A terrifying chuckle rumbled from Lucifer, making chills skirt his skin. “Why should these useless wolves have their mates? They’re too weak to claim them.”
“So it’s a strike at me.” It wasn’t a question; Riku knew Lucifer as well as he knew himself.
“Beg me to return them.”
Riku’s mouth went dry. An image of him on his knees at Lucifer’s feet flared inside his mind. “I won’t make a fool of myself. We both know they’re already dead.”
“They’re not. Beg me for them.”
“Is there anything left of their minds? What am I pleading for? Empty shells?”
Lucifer rolled his eyes. An image filled his mind of a pair of twenty-something men lounging on the beach. They were badly sunburned, but their fingers played. It was as if they were under a spell. The only hunger they experienced was for each other. “What have you done?”
Lucifer’s face hardened. “They have each other. There’s no reason for them to wait on ungrateful pieces of shit who’ll never be strong enough to reach out and claim them. This is better.”
“They’ll die without food. They’re human.”
“At least they’ll be happy.”
The aching void in Riku’s chest widened. “Please, baby.”
A deadly growl escaped Lucifer. He snapped his fingers. “There. They’re home. Are you happy? Now they can go back to miserably waiting for something they can’t even see. I suppose you get off on mental torture.”
A smile tugged at Riku’s lips, despite Lucifer’s temper. “What do you expect? I’ve always been fated to be yours.”
Lucifer’s eyes fell closed. His nostrils flared. “Don’t play with me, Riku. I’m not one of these soft animals. I’ll take what I want.”
Riku stroked Lucifer’s chest. He could no more stop himself than his heart could stop beating. It was a cruel fate Celeste had chosen for him. He supposed he should be flattered that she thought he was strong enough for this. But no one knew what would happen if Riku accepted this path. He could be the reason the world ended. Riku was terrified of that responsibility. But Lucifer was still a missing piece of him for all hours of the day.
Riku shifted positions, straddling Lucifer’s lap. He wasn’t scared of this, though. His lips skimmed Lucifer’s. “I’m happy you’re here.”
“You’re an idiot.”
Riku smiled as he stole another kiss. This time, Lucifer opened for him. Their tongues brushed. Riku wanted to cry. He so badly wanted the other half of himself.
“I’m right here.” Lucifer sounded as desperate as Riku felt.
Riku kissed his neck. “You should make love to me before you leave again.”
“Fuck you for that.” Even as Lucifer spat the words with as much venom as possible, he rolled, pinning Riku beneath him. Their clothes vanished, but Lucifer’s wings still hid them, keeping Riku warm. His powers were on full display.
“Not full.” Lucifer eased inside Riku, showing off how easily he could prepare Riku for the taking. “If I choose to go that route, it will wipe this town from the map.” He kissed Riku and thrust, making Riku gasp. “Maybe I should,” Lucifer taunted between kisses. “If you’re dead, I’m free.”
Riku’s eyes filled with tears, but not for himself. Every tear he shed was for his beautiful mate. His anger and raging against the heavens beat at Riku’s brain every second of the day. He had been alone since nearly the beginning of time, surrounded only by the darkness and the evil his fury created.
“If I’m dead, who’ll hold you?”
Lucifer buried himself deep and froze. He held Riku’s stare. Hatred stared down at him. “Anyone and everyone I want. The same as now.”
The words were a knife to Riku’s heart, exactly as Lucifer intended. His throat swelled, and the tears threatened to finally fall. Lucifer lowered his head. His lips kissed away the tears. The way they always did. He hated this beast he loved. Riku had no idea how to stop.
Chapter Nine
Theycarriedthelastbox inside Frost’s house. Gemini officially lived under his roof. It amazed Frost how much his life had changed in two months. Gemini’s house was up for sale. They wore wedding rings because Gemini had been adamant the humans in this town knew Frost was his. His chest swelled each time he looked at his hand. He had no idea how he had gone from feeling unwanted and used every day to this beautiful life literally overnight.
Frost unpacked dishes and searched for places to put Gemini’s things. Thankfully, Frost had gone from an apartment in Boston to a decent-sized cabin, so he had plenty of space. Not to mention, he had left most everything behind. He hadn’t wanted any reminders of Craig to intrude on his new life.
He pulled a tiny angel from a box of dishes. “How did you get in there?”