If it hadn't been for everything he had witnessed since meeting Mark, Devin would have doubted his sanity, or at least his sobriety at that moment. This hadn't been his first attempt to call upon a creature from another realm, but it had been the only successful one. 

After researching ways to summon demons and finding nothing except 'the power of prayer' as explanation for reaching gods, he had sought smaller groups from religions which were less prominent. The most helpful people came from various Pagan paths. It was refreshing for him to speak with individuals who approached their belief as absolute to them, yet completely accepting that it was subjective to others. 

Somehow being told 'this is what I believe and here are some things you could try' made it easier to feel confident in these sources, especially with the reiteration that now spiritual affairs were much more difficult with the particular path of progression humans had followed. After discussing with multiple Pagans, Devin gathered the general items he was instructed to use, including learning ancient words of power.

Most were simple- candles, salt, an article of intent- but even with the ones that weren't, such as the athame and certain herbs that several suggested, the witches seemed to all approve of altering the ritual to suit one's specific resources.

Devin, however, was not content with compromise and sought out everything exactly as originally instructed. The ritual knife took the longest, simply because of having to wait on the postal service to deliver.

He was meant to be in a place with as little technological interference as possible. Since there was no way for him to reach a natural area where he wouldn't be bothered, the man settled on removing all electronic equipment from his bedroom, unplugging everything in the apartment, and cutting off all lights before starting. 

In an uneven circle around the mattress, tall black candles represented the dark leanings of the realm while the smaller gray candles between them were meant to draw less dark, more neutral aid. In his hand, a red candlestick was lit, its flame used to bring the others to life.   A circle of salt was to contain the spirit and protect the summoner who sat outside of it while their article of intent was placed inside.

It was explained that this piece was the most intricate part of any spell. The man recalled Mark talking about simply focusing his energy and intent mentally for astral projection. Devin didn't have the luxury of natural talent or even enough time to hope to gather proper experience. Which was why on this aspect, he overcompensated on the physicality.

His goal was to be reconnected with Mark so it seemed fitting that the bed, once his lover's, now left drenched with longing tears, was the center of the ritual. After searching the home for a separate article, Devin brought out the tank top which had been loaned to him when he moved in. It was the first thing shared between them. However, staring at his own blood staining the white fabric from when McGraff had sliced his face, he thought better of it.

That item might unintentionally connect him to the killer. A demon may be no better, but with McGraff, it was absolute no good would come. Taking a few minutes to think, he returned to the living room and retrieved the box cutter from the table where he had left it.

This time, rather than use the athame to cut himself, he used the same blade that had gashed his lover's arm and sent him to the hospital where they met. Sitting with crossed legs, letting his blood extinguish the crimson candle now glued to the floor in a pool of its own wax, Devin did his best not to prepare for failure.

When the circle suddenly filled with a grey light that slowly faded around the silhouette of a figure, the man jumped to his feet, backpedaling in fright. The creature's wings began extending before the last of the energy dissipated, their edges reaching out to fill the length of the room they were in. But as the demon became clearer, Devin realized it was no manner of beast at all.

"Mark?"

Without waiting for any response, the brown skinned man broke through the salt, throwing his arms around the demon inside, "Mark, it is you!" he cried, burrowing his face in his lover's chest, "I was so afraid I'd never see you again."

The demon, taken off guard by the rapture, stood for a few silent moments as his mind caught up to what was happening. When the man had rushed toward the danger without thought to embrace him, the endless pit of rage and obsession he had become crippled. Retracting his wings and placing them carefully around the human, he felt a tear drip down his dry flesh.

"You...didn't forget about me?" Mark breathed.

"Forget?" Devin repeated incredulously as he tore from the demon's chest and peered into eyes, once soft, now a piercing onyx, "Never. I've been trying to find you."

The demon's hold on the man tightened, "I have missed you so much."

"And I, you," the human choked through a cheerful sob, "I don't know where to begin."

"I do," Mark returned, glowing happily at the face he was caressing with one claw.

Without warning, the demon grasped tightly onto Devin's shoulders, spinning them around before throwing the human onto the mattress behind them. Startled by the abrupt action, Devin lifted himself to sit on the bed, taking notice of his lover's leathery black skin reverting to that of a human.

The demon approached without a smile which, coupled to his now fully nude form, caused his intended's heart to race, momentarily wondering if the man he had loved was indeed the same after this reincarnation. The clawed hands and feet, as well as his horns, wings, and slate eyes remained.

"Mark?" the man whispered, only to be met with cold, pointed fingertips on his lips as a pale mouth shushed him.

"Relax," the beast grinned, leaning down into the human on the bed, slowly crawling upon him as Devin's body reclined in response, "I've been wanting to do this for a long time."

Understanding his intention, the human lay down with a smirk, awaiting his love's touch. To Mark, Devin's deep eyes were as captivating as his own and he considered just staring into them forever.

This sweet notion battled with that possessive spirit which had grown inside him, its desire, to rip the man's clothing and claim him for his own. Knowing better than to immediately allow this aggression, he shut his vision and took a kiss instead.

Planting their lips firmly together brought remembrance of that beautiful taste they both encountered when Devin had first pecked Mark by surprise. Except this time, their lips locked passionately with no thoughts of stopping. The demon's mouth widened, eagerly asking his human mate to accept more, which he did without hesitation.

