29. LuciferDraven
29
LUCIFER
“ I ’ve got a few things to do before we can have whatever this is going to be,” Draven says, and I frown, but he strides across the office into another room, and I shrug.
I go for a wander, getting the lay of the land. Draven and Maeve are tucked into the corner, next to the elevators. They’ve got one receptionist, and a small waiting area.
Along the corridor is a more open office space, but I have no idea who or what is here. There’s a large bullpen kind of area, along with two offices at the end.
There’s a few people here, but I’m not that interested. I’ll ask Draven what they do and if they have any interaction with Maeve outside of the elevator.
It feels… off. Like something is lurking just below the surface, and no one’s paying attention. But I am, and I don’t want to miss a thing.
I’ll make sure to escort her to and from her desk each day to avoid any awkward interactions for her.
“You sorted?” I ask, bumping into Draven as I make my way back to his office. He’s coming out of Maeve’s with a pep in his step.
“Yeah,” he replies. “Follow me.”
I let him lead me into his office, closing the door behind me. It’s pretty big, with two doors as well as the one leading out into the main foyer. One clearly leads into Maeve’s office, I wonder what the other one is.
There’s two windows with closed blinds over them on either side of Maeve’s door, and practically a full wall of a window.
It’s open, airy, even welcoming. I hate it.
Where’s the dark, broody aesthetics? Where’s the skulls or the cobwebs? Where’s his coffin?
I tap the desk lightly with my fingers, needing to release some of the energy swirling inside me. My imp stirs, curious, as usual, itching for action. But Draven is so controlled. It’s unnerving.
“Stop judging and take a seat.” He’s not even looking my way, and it’s quite frustrating.
“Are you Maeve’s fated mate?” I demand, my imp itching to know the answer, so I do him a favour by asking. That’s all there is to it.
I don’t care to know.
Draven moves through his office, taking a seat at his desk, opening up his laptop. He keys in his password before even bothering to respond.
“What is it to you?”
Asshole.
“Because I am her mate,” I reply, moving towards his desk. I look him over carefully, taking note of his clenched fists and the way his shoulders tense. He’s so obvious, it’s so sad. For him.
I glance around, and sadly, there’s no alcohol, so I drop into the seat opposite, spinning the chair slightly so I can put my feet up on the other one.
He sneers at me but doesn’t waste his time in telling me to sit properly. There’s an aura of displeasure surrounding the bear, and part of me wants to turn around and leave.
But that wouldn’t be very fun, would it?
I’m not stupid, and I know that’s just Draven’s general demeanour. Ursarix’s are meant to be sweet and soft, caring, nice . They’re meant to be peacekeepers, healers, protectors… and they only become feral when pushed into it.
What the hell broke this one?
“Well, I’m not her mate.” He sounds angry about it, but that’s not my business.
My imp and I don’t believe him. “I see.”
“Do you?” Draven counters, finally meeting my eyes.
There’s something in his golden gaze, the kind of intensity that would make a lesser man’s blood freeze for just a second.
I don’t intimidate. Not at all. But even I can admit that Draven’s a scary fucker. His scar is vicious and covers half his face, but whatever caused it clearly couldn’t knock him down, since he’s lived to tell the tale.
His eyes are gold, piercing and intense, and honestly, I’d not like to go up against this man empty-handed.
I’d fuck him up with my crossbow. Probably even a sword.
But without a weapon? He’d have me begging for mercy.
Or, more accurately, dying dramatically. I wouldn’t beg anyone—well, unless their name is Maeve.
“Sure. You’re annoyed that Maeve and yourself are mates and are living in denial.”
He snarls so viciously that my imp merges with me, offering support just in case. I see his ursarix flicker behind his eyes, ready to break free. The air shifts, thick with tension, but I hold my ground.
He’s not the only beast here. I’m willing to play the game of who is stronger.
“Are we going to sit here all day wasting time or are we going to discuss the true issues?” Draven asks dryly. “Maeve never told me any of this, and I want to know how I can best protect her.”
“She’s not big on communication.” I lean back in the chair. “To be fair, Maeve’s not big on much.”
“I’m waiting.”
“Testy, testy,” I mutter, but I launch into the tale of Maeve’s dangerous life. I don’t exaggerate… much.
I watch as his anger simmers and rises, his fists tightening, his eyes darkening. I can feel the shifting in the air as Draven does his best to keep his ursarix under control. The animal within is desperate to protect, but the weight of knowing he’s failed to protect her before he even knew her gnaws at him.
It’s almost tragic.
Draven’s anger grows the more of Maeve’s story I share, and the bear within is completely captivated by learning everything he can about his mate. I don’t go into details that aren’t pertinent to her security threat, keeping it clear that Adrian, her stalker, and anyone who dares wish to touch her are the people we need to be wary of.
