Page 25 of Hunted By Fear

“I’m not sure I’ve ever seen you sit in one place for so long.”

I don’t even attempt to swallow my groan of annoyance at the sound of his voice. Lucifer might be the ruler of this domain and the first demon, but he’s been my friend long enough that I know nothing good will come of talking to him right now.

He’s been lonely for far too long at this point. I’m pretty sure we’re the most entertainment he’s gotten in centuries.

“I’m thinking, concentrating, which means I need quiet.”

He clearly doesn’t take the hint as he moves deeper into the library to sit in the armchair to the right of mine in front of the fire.

I’d come here specifically because nobody else does. Despite how big the castle is and how many bedrooms it has, Lucifer thought it was a good idea to put us all in the same wing.

It’s like we never left the penthouse.

Aeri is everywhere at all times, and everyone's thoughts revolve around her. At least with Lucifer, he has the decency to hide behind a shield, so I don’t have to hear them, though that doesn’t do much when I have to hear him speak aloud.

“What is it you're trying to do, and how does it relate to the mortal?”

I crack an eye open to glare at him, but his gaze is fixed on the fire. The smirk on his face lets me know he knows exactly what he’s doing, and I refuse to play this game with him.

“So it doesn’t have to do with her?” he asks when I remain silent, and I can’t bite back the low growl despite my best efforts.

The downside of years of friendship with the ruler of Hell is that you can’t kill him, or at least I can’t.

I’m unsure if there is a way for him to die, and if he did, what would happen to the realm, but regardless, it’s sadly not an option the way it is with the rest of them.

Not that my power level is anything compared to his.

None of us are even close to him now. Once upon a time, Asta and Lucifer had been close, but with our fall and hispromotion,his power level hit a new high.

He’s the one who will keep Rome out should he come knocking, and he’ll do it with ease.

“Why can’t you rid her of him?” I ask, unable to stop myself. If he wants to talk about her, so be it.

“The contract that ties her to him is binding both in Heaven and Hell, unfortunately.” He doesn’t sound like he thinks it’s unfortunate; in fact, he doesn’t sound like he cares much at all.

“So we’ll be stuck here forever?”

“You're a demon, Kai. This is your domain. With or without the girl, you will always return here.”

With a huff, I turn away from him, sinking back into my chair and letting my eyes fall closed once again.

He’s right, but this isn’t the same, and he knows it.

“I can feel the way you search her out in the night. Is she different when she sleeps?”

My eyes fly open at his question, but I don’t respond.

What the fuck am I supposed to say to that?

“There isn’t much that happens here that I don’t know about or can’t sense, my friend,” he says, raising a brow at me as if daring me to deny what he said.

I don’t, but damn it if I don't want to.

Instead, I ignore the feelings bubbling up in my chest like a hot tar pit and focus on his question.

“His hold on her isn’t as strong when she’s asleep. I can feel him, as if he’s there. I’d hoped to be able to force him out, but every time I get close, she wakes up,” I admit, telling him something I have yet to even tell the guys. As of now, it’s not helpful, only something I hope to be able to use against him, eventually.

There’s no point in telling them now, not when all it will do is get their hopes up and make them bug me more.