Page 43 of To Crave Deeply
Torsten nodded once before melting into the shadows and leaving Lucifer and me alone. The silence as Lucifer stared at me was oppressive and I knew, I just knew, that whatever he was going to tell me was going to be bad. My anger at his unexpected announcement earlier melted away as I took in the grim line his mouth was set in.
I sat next to him and laced my fingers through his. “Just tell me. Please.”
His fingers gripped mine firmly and I couldn’t stop the way my stomach churned uneasily.
“I can’t be sure, but I think the soulbond is demanding my life. You died, and that meant I should have died, too. I can feel my lifeforce slipping away and with it the magic that binds me to this place.”
“You need to let me speak to the original witch. Maybe she can help. You said it yourself that this magic was older than you and—”
“No. Lori, she can’t help. Please, don’t ask me again.”
“Why? Lucifer, what did she do that was so bad?”
He grimaced at my question, and I suddenly feared the answer to the question.
“There is a reason that the Original Three disappeared from the history books. I created them when I was at my lowest point. I was angry and upset. I felt betrayed by my father and I wanted to create my own creatures that would rival his. My creations were born from darkness and rage and that meant they were imbued with all my worst and darkest elements. There was nothing good in them and for that, I will forever be ashamed.”
“What happened to them?”
“They became uncontrollable. I thought if they explored the world, they’d learn to control their urges, and for a while, they did. They set down roots, created their own people, and for some time, there was an uneasy sort of peace. Then they got restless. I don’t know if it stemmed from boredom, but an eternity can be lonely with no one to share it with. They each asked me for a companion, but I was only persuaded by one of them. Iver was granted a companion and I think that was a trigger that sparked their hatred of me. Jealousy is a powerful emotion and can make a person do crazy things. Through their offspring, they tried to overthrow me. They thought that they could rule in my stead, but I was not so easily removed.”
I frowned. “Is that why there was a Dark War? I thought that they fought between themselves?”
Lucifer shook his head. “The Dark War came later. This was a few centuries prior to the war that forged the alliance between the dark clans. I was livid that my creations had tried to overthrow me and, in my anger, I destroyed them. I tore them down from their positions of power and threw them into the darkest circles of Hell as punishment. Without them leading their respective dark clans, they fell apart. They fought within themselves, turned on each other and I knew, that if I didn’t intervene, they would destroy themselves and all my efforts to create a Kingdom of my making would fall apart.”
Understanding and realisation blossomed within my mind. “You became their common enemy to unite them.”
“Yes. But I am still their King. I still hold power over them and, while I let them roam free on the mortal plane, I could destroy them all in an instant.”
There was still something I didn’t understand. “Why make me Queen?”
His other hand reached up and cupped my jaw tenderly. “To protect you. I want to make sure you’re safe and taken care of. I think the soulbond is demanding my life because, it’s already had yours. I will not be as lucky as you. My death would be a permanent thing.”
“No. I won’t let it happen. There must be another way.” Tears broke free and trailed down my cheeks as I felt the crushing weight of loss pressing down on me. I couldn’t lose him. Not when we’d barely had any time together.
A sad smile curled along his beautiful mouth. “I’m not dead yet. Perhaps we might get lucky.”
“I wish you’d let me speak to Selene. I know there is bad blood between you, but surely it’s worth a try.”
“She will not help me, and I do not think I have the right to ask it of her.”
Fury ran through me at his defeatist attitude. “Well, letmeask her! I will not rest until I have tried everything.”
Lucifer wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into a fierce hug. I buried my head in the crook of his neck and breathed deeply as my emotions tried to get the better of me. I was angry and hurt, upset, and distressed. How could he give up so easily?
“I know, little dove. I am not giving up, I promise. We just need to find another way.”
We sat there for a while, until the pain had dissipated from Lucifer’s chest and his breathing had settled to a more normal rhythm. I still needed to find a way to speak to Selene. I had the deal with the Witch Queen to attend to as well, never mind the fact that I was determined to ask her about saving Lucifer. I just hoped that centuries spent in prison hadn’t addled her mind. I could understand why Lucifer was reluctant to speak to her. If he’d thrown me in prison for centuries, I’d spend my time planning my revenge.
It was at that moment I realised a suddenly terrifying thought.
“Don’t I have to marry you to become Queen?”
His grin was positively wicked as he answered my question. “That’s normally how these things work. Will you marry me?”
Chapter 16
LUCIFER