Maeve’s gorgeous. I’m biased, but it’s true. Add in her chromius’ natural magnetism, and she draws eyes wherever she goes. Far too many are idiots who take that as a sign to engage.
Maeve won’t take kindly to that, so neither can we.
I don’t talk about her past or anything that would be breaching her trust because even if Maeve doesn’t trust me yet—she will one day, and I won’t risk damaging it now.
Draven’s breathing is heavier now, more laboured, as if the weight of what I’m telling him is crashing down on him. His jaw clenches tighter. The guilt is practically eating him alive.
I would feel sorry for him if I didn’t feel the same way.
“So, yeah, easy. Just use those meaty arms of yours to slam faces into your fists, and she’ll be golden.”
“I’m not going to go around knocking out everyone who interacts with her,” Draven says darkly.
The tension between us rises again. He’s holding himself together by a thread, but it’s unraveling. I can see it. Feel it.
I fucking get off on these kinds of vibes.
“I would have gone around killing them if it wasn’t for Atticus’ demand,” I pout, and Draven’s lips quirk in amusement. “So, that’s the story of our little angel .”
I can’t resist the taunt, even if it causes the bear to get even more frustrated. There’s nothing more fun than poking at an angry bear shifter—except when it comes to smacking down, I suppose.
“Don’t you dare,” he warns, his eyes glowing gold before settling back into their usual bright gold. “Do not poke at her.”
For a second, I see a flicker of something more—something protective, primal, and furious. Maeve means everything to him, even if he doesn’t say it. Even if he denies it.
If Maeve would allow it, I’d do more than poke at her. But you know, my beautiful little mate is going to need to heal before we can even get close to that level of intimacy.
So, for now, I’ll happily spend my days aggravating her mates and getting my kicks off that way.
“Understood.” I salute him, and his nostrils flare at my dismissive tone.
I don’t know why I enjoy winding up the ursarix as much as I do, but it’s probably something to do with the fact that he lied about being Maeve’s mate, despite being so obviously in love with her.
Or at least, infatuated.
I wonder if he’s not yet proved his worth when it comes to protecting his mate or if he doesn’t think it’s true since Maeve has yet to touch him and initiate the bond on her side.
It’s interesting, either way. I wonder how long he’s going to manage to fight the bond. Especially since fate now has herself a chaotic ally in me.
Draven is a very strong friend when it comes to protecting Maeve, someone who can be with her when I cannot, and between the three of us—Hadrian, once he’s on board—we’ll have her fully covered so she’s not once left alone.
Nothing and nobody will get to her with us by her side.
But the more Draven tries to deny the bond, the worse his instincts are going to be when it’s finally acknowledged. Fate’s funny like that.
“So, then, Mr Westfall, what are your plans with my mate?” I ask, swinging back on my chair.
“Enough of that shit,” he snaps, his glare intensifying as his eyes glow gold again. “Four legs on the floor or you’ll crack your head open.”
I snort. “So protective, Daddy D.”
Horror fills his face, and I cackle. “Don’t you fucking dare call me that.”
“No worries,” I say, grinning at him. “Back to the question, Mr Westfall, what are your plans with Maeve?”
“What are you going on about?” he frowns, his scent darkening, filling the room with a tense musk.
Fucking hell, I am surrounded by idiots. I need a smart one brought into the fold. Someone other than Maeve who can keep up with my humour and intellect.
“Your. Plans. With. Maeve.” I speak slowly, punctuating each word. “Am I allowed in the office or do you want this time alone with her? Do you know where she lives, are you going to spend time with her outside of work? What about during break times? What are you going to do to become a better mate?”
He growls low in his throat. “We’re not mates.”
“Understood.”
My imp stirs again, a sharp pang of excitement surging through me. The denial is almost painful to watch. I’d feel bad if it wasn’t so fun to watch him unravel.
He lets out a huff. “Maeve and I are… colleagues, and that’s all we’ll stay as. I’ll keep our relationship private, and?—”
“Oh, my fucking god,” I groan, slamming my head into the back of his wooden chair. It’s like talking to a brick wall… with serious muscles. “I seriously would love nothing more than to knock some sense into you.”
“I’d love to see you try. I’d crush you with my bare hands.”
“That pun was shit, and I’m clearly not stupid,” I say, rolling my eyes as the ursarix laughs.
Even through the tension, he manages a dry laugh like he knows exactly how ridiculous this conversation is—how ridiculous his denial is—but won’t admit it.
“Not physically, as, clearly, we can both see you’d win that fight. But I am very talented with a crossbow.”
I wiggle my fingers, a genuine grin lighting up my face.
