Lucian's Soul (7 page)

Lucian hugged her. “Angels have found a way to change men into one of them. It’s risky, but they don’t care if the man dies in the process. They have also brought some of the darker paranormal species over to their side, convincing them we shouldn’t have to share this planet with lesser beings.” He kissed her head and held her tighter. “Demons and angels have fought from the beginning of time over the same thing…humans. Once the world got bigger they added shifters to that battle too. It is said we were cast out from our homeland and placed here on Earth. Both our species drink blood and we eat emotion. Angels were originally only able to drink blood and eat the hatred and anger, but as their own hatred and anger evolved they started to eat more of the stronger emotions, craving the power. A millennium ago a powerful seer predicted that the angels would bring about their own Armageddon, getting rid of all creatures that oppose them and finally having the Earth to themselves if—and this is why you and my child you carry are so important—Lucifer, the king of the demons, finds his mate. This mate will unconditionally love Lucifer and not only bring him new life, but she will make him stronger, deadlier, and more powerful than anyone could imagine, helping to turn the tide in humanity’s favor.”

Tessa stared up, shocked at his words. “Oh, my God. This is so unreal. How can I bring a child into what you just told me?” She blinked as the last couple of sentences kicked in. “Holy crap, no way. You are not Lucifer. I am not…that’s a lot of pressure.” She backed away from him until she hit the elevator wall. It was impossible. Stories of the devil had been around since the beginning of time.

“Do not worry. I will let nothing happen to you and my family. I am powerful in my own right. Yes, I am Lucifer, the same as my father, who was one of the original demons placed on Earth. But, unlike him, I am immortal. I’m leader and protector of humanity. It is said that once I find my mate the tables will start turning in our favor.”

Tessa’s mind was spinning. If she hadn’t seen him turn into a demon before her vey eyes she wouldn’t believe him. “You’re the king? Are all your men demons? What do you mean by the tables will turn?”

“Yes, I am the king. All my fighters are men. Xore is who you saw me with and he is a dragon shifter and one of my closest friends.”

The small elevator was heating up and Tessa was starting to sweat. Exhaustion washed over her. “Can we go now? I promise I won’t run. I have more questions and I’m tired of running.”

Lucian studied her for a moment before he pressed the button that got the elevator moving again. Her mind felt like it was going to explode with all the information she’d just learned. The elevator doors opened and she saw they were in the car park. Lucian’s Lamborghini sat before her. They walked to the car and Lucian…
er
, Lucifer opened her door. Tessa got in and rested her head on the seat. She was so tired. All the information she’d learnt and the worry she’d felt about coming to Lucian had her feeling drained, like she’d been holding herself together for too long. Now, she let it all go.

Lucifer got into the driver’s side and started the car. Relaxing into the seat, she closed her eyes, sighing as a feeling of safeness washed over her. The worry she’d had for three months diminished.

****

Lucian couldn’t believe Tessa returned, as he’d lost hope she’d come back to him. He had called off the trackers but kept searching for her. Lucian knew Tessa had called her parents—he’d tapped their phones—but she never told them where she was and she always used a pay phone and called for less than a couple of minutes. He’d put as much recourses as he dared, but hadn’t found her. Lucian had been terrified Gabriel or one of his followers would find her and kill her.

In anger, he’d upped his battles, never having time off. He’d become the demon the humans feared. He couldn’t drink from anyone but his mate, so he drained people of their sins, and killed angels and anyone stupid enough to align themselves with them.

Xore felt guilty for being spilling his secret and getting Lucian caught. Xore wouldn’t leave his side. The only reason the idiot wasn’t with him when Tessa showed up was because he was manning the entry reception. He’d phoned and told Lucian that his mate was coming up to see him and not to attack her and drain her. Lucian rolled his eyes, like he could ever hurt Tessa. She may have run but she didn’t know what he was or what she was doing to him when she ran.

He drove towards his estate, glancing over to see her eyes closed. She was close to falling asleep. “I’m going to take you home, kitten.”

“Mmm, home sounds good. I’m tired. The baby and I are ready for a nap.”

Lucian felt his heart almost burst out of his chest at the mention of his son. He could tell how much Tessa loved their baby. Lucian fell in love with her right then. With her fearing the worst about him and thinking he was something out of ancient lore, she loved their child unconditionally, even when he showed the signs of being just like his father.

