,” Sven said. He ruffled Nos’s hair with a hand that seemed built for both kneading dough and doling out comfort.

Nos relished the touch, wondering how he'd let such a thing slip for so long. He vowed to be more attentive in the future.

Savvie took Nos and Cal’s hands. “Look after each other, okay? Cal, you know Nos thinks he’s clever, but he’s new to all this. Don’t let him bluff his way through everything.”

Nos flushed but didn't argue. Savvie saw right through him, and he knew better than to challenge her insight.

Cal, meanwhile, handled it without fuss, like having a new aunt and uncle was perfectly normal. He exhibited no awkwardness, just a genuine smile. With the tension gone, even Cal's usual sarcasm lost its edge.

“Don’t worry, Auntie, I’m on it,” Cal said. He glanced at Nos. “Now, shouldn’t we head out, gorgeous?”

Cal's words sent a shiver of anticipation through Nos. Their markings thrummed up his spine with contentment. When he caught Cal's tail swaying, he hoped his earlier blunder was well behind them.

After lingering farewells, they stepped out into the evening. The streets of Helderlus were surprisingly quiet that night, save for the occasional passerby. Then, Nos remembered that it was a weekday. The sky overhead was a violet so dark it appeared black. Cal led Nos down the sidewalk, then abruptly stopped and jerked his chin toward the opposite side of the street.

“Quit staring at my ass,” Cal deadpanned. “And look over there.”

Nos blinked, startled. He'd been watching Cal's tail, not his backside, but hey, semantics. Instead, he followed Cal's gaze across the street, where a small house stood, painted the same shade as Cal's azure hair. White roses lined the yard, glowing faintly under the streetlamps.

“That was my old house.” Cal’s voice softened. “I thought it’d be my forever home, since my fated match was missing.”

Nos heard the ache beneath the words and years of waiting. “I can help you paint the new house blue, if you want,” he offered, hoping it meant something.

Cal’s tail flicked, betraying his pleasure. “I couldn’t care less what color the house is,” he said. “But I do miss those rose bushes in the front. And the two grafted trees in the back. Those mattered most.”

“You planted two trees?” Nos affirmed.

“Five years ago,” Cal said with a shrug. “I was dramatic at seventeen. Figured I’d see them bloom by now,” he continued, voice gruffer. “When I joined the multicultural meet, there were buds. Now, I’ll never see them.”

Nos wanted to help. “Can’t you ask the new owner to see them one last time?”

Cal snorted. “They’d know I planted them thinking I’d be alone and never move out,” he said. He groaned. “I’d die of embarrassment.”

“Then let’s plant two new trees. Or four!” Nos said.

Cal’s grip on Nos’s hand tightened, but his tail drooped. He tried to sound casual, but his voice softened, resignation slipping in. “It’s fine. The new resident can have them. Maybe they’ll cheer up someone else waiting for their match.”

The cambion then gently tugged at Nos's hand and led them onwards. Nos tossed a final glance at the blue house over his shoulder and committed the number and street name to memory.

After a brief walk filled with quiet conversation, they turned a corner and reached a slightly larger house, taupe-colored and unadorned except for a neat porch. Cal pulled out his phone and unlocked the door with an app, a modern touch that surprised Nos, who was used to the clink of a physical key in his mother's mansion. He almost asked what would happen if Cal's phone died, but the question faded as Cal walked inside, letting go of his hand.

Nos felt the loss; a small, fading ache. He looked around, surprised at how furnished the place was. It felt lived-in, as if a couple had just moved out to a bigger place.

“This is my new place,” Cal said, arms wide as he spun in the entryway. “Ours, if you want. Or not, if you’d rather I move in with you. I don’t really care, as long as you’re there.”

At the mention of moving out of Helderlus, Nos noticed Cal's tail stiffen. The atmosphere shifted. Orion's shadow lingered, and his cruelty had left a mark that was slow to fade. Anger flashed through Nos, tempered by resolve: he would do whatever it took to help Cal feel safe again. Nos was determined not to let the past dictate their present.

“I’d love to live here with you. If you want me.” Nos’s voice barely rose above a whisper.

Cal's tail began to curl, and Nos thought he saw the faintest twitch of wings. His marking buzzed. Contentment, maybe, or just relief?

