Page 96 of Thanatos' Craving

“I’m just saying,” I began, “Uriel is a goddess, right? She’s strong, has outstanding powers. Shouldn’t she be able to at least tell if a demon is telling a lie? You won’t let her do anything.”

Thanatos chuckled behind me.

“Aw you think I’m strong, new bestie?” Uriel tilted her head, her feet fluttered as they dangled from Lucifer’s hold.

“Of course I do! Why wouldn’t you be? You’re a goddess. A nice one and if you can make me feel comfortable, more at ease with just your touch that has to be a super potent power because I know all about anxiety.” I gave a nervous chuckle.

“Aww!” Uriel cooed. “Put me down, Luci. I need to hug her.”

“No,” he snapped. “I don’t like her.”

“Why? Because I speak my mind?” I retorted. “Yeah, a lot of people don’t like me. It isn’t anything new.” I didn’t curl up in Thanatos’ arms and cry about it. I sat there and took Lucifer’s words like I always did.

Thanatos pulled me into his arms and kissed me on the cheek.

Do. Not. Cry.

Ember gasped. “Lucifer! I did not raise you like this!”

The room grew silent and Mariah stepped forward, glaring at Lucifer. “Well, I like her.”

Ares put a hand on Mariah’s shoulder and nodded. “And I like her too.”

“As do I. Even if she watched Harry Potter without me.” Hypnos crossed his arms and winked at me.

Uriel gazed up at Lucifer and scowled. “And I like her. You’re being such a hippo-twat-amus right now. What did she ever do to you?”

Lucifer’s eyebrows shot up his forehead until they settled back into a scowl. He hummed until he let Uriel down and she sat close to me on the couch.

“I don’t hate you, Juniper” he began. “I am,” he ran his fingers through his hair. “Threatened by you.”

Uriel clapped her hands excitedly. “Yay, he’s communicating. Athena has been working on this with him.”

Lucifer groaned, his wings falling back into his body. “I don’t want anyone taking away my mate. I don’t want to put my mate in danger because I’ve almost lost her once before from a terrible circumstance, and I don’t want to fucking share her. And she’s come tolikeyou. More than I want to admit.”

I blinked back the tears forming. Uriel placed her hand in mine and squeezed.

“And you are going to be living down here with us in the Underworld. Meaning that you two are going to be getting into some trouble.” He wagged his finger at me. “So pardon me if I’m jealous if I have to share my mate. And,” he growled, “I have to put up with these gods-awful pet names you keep giving her to annoy me with.”

I bit my lip, trying not to smile.

I tried to hide my excitement that I had all these people in the room that said they liked me, even more so that Uriel had grown attached. People wanted to be around me. Didn’t care that I blurted out my nonsense.

And I had a hot god that wanted me too.

“I’ll make you a deal. I won’t teach Uriel anymore bad pet names,” I said.

Uriel whined and leaned back onto the couch. “But I like those.”

Lucifer smirked and nodded. “Fine, but Thanatos, we will have to work out playdates. I’m not giving my mate free rein with your mate all the time.”

Thanatos let out a bark of laughter. “I’ll see what I can do. She does have a free soul that likes to wander.”

Thanatos turned my head and pulled me into his hood, kissing me. “Just so you know, I like you the most. No one else can like you more.” He squeezed my thigh.

I snort. “I kinda figured.”

The heavy doors suddenly burst open, causing a crash. In their wake, two towering demon guards loomed, their massive horns barely clearing the doorway. Accompanying them was a much smaller demon, with small horns and hooves for feet. The scent of sulfur lingered in the air as they forcefully dragged in Andriel. Despite being a demon, Andriel dressed like any other human, wearing a shirt and jeans that were tailored to accommodate his unique lower body.

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