Lucian wished he’d told Tessa what he was at the beginning. He wished he’d given her a reason more than great sex to stick around. “I’m sorry I never told you any of this. I was trying to get you to like me before I threw this all on you. I acted arrogantly, assuming you would do as I want and not question me.” 

Tessa’s hand came across and patted his legs. “Yep, you did. I’m tired now. I can ask questions when I see you again.”

Lucian didn’t know what she meant by see him again. He wasn’t letting Tessa out of his sight, and if he had to leave she’d have only the best of guards.

Tessa vaguely remembered being carried and stripped of her shoes, socks, and clothes before her head hit a soft pillow. Lucian had talked her to sleep. She was so exhausted from being scared of Lucian’s transformation, then finding out she was pregnant and worrying about her baby, that when she was safe and knew things could work she let the exhaustion take over and slept deeply for the first time in months.

Slowing opening her eyes to the pitch black room, Tessa sighed when she saw it wasn’t her little flat at her parents’. She was at Lucian’s house, in his bedroom. “I wonder where your daddy is?” She glanced beside her and rubbed her baby bump. She knew Lucian had lain with her last night. Tessa wasn’t sure if Lucian had slept or just lay on or in the bed with her. Did demons sleep? That was something she’d have to ask, along with what she should call him now. Did she call him Lucifer or Lucian?

Stretching her rested body, her stomach growled and she covered it with her hands. “Let me go to the bathroom and then I’ll go hunt us up some breakfast. What do you feel like this morning?”

“What does he like to eat?” Lucian’s voice had her squealing in fright and falling off the bed. Quick as lightening, before she hit the ground, Lucian’s wing broke her fall. He lifted her up and gathered her to him.

“I didn’t know you were in the room.”

His lips brushed over hers and she couldn’t resist melting into him. “I wasn’t. I heard you talking and came up.”

“Oh.” It dawned on her he’d said he heard her when he wasn’t in the room. “Wow. How well can you hear?”

“Very good. I can hear anything you say in this house and probably if I strained close outside. The only time I can’t sense or hear you is when I’m feeding or drinking, when I’m at my most vulnerable. It’s why you snuck up on me when I first met you and when you saw me feeding off Xore.” 

Tessa nodded and wanted to know more, but she was dying for the bathroom. She crossed her legs and groaned. “I really want to talk and know more, but since I’ve become pregnant I can’t hold on. I swear the baby dances on my bladder.”

Lucian didn’t say anything, but walked her to the bathroom. Letting go of her hand, he backed out and shut the door.  She sat on the toilet and her brain swam with question after question she wanted to ask Lucian.

Once done, she got up and washed her hands. Splashing water on her face, she cleaned herself and then opened the door to see Lucian waiting for her with a t-shirt in his hand. Grabbing it, she slipped it over her naked body. “I have so many questions, but I’m hungry so food first. What is the time?”

“I’ll answer any question you ask.” He reached for her hands and held them tight as they left the room, walked down the hall and the stairs. “It’s late afternoon, just after three.”

“Oh my God, I haven’t slept more than four or five hours since I left you. I’ve just slept over thirteen hours. I’m so sorry Mummy hasn’t fed you,” she whispered as she rubbed her tummy. Tessa looked up at Lucian as they walked down the hall toward the kitchen. “I’m always hungry. All I do is eat. I haven’t gone that long without food since finding out I was pregnant. Do you think she is okay?”

“Yes. He is fine.” They walked hand in hand into the kitchen. Tessa was surprised to see the guy that had been sitting behind the bottom floor reception desk at Devil’s Inc.

“Lucifer helped me feed your baby last night. That’s why you slept so long,” the redheaded man said. He winked at her as she stared at him. “Hi, Lucifer’s mate. I’m Xore.” He held his hand out and Tessa slowly went to place her hand in his when Lucian snatched it away.

“Don’t touch my mate.” Lucian snarled at Xore, who chuckled. Lucian moved them to opposite ends of the breakfast table and settled her on his lap.

She narrowed her eyes on Xore, eager to get an answer. “What do you mean, you and Lucian fed my baby last night? I don’t remember eating.” Lucian’s hands rubbed her stomach and she felt a calm come over her at his touch.

