Page 9 of Undesirable
“That’s true. Huh. I’m stumped.”
Two sets of eyes landed on Riku. He fought the urge to go back to bed and cry some more.
The front door burst open and a tiny blond guy struggled his way inside with a huge mirror.
Frost turned in his seat and then shot to his feet. “Tam! Hey. What are you doing here?” He helped Tam get through the door.
“Hey. Sorry it took me so long.” He leaned the mirror against the wall and focused on Riku. Damn. He looked exactly like the archangel Micheal, except much smaller. “After yourejected Lucifer, it seems he let out a roar that shattered a majority of the mirrors in between worlds. It took me a minute to find one that would get you near to where he is. I can control where I go, but I can’t control where you land.”
Frost blinked his way through Tam’s babbling. “You mean you can take a mirror to Hell?”
Tam looked a bit cagey at the question. He shifted from foot to foot. “You can under certain circumstances.”
Riku shot to his feet. “Are you serious? I can take the mirrors to get to Lucifer.”
Tam rubbed his arm, looking more uncomfortable by the second. “Yeah. I mean, this one time anyhow. But you can’t tell anyone, okay? You’re nottechnically supposed to do this. This is just a very special circumstance.” His gaze finally locked on Riku. He turned serious. Riku had no idea who the guy was, but he was powerful. It rolled from him in waves. “Once you step through, you can’t come back. The way will be sealed. Your only way home is through Lucifer. Nothing leaves Hell without his permission.”
Riku nodded. He didn’t care. Riku had to be wherever his other half was. Nothing mattered more.
“What if he won’t let you come see me?”
Yuri sounded hurt and looked as if it had finally dawned on him this was reallyhappening.
Riku’s heart twisted. “Don’t worry, okay? Everything is yours. You’ll be okay. I promise.”
“I don’t care about stuff. Surely you know that. I’ve never had stuff.”
Riku hugged Yuri. He pressed his lips to Yuri’s ear, keeping their conversation private. “Occasionally, I get glimpses of the future. Obviously, not mine. I can’t truly see you clearly either, but I feel how you’ll be so, so happy. Trust me. Okay?”
Yuri squeezed him tighter. “Okay. Try, though. I don’t want to lose my only friend. I just found you.”
Riku kissed his cheek. “I swear I’ll do everything I can to visit. But I have to go, okay?”
Yuri nodded and pushed him toward the mirror. “Go. I saw the way he looked at you. You have to find him.”
With a smile, Riku faced Tam. “Thank you. I don’t know who you are or why you’re doing this, but thank you.”
A bright smile met his words. “Of course. He’s your mate. Now go claim him.” He shoved Riku through the mirror. Riku nearly fell. The guy was deceptively strong. Riku quickly righted himself and looked around. The mirror disappeared, as if it had never been there. Riku swallowed. He had no idea where he was or where to go. It looked like he was in the middle of the woods. Scary woods. On fire. He couldn’t place what it was, but everything felt terrifying. The knowledge he couldn’t go back truly hit him. He was stuck. If Lucifer refused to hear him or forgive him, then what? This would be his home. At least it was warm.
He transformed into a cobra. Riku felt safer in his true form. His venom and fast strike were his weapons. Riku didn’t want to be unarmed. He recalled hearing once that if Heaven was a soft harp playing in the corner and a summer sky, then the underworld was an out of tune electric guitar with amps and a starless night. He couldn’t see the sky here, but he got it. The peace was gone. Here, there was nothing but every emotion that had already been crushing him ramped up to a billion. His mate was here, though. That kept him moving.
Riku had no clue where he was headed. He simply followed his nose and tried not to panic. Riku had already learned it was impossible for him to die. He recognized this could be a long eternity of aimlessly wandering. He had to start somewhere. Riku had to get to Lucifer.
The moment Riku pierced the veil, Lucifer felt him. He had claimed Riku. Lucifer felt him every second of theday. He had come. Lucifer couldn’t risk he was here for any reason that might put him out of his misery. The despair was all he knew.
He followed Riku, silently flying above him. In snake form, Riku moved fast as hell. Unfortunately, he moved in circles. Lucifer shook his head. He obviously had no plan. The only reason he was safe was Lucifer’s presence. If he hadn’t come straight to Riku, demons would be ripping him to pieces. Why had he chosen this spot? How had he even gotten here?
Obviously spotting his own tracks after making a full circle, Riku froze and returned to human form. He stood with his hands on his hips. Riku sat on the ground and put his head in his hands.Lucifer felt his exhaustion and hopelessness. The desperation fed his ugly side. Unfortunately, he loved Riku. That was a miracle he never expected. It hurt his chest to watch Riku suffer.
“Giving up that easily, huh?”
Riku’s chin shot up. He eyed his surroundings. “I can’t see you.”
“Look up.”
Riku’s gaze flipped up his way. He felt the relief rush through Riku. “My fangs are venomous.”
The random comment stumped Lucifer.