“I can run pretty fast.” He sounds doubtful.
“Oh, but, Daddy D, I can shoot pretty fast, too.”
The moment those words leave my mouth, the atmosphere shifts. Draven’s scent changes, the air thickens with a different kind of tension—excitement. His ursarix is clearly interested now, intrigued.
“I doubt you’d manage to do much.”
“My next night off, we’ll meet up and test it out,” I offer, waggling my brows.
“Shifted form or human?”
He’s considering it. I smirk. “I’m happy to go two rounds.”
Draven cracks a smile. “You’re not terrible.”
“Soon enough, Daddy D, you’ll make your way into the not terrible category, too,” I reply, winking. “But, in the meantime, I’m going to go do things.”
“Things?” He raises a brow.
“Things your little black heart wouldn’t approve of, Dravy,” I say, waving at him as I leave the room.
I hear him grumble something under his breath as I shut the door behind me.
We’re on the same page.
Mostly.
And I don’t hate the ursarix shifter for Maeve, not even a little bit.
But let’s be real—I won’t like him as a metamour until he lets me shoot him with arrows, and he bleeds all over them.
It’ll be a good day.
Draven
Lucifer leaves my office, gently closing the door, and my heart is hammering in my chest. The moment the door clicks shut, I let out a long, shaky breath. I’m wound up, my entire body tense from holding back my shift for so long.
He’s an absolute wind-up, and he knows it. Swaggering around in a stupid “Fish are not friends. Eat them” shirt that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever, whilst uttering lies and shitty nicknames.
He’s got a screw, or seven, loose, and I have no idea what fate was thinking in all her twisted humour when she decided he was fit to be with Maeve.
Pairing my mate with him? Why him? Why someone so chaotic, so unhinged?
I don’t understand it. He’s an imp, he’s mentally fucking insane, and he’s a Graves. The family she claims to hate.
How could fate match her with me and him and Julian Graves, a light pegasus? Where is my worth compared to the pair of them?
Sure, Lucifer is disowned, but he’s pretty famous in the mythical world and the real world. He’s a nomad, with no line he won’t cross. He’s a good man for Maeve… in some ways.
Julian is pure, light, and can offer her a family, offer her something more than just a broken man.
But me? I can’t even protect her properly. I’m failing at the one thing I’m designed to do. I can barely hold myself together, let alone be what she needs. It’s no wonder she doesn’t want me. It’s no wonder she chose to reject me.
My ursarix whines—reject us .
I can’t blame her, I really can’t. I don’t know her situation with Julian and Lucifer, but she’s not yet mated, so they’re clearly adhering to her struggles and respecting her like she deserves.
That’s good. The thought brings a small relief to the burning guilt that’s been gnawing at me.
I didn’t want to have to hurt one of them as I know it would hurt her.
But they’d have no choice but to be taught a lesson.
I move forward, creaking open the blinds to take a little spy at my gorgeous angel. There she is. She’s sitting at her desk, a small grin on her face as she chats on the phone. No idea who she is talking to, but she seems so free, so unbothered.
Her blue eyes are sparkling in the sun, and it makes my heart so full of warmth. It calms the storm inside of me, just for a moment.
Some of the tension fades out of me at seeing her relaxed and at ease. She might have people after her, there might be active threats on her life, but right now, my mate is safe . She is protected and under my watchful eyes.
We’ll keep it that way.
I told Lucifer that I wouldn’t be slamming heads into walls or fists. But I would. Without hesitating.
If anyone so much as looks at my mate wrong, they will pay the price.
But to protect Maeve, I can’t just rely on Lucifer to do the work. He’s good, but he’s not all-seeing. I can’t afford to let my guard down—not now, not ever.
I grab my phone and scroll down to find the contact I need. It rings twice, as expected, before it’s answered.
“Torin Ashfor,” the grouchy voice of my kind-of friend mutters.
I roll my eyes. “It’s Draven.”
“What do you need?” he asks, sounding very distracted. He’s not in a meeting or he wouldn’t have answered, but he’s clearly doing something of importance.
“A pretty big favour,” I reply, scooting my chair back to take in the view outside. My ursarix is restless, desperate to shift. We need to relieve some of this tension, and other than doting on my mate, the only thing that will soothe him is a hunt.
But first, I need answers. I need to make sure my mate’s needs are taken care of. She comes first.
This makes him pause for a moment. “Work related?”
“No. I’m cashing in the one you owe me.”
He hums, and I know I’ve now got his full attention. “What do you need from me?”
“Are you still at the compound?” I ask, and he replies in the affirmative. “I need to know everything you know about Maeve Quinn?—”
He groans. “Oh, Drav, that’s not?—”
“And her stalker,” I finish, crossing my arms in front of my chest.
