Page 4 of Unsanctioned (Devilish #2)

Riku smiled. His skin had the glow of summer, even though they were just heading into spring. His messy dark hair made his almost yellow eyes pop. Those eyes danced with laughter at his expense. “Snakes are pretty silent.”

“I fucking guess. You nearly made me throw my back out. I’m old, you know.”

“Me too.”

Audor wanted to ask how old, but Riku likely didn’t recall. He was a godling—created, used, and discarded by Jormungandr. Riku had probably seen the birth of several planets. He looked twenty.

Riku’s gaze moved over him, openly studying his shirtless state. “Judging by the layer of dirt on your skin, I’m guessing you’ve been at this a while.”

With a shrug, Audor looked away. “Yeah. Well. I’ve put off a lot of chores since coming to town.”

Dressed from head to toe in black, Riku pulled his coat closed tighter. “I suppose you’re accustomed to this weather.”

It was obvious he tried making conversation about anything at all.

Audor wondered if Riku was lonely. Unlike Audor or the Weres of this town, there was no one else like him.

Audor suddenly felt less alone. While there were creatures who looked like him and acted like him, Audor had never truly fit.

He wanted to wake up with the sun and drink coffee with his mate.

Audor wanted to go to bed each night and snuggle into the warmth.

He wanted something he hadn’t quite captured in all his long life.

Audor moved to the corner and grabbed a large space heater.

He plugged it in and set a chair beside it.

After cranking the dial to the highest setting, he motioned for Riku to sit.

“Please? To me, this weather closely mimics Sweden. I’ve spent countless nights sleeping in the snow.

This place is nothing. I imagine where you’re from is not the same. ”

While wearing a grateful smile, Riku sat. He leaned close to the heat. “Nothing is the same here, but the cold is the worst.” Riku hesitated. “And possibly the emotions. Everything is muted in the heavens. Here, well, sometimes, I’m suffocated by my own mind.”

In Audor’s world, it was rare for anyone to speak so openly about their feelings. While Leif had been his best friend for hundreds of years, they were still warriors. They weren’t supposed to feel too much. It was nice to be around someone so open.

“You’d think it would be the other way around. The gods are so powerful. It seems like they should feel more.”

“That’s exactly why heaven is kept intentionally muted. Powerful emotion leads to passionate disagreements.”

“How else is it different there? Why would you choose this mountain? I have so many questions.”

Riku laughed, but there was no humor in the sound. “Sometimes choices aren’t as many as you think. Sometimes, what looks like free will isn’t truly free at all.”

A sad smile tugged at Audor’s lips. “I’m certain it’s more often than sometimes.”

They shared a smile.

Audor went back to work with Riku watching him. His presence was comforting. Audor needed that today.

“It seems Frost is planning a small barbecue this weekend. You should bring a date.”

A pain sliced through Audor. He tried hiding it with a laugh. “Are you offering?”

“Are you trying to get both legs ripped off?”

Audor laughed for real. They both knew the real and biggest reason Audor had been sent to this town was because of Riku.

He was Lucifer’s unclaimed mate. The only reason Audor knew was because Jonathan would never leave him blind to what he was up against. No one knew what would happen when the day came that Lucifer’s patience snapped.

Riku might be Jormungandr’s discarded creation, but he was his creation nonetheless.

Some believed Jormungandr would be the one who brought on the end of the world.

Between that and Lucifer’s hatred of everything and everyone, their mating could mean the end of times.

It might also mean a dozen other things or nothing at all.

If Audor actually flirted with Riku, he would likely be dead before the words fully left his ripped-out tongue.

It was scary how much that fate didn’t sound so bad.

“Sometimes, I build a huge, roaring fire on the mountain.” Riku sounded so quiet and low that Audor had to stop and stare.

Riku looked at nothing as he spoke, as if only seeing the images in his head.

It looked as if fire danced in his eyes.

Audor had never been more awed, and he served the golden king.

“I’ll sit as closely as possible, telling myself the snake inside me needs the relief the warmth brings.

” Riku looked his way. The embers of fire glowed hotter and danced faster.

“But I know the truth. I’m trying to decide if I should step into it.

What would happen if I did? Would I die with honor the way the vampire do?

Maybe nothing at all would happen beyond ruining a set of clothes.

Or perhaps I’ll set Lucifer free, and this town can take a breath with the threat of me gone.

Only the not knowing stops me.” The embers died.

“A lot of your kind have found a home here. You should pick one to go with you to Frost’s.

I daresay a lot of us feel the same weariness from the unending march of time. ”

A sad smile tugged at Audor’s lips. “Maybe I will. Wisdom is welcome wherever it comes from. I appreciate the advice. For the record, though, fear of Lucifer wouldn’t stop me from pursuing you if my heart was whole.”

A smile snapped to Riku’s lips. “I don’t doubt it. Now, tell me your plan for this garage so I can help. My life is tedious as hell. I’m game for anything.”

A warmth spread through Audor’s chest. For the first time since his move, Audor didn’t feel either alone or like he waited for the other shoe to drop.

He could choose to be Riku’s friend. That was a choice that was his and real.

He would start there. Then Audor would take back his life.

He used to be someone else before the years of loneliness crushed him.

Audor would find that man again. He didn’t need a wolf to survive.