The desk was messy. Empty cups and contracts covered the dark wood, Devyn's screen sticking out of the mound like the ancient Mount Everest. The CEO leaned back in his chair and tapped his pen on a stack of drafts for a new proposal. The sun had already set; his screen was the only source of light at that moment.

The CEO was alone in his office as Denzyl had wandered off to do who knew what. The demon had been disappearing for a few hours at a time recently but always came back to check on the young CEO. Devyn leaned his head against the back of his chair as he wondered what Denzyl was up to.

The sound of an incoming message drew the human's attention to the screen. Devyn sat up in the chair as he read Miren's message to discover Kilo and Castyr were safely on their way to Mythos. The CEO released a slow breath as he sent up a prayer for the angel and star to remain safe on their travels before returning to the drafts of proposals.

Devyn began going over a new draft when a ding from the device on his desk reminded the CEO of the conference he must attend the following day. Devyn glanced at the screen to remind himself of the time. Two am. Hmph. The human let out a sigh and rubbed his face before combing his fingers through his hair. Devyn was not looking forward to the next day's conference as it was going to be held in Viant's headquarters.

Unlike the other branches of Viant across several planets, the headquarters were sophisticated and did not contain a club as they were the business core of Viant. Instead, there were large conference rooms, luxurious bars and lounges, deluxe cafes, offices, and ballrooms, making it the perfect venue for a gathering of elite businessmen and mafia leaders.

Yes, mafia leaders attended these conferences, too. They were often very handy if one needed someone to back them up. Being the CEO of a weapons and combat equipment corporation, Devyn had made a few deals with several of the prominent mafia bosses.

The young CEO would have to be cautious during the conference since it was going to be in Wil's territory, and Wil was not the biggest fan of losing control over Vaumyr and Co. The thought of being around Wil caused Devyn to be sick to the stomach. The green-eyed reached into the middle drawer beside his desk and pulled out the half-empty bottle of whiskey along with a short, crystal cup. Devyn was quick to down a cup to try to wash away the memory from when Denzyl was in Hades.

Devyn shook his head to clear his mind. The human's grip around the cup tightened as he fought to erase the memories from that night. Devyn's breathing quickened, and his head felt as if it would split in two. Am I having another panic attack?

The CEO grunted and grabbed his back where Denzyl's mark was. It was burning again, just like it had that night. Fear crept into the human's heart as he vividly remembered the words Wil told him when he saw the mark burning brightly on Devyn's back. But...I don't want it gone...please don't make me take it off...please... Whimpers left the young CEO's lips as he quickly began to be affected by his attacker's threats.

Devyn's head spun as the trauma from his past seeped in. He could hear their screams as if the fire happened yesterday. He could feel the touch of that man as if he was there with him. The human closed his eyes as he tucked his finger inside the tie hanging around his neck and pulled in zigzag motions in frantic efforts to loosen it.

Devyn inhaled sharply as he planted his hand on the desk firmly and used it to help him stand to his feet. I should get to the couch before...Yep. Here it goes again.

The human's mind spun as he stumbled from his desk and made sure his head was out of reach of landing on any hard surface other than the floor. Devyn's ears rang, but he was able to detect the opening and closing of a door followed by running footsteps. Devyn fell but found himself squinting up at grey eyes.

"Denzyl." The human's voice was shaky, but the demon's warmth was already calming him.

"It's okay. I'm here," Denzyl soothed as he picked Devyn up and carried him to the couch. Devyn leaned into the crimson-haired man as the demon wrapped his arms around the human. Devyn sat in Denzyl's arms for a few minutes to allow his heart and mind to slow to their normal range. "Are you sure you want to go to the conference tomorrow?" Denzyl asked softly after the CEO's breathing had calmed.

Devyn nodded in response. He had to go. "It is an important meeting. Prospective partners and allies will be there." A few moments of silence passed before Devyn remembered a thought that passed through his head before he collapsed. "How did you know I was having an episode?"

Denzyl placed his hand on the human's back in response. "The mark."

"Eh?" Devyn lifted a brow as he felt the pressure of the demon's hand on his back.

"The mark lets me know when you are in trouble," Denzyl explained in reply to Devyn's sound of inquiry.

Devyn's emerald eyes flitted to the demon's stormy orbs as he asked, "How?"

"It burns on me."

"You have a mark?" Devyn's eyes widened at Denzyl's answer.

Denzyl shook his head before saying, "No, your mark appears on me alerting me that you are in distress."

The human nodded his head slightly as he heard the demon's explanation. "Ah. That's handy."

"Mm-hmm. Which reminds me..." Denzyl paused as he situated Devyn, so the human was looking at him. "...Devyn..."

Devyn swallowed as he looked into Denzyl's eyes. Are you going to ask about that night? I am not sure if I am ready. Please no. Please don't, Denzyl. I do not want to relive it, and I do not want to lie to you. The human looked down and bit his lower lip as he grew anxious of the demon's words.