A wicked grin took over Xore’s face. His green eyes sparkled and his dimples popped, making him utterly gorgeous. “Did Lucifer tell you what he is?”

 It was strange hearing Lucian being called Lucifer—to her he would always be Lucian. It would take some time getting used to his other name. “He told me he was a demon and that what he did to you when I walked in on you and ran is called ‘sin eating.’ He explained about angels and that I’m his mate.”

“Think about it. Your baby is like his daddy. What do you think it wanted to eat?”

She gasped and jumped off Lucian, who’d sat quietly underneath her. Tessa cradled her stomach and shot death stares at the two men before her. “You didn’t. How?”

Lucian stood and she backed away from him. “Tessa, they were hungry.”

She blinked a couple of times and thought for a moment she’d misheard him. All of a sudden she couldn’t breathe. Backing up, she bent over and took deep gasps of air in before she straightened and moaned. “They. What do you mean by
they
? And what the hell are you saying when you say they were hungry? Surely you can’t mean they somehow ate sin?”

Lucian’s eyes turned black as he stalked her. “Yes, they ate sin. Xore stood in front of your stomach and I told them what to do.” He captured her to him, wrapping her in his embrace. His hands cupped her face and his thumb stroked her cheek. “You’re a miracle in more ways than one. You carry more than one child. You’ve made history. There’s never been demon twins. I have booked us a doctor’s appointment tomorrow before lunch.” He hands slid down her body to rest over her stomach. “You need to eat more,” his eyes trailed over her, “of everything.”

 Tessa didn’t like hearing she needed more of everything, and before she could ask what Lucian meant by
everything
, Xore came and stood behind her. Lucian rubbed her belly and kissed her lips. When his mouth left hers, he had her panting for breath and her body burning with need. Lucian was lethal to her.

“Tessa, my love, I’m going to do something right now and I need you not to freak out but cooperate. I need to drink. I haven’t drank since you left me. I can’t drink from anyone else and it has to be straight from the vein. I have tried bagged blood but it doesn’t work.”

Tessa felt her eyes widen. Lucian had told her he drank blood but she hadn’t really thought about it. “Are you going to drink from me?”

Lucian shook his head. “I would love to. You taste sweeter than sugar. I can’t drink from you, though. You are too weak right now for me to use.  Even when you are better I won’t be able to drink the amount I need with you pregnant. The problem is my fangs won’t come out so I can’t drink, because they want you. I have to trick them.” Lucian picked her up, wrapping her legs around him. “I need you to do something for the babies and yourself.”

Tessa looked up into his dark as night eyes, not liking where this conversation was going. “What?”

“I need you to drink from me. When you’re attached, my fangs will drop and I’ll drink from Xore.”

Tessa shook her head. “No way. I can’t drink your blood.”

He closed his eyes and held her closer. “You already have.” His eyes snapped open as she whacked his chest and tried to get down, but Xore blocked her way.

“Let me go, Lucian.” She thrashed in his arms and kicked to get out of his hold.  The safe feeling vanished even though she felt her babies trying to calm her. Betrayal and anger consumed her as she struggled in Lucian’s embrace.  How dare he give her blood without her permission? How dare he force her now? She fought with everything she had, furious that she had been lulled into this false security.

“You’re right, she’s a fighter. I see why you call her kitten.”  Xore grunted behind her.

Tessa screamed as Lucian’s fingers turn into sharp claws. He sliced at his neck. “I’m sorry, kitten,” he whispered before his other hand forced her mouth down to the gushing red liquid. She kept her mouth shut and wouldn’t drink. Lucian whispered apologies and then she felt his finger force her mouth open and press her to him. The first taste of sweetness had her gagging, but then she got a bigger mouthful. Once the flavor exploded into her mouth she took deep gulps. “That’s it, Tessa.” Lucian’s moan had her drinking deeper. The more she drank the more she remembered the taste. Lucian had given this to her every time they’d made love.

“Argh, were blood. Fuck, that shit tastes worse than I ever remembered.” Lucian’s words barely registered.

Tessa couldn’t stop. Lucian tasted so good, better than any chocolate or beverage. Her body was on fire and if she was willing to let go and stop drinking she’d beg him to fuck her.