Throwing his arms around Mark's broad chest, fingers brushing awkwardly against feathers, Devin paused. For an instant, the demon feared it was in distaste, but the man beneath him simply laughed and began stroking his wings. This pure acceptance, that adorable smirk, was more than the creature could take. 

Pushing forcefully, Mark tugged at Devin's garments and the lustful human helped the fumbling demon undress him. As his shirt slid off, so did his tongue slide within his partner, leading a sort of sensual dance until Devin nipped playfully at his lover's lip. With a demonic snarl, Mark bit back.

The man groaned in pleasure, the same sensation showing in the beast's most intimate parts. Mark's eyes shot wide as Devin took sudden hold of his member, rearing back onto his knees to focus on fully derobing the human.

Devin lifted his hips from the bed to help in that goal, but his hands remained in place on the demon's hardness, gently stroking and distracting him. Growing aggravated, Mark growled before clutching onto either side of the man's hips and tearing the fabric rather than loosen it.

Although startled by the ferocity, Devin wriggled so that his pants were around his ankles, then shook them off and slung them across the room. Mark lowered, gently rubbing his still leathery carcass against his human's soft skin. Arching his spine and wrapping arms around his demon again, Devin moaned contentedly with the feeling of his lover easing between his legs, separating his cheeks.

The human pushed upward, cupping his lover's face and pulling him into another kiss before the demon forced him back upon the bed and thrust his hips forward. Both gasped when at last, they were connected.

Reaching down and curling claws around his lover's hardness, Mark pulled back onto his knees again, relishing the expression of pleasure that crossed the man's face as he did so. He slowly pushed in and out of the human while stroking him in an identical motion, watching the subtle changes in his lover to understand when to change their pace. As his hips rolled faster, he likewise matched the movement of his hand to please his partner in equal time.

Devin's fingers trailed Mark's body, their cores tightening with each push, each pull, each stroke. The cycle grew rapid, drawing moans and sighs from both creatures as they neared climax. Human hands stopped tickling his lover's body and instead clutched at his sides as he softly begged the demon to keep going.

Despite how his own hand tired, his body weakening as he achieved release, Mark continued stroking without slowing until finally, Devin came as well, the orgasm obvious by the warmth which sprayed the demon's stomach.

Bodies happily fatigued, minds in ecstasy, and souls blissfully fulfilled, the reunited lovers simultaneously fell relaxed, crawling to the pillows at the head of the bed. There, they rested, holding each other tightly as though one might slink off without warning.

Ignoring the copious amounts of sweat and panting breaths that made such physical contact momentarily uncomfortable, the pair refused to let go, gazing deeply into their partner's eyes to prevent them from suddenly vanishing.

"You'll stay, won't you?" Devin asked when he could finally speak.

The demon leaned forward and kissed the man's forehead, "Of course. There is nowhere else I'd ever want to be."

The human smiled and curled even closer, "I'll do anything to keep you then."

Mark dropped his gaze, "What do you mean?"

"I figure there has to be some sort of catch for you being here. McGraff had to have spirits for the necromancy he used to stay. What do you think you'll need?"

"I-I don't know," the creature became disheartened. Since It wasn't required for life in Hell, he had never ventured to discover such a detail about himself, "But you're right. From what I do know, there will be something-some sort of nourishment."

"Well," Devin inhaled sharply, never outwardly losing hope, "We'll figure it out. Perhaps we will get lucky and this is all you need right here," he patted his demon's chest.

Mark grinned, "Are you saying you hope I'm an incubus?"

"There's no harm in wishing."

With soft chuckles, the two lay for several comforting minutes, their weary spirits having finally found reprieve. This peace, however, was short-lived. As human minds were known to do, Devin's wandered quickly into the territory of uncertainty. In his current form and relatively new existence as anything other than human himself, even Mark's ventured slightly as well.

"What's wrong?" the demon sensed the shift in his mate's energy.

"What if something takes you from me?"

"Nothing is going to separate us again."

The following pause was too riddled with concern for the demon to let it sit, "I promise you. I've learned and grown a lot since you last saw me."

The silence continued.

"Devin?" Mark craned his neck while tilting the man's head upward to see him, "What aren't you saying?"

"I love you, Mark," moisture had formed in his vision, "I mean that."

"I love you too," his brow furrowed.

The human sighed when the demon refused to let him divert his gaze, "I know it's ridiculous to expect you never had other boyfriends, but-"

Fingertips quieted him once more, "You're curious about Tyler, the reason I agreed to trade places with McGraff."

Devin swallowed in horrid anticipation.

"I always planned to tell you. Before we went this far," it was Mark who looked away, "He died. Overdose was the official reason, but I felt responsible." the demon shook his head, "He was an addict, just like me. I...taught him about astral travel; how drugs made it easier. He was having difficulty learning, which had frustrated him. When I was out, he took a hit and tried it alone."

"Mark, you know it's not-"

"Don't, Devin," the guttural warning made the human jump, interrupting the demon's statement as he frantically apologized, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean-"

"It's okay," the man laughed nervously, "If nothing else, I understand anger."

"But I shouldn't be angry with you...not over this."

"Mark," it was Devin's turn to force his lover's sight to him, taking Mark's chin between his fingers, "I love you."

Tears streamed from his beastly eyes, "I love you. Only you."