"I'm sorry."

Huh? The demon's words stunned Devyn. Why is he apologizing? "Why?" Devyn gulped as his voice wavered. Why is he saying this? The human's fear of abandonment immediately resurfaced as he looked up at Denzyl. Is he leaving? Is he apologizing that he cannot stay with me?

"I marked you without your permission. I shouldn't have done that."

Relief washed over Devyn, and he brought his gaze back up. "That is what you are apologizing for?"

Denzyl nodded.

"You're not going to leave me?" Devyn realized at that moment that he had been insecure throughout receiving Denzyl's love and was secretly afraid he would lose it in the blink of an eye even though Denzyl had been nothing but patient and caring. Devyn knew it was impractical for him to think such thoughts, but he had never experienced such warmth and love throughout his adult life and was afraid it was too good to be true.

Devyn was now able to realize his fear and conquer it as he knew Denzyl would never do something to hurt him. Denzyl loved him, and he loved Denzyl. And Denzyl promised Devyn could take all the time in the world to heal and that he would always be by Devyn's side.

The demon crinkled his brow as he studied the human's eyes that were glistening. "What do you mean? I would never leave you."

Tears touched Devyn's eyes as he finally came down from his roller coaster of emotions. The human's body shook slightly as he released the pent-up fear and anxiety from the post-traumatic panic episode.

"Devyn? Are you okay? Devyn?" Denzyl asked as he held the human tenderly. The demon placed his hand under Devyn's chin and lifted the human's face, so Devyn was looking up at him. "Why are you crying, hm? What's wrong?"

Devyn wrapped his arms around Denzyl as he melted into the demon. "Thank you. Thank you, Denzyl." Denzyl released a breath and did not respond to Devyn's constant mumbling and crying but instead brought the human closer. The demon patted the human's back affectionately as Devyn cried into him.

Devyn had never been this open to someone about his feelings. No one had ever witnessed the CEO's many breakdowns and episodes. Devyn had never been vulnerable in front of anyone. He could not afford to. He had always fought to be strong so that no one else could take advantage of him. But Denzyl was different. Devyn felt confident in his vulnerability; Devyn wanted Denzyl to see every part of him. He wanted Denzyl to know him completely, all his strengths and all his weaknesses. He wanted Denzyl to accept him.

"I'll never leave you. I'm right here." Devyn sank into Denzyl's words as the demon brought his hand to Devyn's head and began stroking his fingers through the human's soft, brown hair. Devyn continued to cry in the demon's arms until he eventually fell fast asleep. Soft breaths sounded from the human's lips as he entered a deep slumber. It had been a long day, and Devyn was exhausted in both mind and body.

The demon placed his hands under Devyn's buttock and thighs and slowly stood to his feet with Devyn wrapped around his chest like a koala. Denzyl's footsteps were light as he carried the exhausted CEO out of the office and down the hallway. It was late in the night, so the company was empty much in the favor of the young CEO's image as an independent, working man.

Denzyl returned to patting Devyn's back as he waited for the elevator to land on the executive floor. A soft coo escaped the human's lip as he unconsciously nestled his head into the crook of Denzyl's neck causing the demon to smile to himself softly. A quiet ding sounded as the elevator made port at the executive's floor. The demon entered upon the opening of the doors and pressed the circle with the 'P' for the floor of the penthouse.

Devyn was still fast asleep when the elevator arrived at the penthouse. Denzyl was slow as he made his way past the common area and into the hallway that led to the two's room. The demon carefully shut the door to the bedroom with his foot as he carried the sleeping human to the bed. Devyn released a moan as he was laid on the bed. Denzyl smiled at the exhausted man before carefully removing Devyn's shoes and slipping the CEO's loosened tie over his head.

Denzyl left the human asleep on the bed as he went to the walk-in closet and selected a pair of soft pajamas. The demon returned to find the human in the same position that he had been set down in. The exhausted human did not even react when the demon sat him up and began unbuttoning his shirt. Denzyl could not help but smile when Devyn leaned into him and nestled his face into the demon's neck and cooed.

The demon let Devyn lean into him as he removed the buttoned-down shirt and replaced it with the soft, short-sleeved shirt he had grabbed from the closet. It was not long until the CEO had been completely changed and was lying on a cloud of comfort, only the cloud was a crimson-haired man called Denzyl. Devyn had immediately rolled onto the crimson-haired to lie on top of the demon's stomach and let his head hang over Denzyl's shoulder with his face nestled into the demon's neck. Denzyl had barely gotten onto the bed after changing to be instantly claimed by the cuddling human.

Devyn let out a soft moan as Denzyl pulled the blankets over the two and wrapped his arms around the human. The demon let his warmth seep into the human to aid Devyn in having a peaceful slumber as Denzyl closed his eyes and let himself fall asleep with his love resting on his chest.