Page 5 of Undesirable (Devilish #3)

Riku managed to move from the bed to the chair.

The change of scenery was only due to Yuri.

Yuri’s stomach had growled, forcing Riku to magically create some food for the poor kid.

Then Yuri had carried him to the table so he wouldn’t eat alone.

Riku didn’t touch anything. He hadn’t eaten in so long, he couldn’t recall the taste of food. Riku couldn’t die, so it didn’t matter.

“It’s time to talk about this.” Yuri shocked him with the firm tone. He didn’t stop there. “I’m not leaving you, but you have to explain things.”

That was fair, since Yuri refused to leave. Riku didn’t really want him to go. Not because he needed him, but he knew Yuri had nowhere to go. This meal was likely the first he’d had in a while, gauging by the way he devoured everything.

“What do you want to know?” His voice sounded like shit. It hurt to talk.

Yuri shrugged. “What happened? Why did it happen? Everything, I guess.” He shoved a piece of steak in his mouth and chewed while he waited for Riku to answer.

Riku didn’t have the strength for a long story. “Lucifer is my soulmate. That means I can’t go back to heaven. Since he’s banished, as his other half, I am too. I’m a creation of Jormungandr. That means I can’t claim him.”

Yuri waved his hand. “Wait. Why does that mean you can’t claim him?”

Fuck, he was tired. He took a breath. “Jormungandr is prophesied to be the one who ends the world. It’s possible I’m the catalyst. If I claim Lucifer, who is loathed by my maker, it could be what sets in motion the end of everything here.

His hatred of Lucifer is why Goddess Celeste had to banish him to Hell.

It’s a whole thing that no one really talks about.

Even I don’t know the full story, since it’s a heavily guarded secret, but Hell is the only place he’s safe.

He can’t be seen by the gods there. The darkness cloaks everything. ”

Yuri lowered his voice—like they would be overheard. “Is it terrible there?”

Riku started to say he had no clue, but then he recalled a conversation he had once shared with Lucifer. “I think it must be for the damned, but I think Lucifer has carved out a bit of a utopia for himself there to make it tolerable.”

“And you say no one can see what he does there—like at all?” Yuri posed the question, as if needing clarification.

“That’s what Celeste says. Not even her.”

“So, if no one can see there and he’s made a utopia for himself, then why don’t you live there with him? You could claim him, and no one would know. ”

Riku blinked. Months of mental torture and looking at every possibility and Yuri just solved things as if the answer should have been obvious all along.

In fact, where in the hell had he expected they would live if and when he claimed him?

No pun intended. Lucifer couldn’t stay here.

They couldn’t go to the heavens. Lucifer had talked to him about his golden palace and Riku still hadn’t clicked any pieces together.

Horror washed over him. Lucifer had begged.

He had literally pleaded with Riku. Riku had brought him low, and he felt Lucifer’s hatred.

Throughout every second, Lucifer had known they would stay safely in Hell.

He thought Riku just didn’t want him. The pains in his chest doubled.

He would have thrown up if there had been anything in his stomach.

Riku needed to get to him. He needed to explain a few things.

More stood in the way than simply being seen.

They needed to talk, but Lucifer would never forgive him.

Holy shit. Lucifer would never forgive him.

That one thought kept repeating and getting bigger.

He had to be the one to go way beyond halfway.

Riku would have to beg twice as hard as Lucifer had, but he couldn’t because Lucifer was out of his reach.

Riku focused on Yuri—certain he had all the answers now. “How do you get to Hell?”

Yuri shifted in his seat. He looked uncomfortable. “I don’t know. You die after having been a bad person, I guess.” His gaze dropped to his plate. “I guess my dad is probably there.”

Riku’s heart squeezed. Yuri was a mess too and Riku hurt so badly, he didn’t know how to help. He felt terrible for being a burden on top of Yuri’s problems. “Would you do me a favor?”

Yuri’s sweet brown gaze locked on him. “Anything.”

“Will you stay here? I need someone to keep this place safe while I’m gone. I’ll make sure you have more than enough money to cover everything.”

Yuri’s face screwed up in confusion. “Sure, but where are you going?”

Riku took a breath. He felt a spark of hope and it became a lifeline he couldn’t ignore. “To find my way into Hell.”

A knock landed on the door .

Riku felt Frost on the other side. He opened the door with his mind, allowing Frost entry. In fact, he was more than a little excited to see the guy. His timing was perfect.

“Dr. Leo.”

