Page 6 of Undesirable
“I thought you said earlier was your goodbye.”
Lucifer gave in. He massaged his chest. There was a hole he couldn’t fill.
Frost’s expression softened. “Would you like me to check on him?” The quietly spoken question nearly broke Lucifer. He had come here for distraction, but Frost’s powers were too big. Frost felt Lucifer and Lucifer didn’t like it.
He fought the building rage. It was no one’s fault. This was just who he was. He needed to get back to Hell before he accidentally leveled this town. “Do what you want.” He disappeared and reappeared inside histhrone room. Demons scattered at the sight of him. The darkness pulsed around him. He had to find something else. Trying for humor hadn’t worked. The torture room it was.
Chapter Three
Rikumanagedtomovefrom 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. Hedidn’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 toheaven. Since he’s banished, as his other half, I am too. I’m a creation of Jörmungandr. 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. “Jörmungandr 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 darknesscloaks 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 probablythere.”
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.”
