“I’ve never once said I would marry anybody – man, woman, demon, human or paranormal. I’ve never given any vows, made any promises, or even hinted that a relationship with someone was more than what it was in all my years of existence.” Somehow, Zagan felt he needed to get that out up front. Anael was the angel called upon to forge relationships. Zagan was guilty of many sins, but leading anyone on relationship-wise wasn’t one of them.
“I believe you. Do you have a well-stocked kitchen in this mansion of yours?” One day, Zagan was going to ask Anael how he managed to stay perpetually cheerful, but Anael’s hopeful expression reminded him of other ways he was failing as a mate. His sweet angel needed food.
“I can zap up anything you like.” He offered, holding out his arms. But unfortunately, Anael shook his head.
“Hugs and sexy times won’t fill my stomach. Come on, show me where this kitchen is, and I’ll cook for you.”
Cook for me? No one’s ever…. Well, unless they were paid, but Zagan went out for meals most times, or had someone in his legion grab something from their cafeteria for him. Watching Anael flit around the kitchen, clad in only his formfitting jeans was both confusing and hellishly arousing. Is this what being in a relationship is all about?
Anael seemed happy enough, despite their rude awakening. He beamed as he placed Zagan’s plate in front of him, before grabbing his own and taking the seat next to him at the counter.
“I haven’t been eating a lot this past week,” Anael explained, slicing through his sausage. “And I worked up an appetite last night.”
His blush reminded Zagan exactly what they did get up to the night before and his cock hardened, ready for a repeat performance. But with his mind awhirl over the revelations in the past twenty-four hours, Zagan let the suggestive comments on the tip of his tongue die a natural death and smiled and winked instead. He picked up his fork and dug into the fluffy scrambled eggs. They were delicious, well-seasoned with just enough pepper to tickle his tongue.
For a while, nothing could be heard but the scrape of cutlery on the plates and the muted sounds of chewing and swallowing. As he enjoyed the wonderful food, Zagan tried to put his thoughts in some sort of order. He needed to do something, but it wasn’t as though he could just wave his hands and have all his problems disappear. There was this issue with Zoltus and Zagan wasn’t silly enough to think Anael’s interactions with Jared and Darren were over either. They needed to decide on a place to stay and Zagan even considered selling his club, or at least refurbishing it to provide a more pleasant place for Anael to visit. Working out what to do first was the main problem. Action was needed. But what?
He could go to Lucifer. Lucifer would keep Anael safe while he hunted out Zoltus and smacked her silly head in. But Zagan never liked interacting with the Prince of Darkness. He preferred to settle his own problems. But, as if magically summoned by thought alone, and who knew the extent of Lucifer’s powers, the dark-haired leader of the Underworld appeared. In his kitchen. As though it was an everyday event.
“How wonderful, another successful mating. Don’t you two look positively domesticated.”
Zagan hurriedly swallowed and jumped to his feet, pleased Anael did the same. But where he just inclined his head as one did when the guy who could snuff you out like a twinkie bar came to visit, Anael ran around the counter and gave Lucifer a hug. “It’s so lovely to see you.” Anael really did look pleased, showing none of the fear and anxiety most people did in Lucifer’s presence. Zagan was surprised to see they were almost the same physical size, but whereas Lucifer was dressed in dark clothing, had black hair and could always be counted on to make someone feel uncomfortable, in comparison Anael was the epitome of light. “Take a seat. Would you like some coffee, or I can zap you up some of that tea you like?”
“I come complete with my own chair and beverages.” Sure enough, Lucifer’s chair appeared along with a large ceramic pot and matching cups. “I’ll be mother, shall I?”
Lucifer is smiling and it’s not that, ‘I’m going to take out entire legions because I can’ type of smile. It’s…it’s…. Zagan gave up. Lucifer was not a happy person; it wasn’t in his nature and yet around Anael, it seemed even the Lord of the Underworld managed to give the appearance of being in a good mood.