Frost looked more than a little confused at the greeting. They were friends. He had never called Frost by anything other than his name. “Is that greeting your way of letting me know we’re no longer friends?”

Riku waved him inside. “No…unless you no longer wish to be friends.” He genuinely hoped that wasn’t the case. “I need your professional services.”

Frost stepped inside. His green gaze slid Yuri’s way, as if Riku’s claim had his concern skyrocketing over Yuri’s burns. “Are you okay? Are you in pain today?”

Riku wanted to talk all over their conversation, but Yuri had gotten burned because of him. He needed to know the answer to Frost’s questions, since he had been too self-involved to ask.

“I’m fine, other than a few spots. Hopefully, they eventually heal too. Thank you for whatever you did yesterday. I don’t know why I couldn’t heal on my own. That’s never happened.”

A sweet smile touched Frost’s lips. “You’re very welcome. If it helps, I don’t know how I heal people. It just kind of happens.” Frost looked a little concerned over the admission. He wondered if anyone bothered to talk to him about his growing powers.

Right now, Riku had bigger issues. An unhinged Lucifer was bad for everyone. “I need you to kill me.”

Every eye snapped his way. “What?” Both men said the word at different volumes at the same time.

Riku gave him a sharp nod. His mind was set. If dying was how he got into Hell, then he was willing. “Lucifer needs me. Hell is the only place I can be with him, but I’m a godling. If there’s a way for me to die, I don’t know it. You’re an expert on anatomy. So, I need you to kill me.”

Frost’s mouth opened and closed several times, like a fish out of water.

“No.” Yuri sounded broken. “You can’t die. I can’t handle that. I got burned for you! My fur still hasn’t grown back in spots.”

Riku reached across the table and took his hand.

He squeezed. “No one really dies. If Lucifer can visit me, I can visit you. Everything earthy I own is yours now. But I have to go to my mate. He needs me.” Riku swallowed.

His voice broke. “And I need him. It’s unnatural to live without your other half.

I can’t do it.” He focused on Frost. “Please.”

Frost closed the door. “All right, then. Let’s figure this out.”

The first real spurt of joy hit since all this bullshit began. Frost would help. Riku would find a way to Lucifer, and he would be the one who begged. They would be together even if it killed him. Whoops. He supposed it would.

With his feet braced on the coffee table, Lucifer threw a ball and waited.

Brownie brought it back. It was a monotonous game.

He was bored, but Brownie was entertained.

The sound of the rubber ball hitting the marble floor gave him something to focus on and busy his mind.

He couldn’t think about anything important. Lucifer refused to think.

Something scurried across the corner of his vision. His head whipped in that direction. A tiny white fox jumped from spot to spot, trying—badly—to stay hidden. He had no idea why Brownie showed no interest in the animal, except maybe because it was no animal. He smelled heaven.

Lucifer drew the scent deep into lungs. It was cotton candy and sunlight. It had been so long. He hated the smell. “You’re either very brave or extremely dumb. I’m leaning toward the latter. Show yourself before I make you.”

The fox became a tiny guy. Blond hair with blue eyes that mimicked the sky. Angel colors, but he was no angel. He was something else. Something scarily powerful. Lucifer wasn’t the most powerful creature in the room any longer. That was why Brownie hadn’t reacted.

A small wave greeted him, making him more curious by the second. “Hi.”

“Um. Who the fuck are you?”

“Tamil. Everyone calls me Tam, though. I guess you can choose which you prefer since you’re my… uncle.” He said the word slowly as if unsure. “Great uncle. Great, great uncle. I don’t know. I’m Celeste’s great grandson. Micheal Jr. is my dad.”

Lucifer recognized the scent of magic now. It was very similar to how Frost smelled, except a billion times more powerful. A nephilim. No… not a nephilim, but a druid shifter angel. Ho ly shit. He was a trifecta of power. Lucifer also smelled something else.

“Come here.”

Tam twisted his fingers and didn’t budge.

Lucifer didn’t miss the way he shook. It was obvious he was scared and suffering a huge PTSD episode, but he still stood tall. Fascinating. “I won’t harm you.” He couldn’t if he wanted, but Lucifer never revealed weaknesses.

Tam shuffled closer.

When he was within striking distance, he moved before Tam could jump away. He ran his hand down Tam’s arm.

Tam was back across the room in a flash. His gaze darted from side to side, as if watching for an attack, but the shaking had stopped.

Lucifer waited him out.

Tam’s expression turned confused. “What did you do to me? I feel better.”