Page 12 of Undesirable
Yuri’s shoulders fell. He really must look terrible still. I jumped into a magic fire to save Riku.
The beast’s head bobbed.
Yuri studied him. He also had fur missing near his throat and a deep scar showed.How’d you get that scar?
Bar fight. They’re pretty hardcore in Hell. It was honorable ofyou to save Riku.
Yuri felt dumb.Actually, it was idiotic. Riku can’t be harmed by fire. He didn’t need me.
Did you know that?
No.
Another sharp head bob followed his answer.
Yuri kept talking, and he didn’t know why. Frost has been trying to heal me, but whatever magic was in that fire really messed me up. I hurt my foot.He lifted his front paw. It just won’t get better.He tried setting it back on the floor and winced.
The beast turned human.
Yuri forgot to breathe. He was every bit as big and scary as a human. That scarwas dangerously close to a major artery. Oddly, he wore a collar.
“Let me see that paw.”
Yuri lifted his foot again so his new friend could inspect it. While he did, Yuri studied him. There was a name tag on the collar. Brownie.
Why do you wear a collar?
“It’s a sign of my position. I’m the personal guardian for the dark one. It is a great honor.”
Does that mean you’re not a free Were?
A scary-looking smile touched Brownie’s lips. “I’m not a Were. I’m a hellhound. I wasn’t created by Odin. Lucifer is my creator. My only god.” He brought Yuri’s paw to his mouth and licked.
Yuri couldn’t look away as Brownie’s tongue slid across the wound. Goosebumps skirted his skin. He was transfixed, and it got a little harder to breathe. His wound healed beneath Brownie’s tongue. The shock saved him from humiliating himself.
Oh, my gosh. How did you do that? Thank you!
“We have the same fire in Hell. Easily healed by the right person.”
“Let’s just fucking go! Lucifer might be dying right now, and you won’t shut the fuck up and move your feet. Get in the goddamn mirror or I’ll make you.”
Everyone froze, and all heads turnedRiku’s way.
Brownie smiled. “He is a worthy mate.” He looked Yuri’s way and turned back into a hellhound.Are you coming? While they work, I will groom you. You’ll have your fur back by the end of the day.
Yuri didn’t hesitate. He hadn’t been groomed since he was a pup. Admittedly, he had very different reasons to want it now, but he would die before he said no. He just hoped he didn’t expire from embarrassment, since he had no idea how long he would last under that tongue. It was whatever, though. He would go to Hell for this—literally, and hedid so with a smile.
Everything was on fire in a way he had never experienced. His blood boiled inside him, eating away at his organs. He healed repeatedly, but it wasn’t enough. The internal attacks didn’t stop. If Frost didn’t hurry, he would die.
The mirror above him swirled. He had dragged himself into bed and now he regretted it. Lucifer had forgotten exactly where his visitors would land. He didn’t have time to move before Frost fell, landing solidly on Lucifer.
Frost scrambled away. “Sorry. I didn’t expect to fall from the ceiling.”
Before Lucifer could respond, a massive leopard landed on his chest, followed by a familiar demon and then a wolf.
“How many more goddamn people plan to assault me?”
Brownie burst through the mirror, but he was smart enough to aim for the edge of the bed. Riku was next. Lucifer gathered every ounce of his strength and caught him, bracing the blow. “Hey, sexy.” Even Lucifer heard how awful and weak he sounded.