“Lord Lucifer, it’s an honor to have you here in our humble home, but why are you here?” Zagan knew his boss was far too busy to drop in for a cup of tea. “Did you have something you required me and my legions to take care of?” Wipe out. Annihilate. Thrash within an inch of their lives. Not words my angel needs to hear.
Lucifer put down his teapot and waved at the filled cups. Zagan quickly picked his up and sipped. He preferred black coffee, but he liked his head where it was. Lucifer’s grin suggested his boss knew exactly what he was thinking.
“I came to make sure my friendly angel was safe and happy,” Lucifer said casually. “You’ll note I didn’t interfere, although your stupidity this past week gave me cause to think I might have to.” Zagan hung his head. He’d been an ass, but Anael had forgiven him and that was all he was worried about. “No, I have a more pressing matter to discuss that directly impacts the lovely Anael. Carmine alerted me to the application of a marriage license that crossed his desk this morning. It had your name on it as one of the bonding parties. Naturally, given how I knew you two were fated and I have a vested interest in ensuring everything goes smoothly for you two, I decided to see what this nonsense was for myself.”
“I haven’t applied to marry anybody,” Zagan said quickly. “I’ve claimed Anael as my own. We are both aware of our connection and there were no Head Office rumblings when I took him to my bed.”
“You mean your cock wasn’t struck by lightning the moment it waved in Anael’s direction.” Lucifer smirked.
“Was that a possibility?” Anael’s eyes were wide and Zagan’s hand dropped automatically to his lap. “I saw our connection. My sight has never been wrong before.”
“I’m just teasing,” Lucifer reached over and ruffled Anael’s curls. “Gabe and I were given advance notification of six possible mated pairs between my demons and beings of the light. Your names were definitely linked on the list. Which is why I was unpleasantly surprised,” Lucifer glared at Zagan, “to hear that a demoness who’s been nothing but a pain in my neck since she came of age, is claiming you’ve agreed to marry her. If you were forging an alliance to take my spot, it would have made more sense to bond with Haures.”
“I don’t want your job!” Zagan was horrified Lucifer even suggested it. “My desk is drowning in paperwork as it is. I have all the power I’ll ever need and I happily bow my head to you and you alone. But don’t ever think I want to sit in your chair. Perish the thought.”
“That’s why you were one of the demons chosen for this very important Head Office project. You command enough respect in our world to keep your angel safe, and yet you’re not hankering for my job.”
“Are you under threat, Lucifer? Is there anything we can help with?” Anael’s voice was laced with genuine concern.
Who am I mated to? No one suggested that Lucifer was the type to need help. They’d spent eternity picking up hellhound poop with their teeth just for asking. Yet, Lucifer was smiling at Anael and patting his hand as though he wasn’t the terror of the Underworld. “It’s sweet of you to offer, my dear angel,” Lucifer sounded sincere. “But it’s all part and parcel of being in my position. No one will ever succeed in taking me out, of course, but my demons get restless and feel they must try. I will be fine. Now, where were we? Oh yes, this marriage application. It’s in triplicate. I have to consider it. Shall I suggest a meeting with your wannabe bride?”
“Can’t you just throw the application away?” The last thing Zagan wanted was to take Anael to the Underworld, yet he knew leaving him topside while he went alone wasn’t an option. Botis’s drunken singing soon after he claimed Raziel was proof of that. So soon into their mating, he needed Anael by his side as much as he needed air. “If she complains, tell her it got lost in the system. Hell’s famous for that sort of thing.”
“Alas, she delivered it to Carmine’s desk personally and you don’t want to suggest my ever-efficient fae would lose a piece of paper from his desk. Not one signed and in triplicate.”
Ouch. Lucifer was right. Zagan had already seen how Carmine kept demon captains on their toes. For a little man he had some powerful magic which is why he was perfect for his position in front of Lucifer’s office door. As much as he didn’t want to, Zagan reluctantly agreed to head to the underworld, complete with Anael. That bitch had better not lay a finger on my precious or I’ll flay her skin from her bones.