Page 7 of Unsanctioned (Devilish #2)

Exhaustion weighed heavily on Frost’s shoulders.

His job at the hospital, coupled with what felt like nonstop back-to-back emergencies with the supernatural community, had him half dead.

He had no idea how he was any use to anyone, especially Gemini.

Frost fought a wave of sadness. He knew Gemini would feel it.

I love you so much. Just come home. I’ll fix it.

Frost smiled as Gemini’s voice brushed his mind. He loved the man he had married so fucking much. Frost wanted to do better by him. He deserved more. Just ten more minutes in the car and they would be together.

“For fuck’s sake. Just quit the hospital and work on-call for the community. You act as if the world is ending.” Lucifer laughed at his own bad joke.

Frost shook his head at Lucifer’s sudden appearance in his passenger seat. “I’d leave the hospital in a lurch. From what I gather, they had a hard time finding a doctor willing to move here before they found me.”

“First off, so? How’s that your problem? Second, you’re such a strange little man.”

A bark of laughter burst from Frost. He didn’t know why, but he genuinely liked Lucifer.

That was likely the dumbest thing on the planet, and it had nothing to do with Lucifer literally being the most beautiful creature in existence.

He was caustic and self-proclaimed evil.

But if Lucifer wanted anything from him, he hadn’t revealed his hand yet, and it was honestly refreshing.

Lately, it felt like everyone wanted something.

Frost tried keeping up his end of the conversation through the fatigue.

“First off, it’d become my problem the moment someone I love can’t get help because the hospital is short staffed. Secondly, I know I’m odd, but what the fuck? What did I do to you?”

“In the first place, you’re not scared of me. Second, you didn’t even startle when I popped in.”

Frost shook his head again. He didn’t understand Lucifer. “I felt you coming, and it’s like you want me to be scared. Aren’t you tired of everyone’s fear? That sounds draining.”

Lucifer was so quiet, Frost might have thought he disappeared if he couldn’t see the golden skin from the corner of his eye and smell the faint scent of a campfire mixed with melting marshmallows.

“Melting marshmallows?” Lucifer snorted.

Frost watched the road and smiled. “Yeah. If you don’t like what you hear, then don’t read my thoughts.”

“I love what I hear. That’s why I can’t stop.”

Silence filled the car following Lucifer’s confession. It wasn’t uncomfortable. Just quiet, which was nice, honestly. Frost was so fucking tired.

Lucifer touched him. That had never happened before.

It was just his arm, but it surprised Frost. He got the feeling Lucifer didn’t touch many people.

His touch was hot. It sent a warm jolt up his arm.

His fatigue fell away. Frost recognized Lucifer had taken it from him, healing him in some small way.

“Thank you.”

Lucifer snorted again. “Don’t thank me. It was purely selfish. You’re not giving me your full attention.”

A soft chuckle escaped Frost. Lucifer was right. They didn’t see each other often. He should make the most of it.

“Would you like to see me more often?” The question came out quietly, surprising Frost in its vulnerability.

He purposefully kept his mind blank. Frost didn’t want Lucifer to run. “That depends. Do you plan to destroy this town?”

“That depends.”

Well. It was an answer. “On what?”

“My mate lives here.”

Frost pulled over and put his SUV in park. He turned in his seat and gave Lucifer his full attention. “Go on.”

A laugh that sent chills down Frost’s spine caressed Frost’s ears. “I can’t believe this is what finally shocked you.”

“You can’t believe this surprised me? Are you joking?” Frost was fucking blown away. He felt like a gossipy teen, wanting to know every detail.

“Rightfully, he doesn’t want me.”

“Why rightfully? I’d think anyone would be blown away to be paired with you.”

A wicked smile hovered on Lucifer’s lips. “You would think that. You’re an idiot.”

Frost huffed and started the SUV. It died before he could shift into drive. He looked Lucifer’s way. There was no doubt he was the reason Frost’s car was suddenly dead.

“That wasn’t an insult to your intelligence. You’re dumb when it comes to people… or beings. However you choose to look at this, you’ve got no sense of survival. I could kill you at any second.” Little flames danced inside Lucifer’s eyes as if he pictured doing just that or tried frightening Frost.

Frost shrugged. “Statistically, anything could kill me at any moment. If I’m dead, who’ll sit and talk to you?”

“My mate, even though he resents every second.”