“More pretty words,” Cal said, but there was a hint of hope beneath his skepticism. “I still can’t tell when you’re actually being honest. But I’ll believe what you show me.”

In three strides, Cal crossed the room and placed one hand on Nos’s chest, the other reaching down. Nos’s breath hitched as Cal cupped him through his pants. For a moment, the world narrowed to the heat and pressure of that touch.

“Wait, h-hold on,” Nos stammered, blushing.

Heat rushed to Nos’s cheeks, frustration coiling tight. He wanted to prove himself to Cal, but the sudden intimacy knocked him off balance. Annoyance at his own hesitation burned in his chest. Zuma’s words about an incubus’s heart echoed, fueling the self-doubt. He was sure he’d screw this up.

“Are you sure?” Cal said, teasing but careful, and he glanced down. “Because I’m not getting any objections from down here.”

Cal’s hand stayed gentle, and Nos’s arousal was obvious. But beneath the desire and anxiety, old insecurities held Nos back. He didn’t push Cal away, but the right words failed him.

“It’s too much, too soon!” Nos blurted, their markings pulsing with nerves.

Cal moved his hands away to cup Nos’s face. “It’s okay, I get it. Nothing below the belt,” he said. He paused, searching Nos’s eyes. “Is above the belt alright?”

Nos’s hands were unsteady on Cal’s shoulders. He made himself meet Cal’s gaze, letting the want show even if uncertainty churned underneath. He knew his fated match could feel his emotions through their marks, and for once, it comforted him.

“Can we…” Nos faltered, voice small. “Can we start with kissing first?”

Cal smiled, more genuine than teasing.

Nos noticed again how Cal’s tail, around the length of his forearm, supposedly meant experience. Incubus tails grew with intimacy: sex added a solid inch, while acts like prolonged kissing or honest vulnerability added centimeters. It frustrated him to no end that he could freely recall random trivia about incubi, but not key cultural differences.

He’d spent so long fixated on earning Cal’s trust that Nos overlooked his own need for safety and acceptance. Was that why he was so damn nervous?

“Kiss me, please,” Nos whispered, desperation threading through every word.

Cal rose on his toes and pressed a firm kiss to Nos’s lips. His fingers threaded through Nos’s hair, and Nos melted into the tenderness of the touch. When Cal pulled away, he ran a thumb over Nos’s cheek with affectionate reverence.

“I see that much is fine,” Cal said softly, then beckoned. “Come here.”

He led Nos to a plush gray couch and gently pushed him down into the cushions. Cal straddled him, continuing to stroke Nos’s hair, and wrapped one of Nos’s arms around his waist. Their mouths met again, soft and insistent, and warmth bloomed in Nos’s chest, spreading outward until he felt weightless.

When Cal bit softly at his lower lip, Nos responded instinctively, deepening the kiss and running one hand up Cal’s back, just brushing the base of the cambion’s wings. Cal shivered, pulling Nos’s hand back down with a breathless laugh.

“Oh, that’s not fair,” Cal said, a low moan escaping him. “I know I said above the waist was fine, but my wings, tail, and horns are like a direct line to my… you know.” He flashed a crooked grin. “Don’t rile me up like that.”

“Sorry, I-”

“-didn’t know,” Cal finished, reassuring. “I know. I’m telling you now. Above the waist for me means everything except my wings, tail, and horns. Touch my tail in public, and we’ll get kicked out of kid-friendly places. Touch my horns, and I’ll likely cum on the spot.”

Nos glanced at Cal’s horns, his orange eyes bright with curiosity. Cal must have seen the look, because he said, “Don’t look at them like you want to touch them. You’re the one who’s uncomfortable with anything below the belt. It’s bad manners to get one of us off without allowing us to reciprocate.”

“I understand.” Nos tried to sound confident, but uncertainty still crept in. Cal’s boundaries were both reassuring and confusing.

“Good.” Cal’s eyes sparkled. “Now open your mouth for me.”

Nos had barely time to respond before Cal’s lips claimed his, a warm tongue sliding into his mouth. Nos’s fingers pressed into Cal’s lower back as Cal’s tongue flicked one of his fangs, pricking it. Instantly, bloodlust surged as Nos got a taste of Cal’s blood, pleasure mixing with a whisper of danger. His arousal spiked, and Nos had to hold himself back from not only pinning the cambion and feeding on him, but also trying to get another touch of those velvety wings.