“Who is it? Is there some way I can help?” Frost didn’t know what he could do, but he wanted to try. Maybe it was the healing magic in his blood that Jonathan claimed he carried, calling out for Frost to act. Frost didn’t think that was it. He thought maybe he wanted to help a friend.

A huge smile exploded across Lucifer’s face, obviously still in his thoughts. “Are we doing this teen style? Will you call him and ask him if he likes me while pretending I’m not sitting right here?”

Frost laughed as he pictured doing exactly that. Without thinking, he grabbed Lucifer’s hand and held it. “This will work out. I feel it.”

Lucifer held his stare. His light blue eyes looked even more intense than usual. His long blond hair seemed to shimmer even brighter. He didn’t let go. In fact, he lightly squeezed Frost’s hand. “You should go. Your mate is panicking because he can’t feel you.”

A shot hit Frost in the chest at the thought of Gemini hurting in any way. “Promise you’ll see me again.”

“Always.” He was gone in an instant, as if he had never been there. Frost blinked, and he sat inside his SUV in his driveway, as if Lucifer had dropped him there. Gemini’s panic hit him.

I’m outside, baby. It’s okay.

The relief and love that hit him had tears filling Frost’s eyes. Poor Lucifer. Someone out there denied him this. The rejection had to be gut-wrenching. He prayed whoever this mate was; he realized what he was doing and fixed things. No one deserved this. Not even the devil.

Waylon stared down at the perfect bundle in his arms. Ashka’s baby looked just like her. She slept peacefully while Waylon studied her tiny features. She would be a red wolf like her mother.

“Have you decided on a name?”

Ashka paused in the middle of folding clothes. “Ashka is a family name, passed down through the women in my family. As much as I hate breaking tradition, I loathe the idea of calling my daughter by my name. So, we chose a compromise. Randall’s dad’s name is Lee. We went with Ashlee.”

“That’s a good name. She looks like an Ashlee.” Waylon stood and gently placed her in the bassinet. “Thank you for allowing me to visit. I worried about you.”

Ashka eyed him. Her gaze moved over his mark, showing him as mated. “I worry about you. You don’t seem happy for someone newly mated. Not that I know anything about it. I haven’t left the house to hear any town gossip.”

“Don’t think about me. You have too much on your plate.” He sat on the opposite side of her pile of laundry and started folding. “Where’s your useless man? He should be doing this for you.”

Ashka laughed. “He’s asleep. Don’t be too hard on him. He stayed up all night with Ashlee so I could sleep.”

Waylon nodded, humming his approval. He wouldn’t hear of any laziness in his pack.

They all worked together. That was how packs survived.

They sat in silence, folding clothes. He tried hard to keep his mind blank.

The reason he had come here was half out of duty and partially from a need to focus on something beyond himself.

He didn’t have the luxury of letting Audor destroy him.

“Have you tried flowers?”

Ashka’s question pulled him from his thoughts about not thinking. “What?”

“For your mate. When I first met Randall, he gathered a bunch of wildflowers from the field to bring to me. You should take your mate flowers.”

That was one hundred percent a wolf thing.

They loved flowers and pretty rocks. He doubted vampires gave a shit about such things.

Audor was a Viking, after all. “Thanks for the suggestion.” The more he thought about it, the less ridiculous the idea sounded.

Maybe not flowers, but Waylon hadn’t tried wooing Audor.

He had simply accepted Audor’s sexual favors and comfort.

Had he ever given Audor the same peace? Likely not.

The idea of caring for his mate grew, making the wolf inside him grumble with possessive pride.

Audor was his. He was an alpha’s mate. Audor was owed all the nice words and attention.

He deserved licks and gifts. Just more of everything than he had gotten.

Waylon finished helping Ashka with her chore and stood. “It was good seeing you. If you need anything, let me know.”

A sweet smile stared up at him from the couch. “I will, and same. Whenever you’re ready, I’d love to meet your mate.”

Waylon dipped his chin. “Have a good one.” Eventually, the entire pack would expect him to formally introduce his mate.

The longer he waited, the more people would talk.

He walked away with his mind stuck on how to make Audor happy.

Waylon cared way more about that than pleasing anyone else.

He had felt Audor’s return last night from wherever he had been hidden.

While Waylon had wanted to continue begging Audor to come to him, he hadn’t.

Now Waylon was grateful for it. He knew where Audor was and he shouldn’t have to come to Waylon.

For once, Audor would be the chased one.

An evil smile stretched Waylon’s lips. The wolf inside relished the idea of catching his other half. Audor didn’t stand a chance.