When they finally broke apart, Nos was panting, clenching his fists tightly.

“So, even a dhampir’s eyes glow when they’re turned on,” Cal said, clearly delighted. “Just like a pureblood vampire. Didn’t expect that. It’s… hot.”

Nos’s stomach twisted, but he forced himself to speak. “M-more like dangerous,” he admitted. “I could have lost control… hurt you.”

“But you didn’t,” Cal said simply, voice unwavering.

“I could have!” Nos burst out, voice cracking. He pushed Cal back, haunted by images of his mother’s violence, the way she’d taken blood without consent. “I’d be no better than her!”

Cal’s teasing faded. He grew serious. “Her?” He didn’t press, just reached for Nos’s hand, voice gentler. “Why do you call your mother a monster?”

Nos gulped, shoving away memories of his mother’s bloodlust. Would Cal think he was a coward for not accepting his mother, or for not wanting to become anything like her? Nos hesitated, and as he locked down those thoughts, he felt the connection between his and Cal’s markings seal up as well.

Cal flicked Nos’s ear, stinging just enough to get his attention. “Did you just close our connection? That better not be on purpose, or I swear…”

Nos gulped again, more afraid of Cal uncovering memories he wasn’t ready to face. “I’m sorry,” he apologized, but kept his side of their connection locked tight.

Cal exhaled sharply and stood, tone going cold. “I may not know what’ll win my trust, but closing our connection is the fastest way to lose it. Fated pairs don’t keep secrets. That’s our biggest rule.”

A tendril of fear wrapped around Nos’s heart. Cal was upset. The last time his biological parents were angry, they’d parted for over a decade. He couldn’t bear the thought of being away from Cal for that long.

“Okay, okay,” Nos pleaded, tearing the bond open again. “I’m scared. I hate looking like a coward in front of you.”

Cal’s features softened. “You’re not a coward,” he said quietly. “You came all the way here for me, didn’t you?”

Nos nodded, relief and shame warring in his chest.

“Then I’ll let it go this once,” Cal said. “But no more hiding, alright?”

Nos clenched the cushion beneath him, uncertainty tight in his throat. He stayed quiet, letting Cal read that as acceptance. Nos knew he needed to get over his fear of hiding his feelings. Once they were fully bonded, he wouldn’t be able to, so he might as well get used to it now. Gradually, he let the wall inside him drop, and relief flooded him as he felt Cal’s genuine concern.

Cal’s kiss was feather-light and sweet. “You don’t have to tell me anything until you’re ready. Just so you know, someday, I’d like to try sharing more than just a little drop of blood with you.”

Nos shook his head, his voice breaking. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“I’m part incubus,” Cal said, a glimmer of mischief returning. “A little pain just sweetens the deal.”

Nos groaned and dropped his hands from Cal’s waist, covering his face. Why was nothing ever easy? Vampires weren’t the touchy type; most avoided affection, preferring the intimacy of blood. Cal’s offer was both the best and worst thing he’d heard all night.

“That’d take more control than I’ve got right now,” Nos admitted, voice low. “Bloodlust and rejection turned my mother into a monster. I can’t risk becoming like that.”

They sat in silence for an instant, the weight of confession hanging between them. Nos avoided Cal’s gaze, but then felt gentle fingers on his chin, guiding his face upward.

“So what else is dangerous for you?” Cal asked softly. “Is it just bloodlust, or…?”

Nos shook his head, settling his hands on Cal’s hips again. Their markings radiated warmth and contentment with their closeness, Cal’s tail resuming its gentle sway.

“As far as I know, it’s just bloodlust. What about you?” Nos asked, genuinely curious.

“If we release without reciprocation, that’s one,” Cal said. “When you initiate with that intent, it’s like a promise that we’ll get a taste of you. Hummingbirds don’t seek the nectar of closed buds, only the open ones. The same goes for us. Instead of our eyes glowing, it’s our horns that glow. We receive a boost of energy whenever we get a taste of pleasure.”

“Is that why the horns are off-limits?”

“For now. You’re not planning to deny me a taste forever, right?”

Nos shook his head vigorously.

“Then we’ll revisit that another time. You’re a good enough kisser to keep me busy for now.”

They both laughed, the tension easing. Nos mused aloud, “No touching of the horns and no finger-wave greetings to strangers. Is everyone as into plants and trees as you are?”