I won’t take no for an answer, and I wouldn’t be bringing anyone in if I could help it. Maeve’s circle is small on purpose, but I trust Torin enough to not say a word.
If I could get answers myself, I would, but the people of the compound wisely stay far away from me. I can’t keep this under wraps from the Tribunal head if I enter his mythical compound and start beating up men.
“Her fucking what?” Torin asks, and he sounds far too calm about this. “How long?”
“A few weeks,” I reply.
There’s rapid movement on his end of the phone, and we both don’t speak until he’s moved. I don’t know where he was, but his tone has changed. It’s sharper now, more focused.
This isn’t some casual favour to him anymore. Now, he’s invested.
“I don’t know anything about that. It’s not common knowledge on the compound.”
“And here comes the favour: find out,” I reply without a care for the inconvenience it’ll cause him and his career.
I hear him sigh on the other end. Torin’s always been good at playing the political game, but this request? It’s dangerous. I know I’m asking a lot.
Torin Ashfor is a shoe-in for the Tribunal once he reaches fifty. He’s mythical, powerful, and plays the political game like nobody I’ve ever come across. I might have to retire before he’s appointed because my access rate will drop.
He groans. “I’m barely getting face time with Adrian at the moment due to some issues he’s very tight-lipped about, but I do have a few contacts I can hit up for answers. I don’t know what information I’ll find, but I’ll pass it along.”
I wonder if these issues are related to Maeve and her stalker or if Adrian has got other trouble brewing. It wouldn’t surprise me if Adrian’s tangled in something darker.
“Speak with Julian Graves,” I mention, despite the angry growl from my bear at the name.
“Don’t be stupid,” Torin replies, chuckling a little. “That boy is an idiot and walks around like he’s all it. Trust me, he’ll know absolutely nothing of worth. Rumour has it that Adrian only brought him in because he needs to appease his parents in grooming at least one of their worthless nephews.”
I chuckle. It’s true. Julian’s reputation isn’t exactly sparkling. I’ve not met Hadrian in person and have only heard about Julian from Lucifer, but the other two… well, Torin’s not wrong.
Lucifer and Tarun are both useless when it comes to the political minefield of the Tribunal. Tarun’s a soldier, and a good one at that, but he’s not got what it takes to play with the big men.
Even if he thinks otherwise.
“A useful idiot who will work with you,” I reply, clenching my fists as my ursarix pushes to try and take over. The beast inside me is restless, urging me to act, to protect Maeve. But I need more information first. I need to know what we’re dealing with. “Trust me, he’s an ally where it concerns Maeve.”
“You do know she left right? She’s at your pride now. Can’t you just ask her these questions?” Then he laughs like he’s so fucking hilarious. “Just kidding. I doubt the ice princess would want anything to do with you.”
The comment stings more than it should.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I cock my brow, wondering what he’s going to say to dig himself out of the hole I’m already mentally digging for his corpse.
“That she’s snobby and uptight. Maeve Quinn wants nothing to do with anyone, and everyone is below her.”
I clench my jaw, anger flaring up again. That’s not Maeve. Not even close. Maeve isn’t pampered or spoiled. She’s been hurt. Badly. And she’s built walls because of it.
“She’s actually sitting in the office right next door to me,” I say with a smirk.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” he mutters under his breath. “You want her.”
“Now you’re the one who is being stupid.”
He lets out an exasperated sigh, but I can hear the knowing edge in his voice. “Draven, Maeve would be lucky?—”
“To be mated to anyone other than me,” I say, cutting him off as I think of the imp that she’s bonded with. Or the pegasus who calls her his own. Julian might be a Graves, but he’s not a monster like I am.
She might not be mated to them yet , but Julian is a far better man than I could ever be. Lucifer can offer her far more than I could.
And what am I? A broken ursarix haunted by the past and not nearly good enough to protect her. It’s no wonder she keeps me at a distance.
Maeve drew the lines between us and made it clear she wants me only as her boss.
I won’t go against that.
“I’m not going to argue with you right now, as I’m in the middle of something, but we will be coming back to this. When are you next here?”
“I’ve got a case this week—either tomorrow or Wednesday, depending on the client,” I say.
“Then I will reconvene with you then and let you know what I’ve learnt.”
The line goes dead, and I drop the phone onto my desk, feeling the weight of the conversation settle onto my shoulders.
Torin’s an asshole, but he owes me one, and he’ll fulfil this to the best of his ability. He’s in a prime location, and with Adrian grooming him to be on the Tribunal, he’s got the ear of the powerful man we need answers from.
But still… what if this stalker is worse than we thought? What if there’s more to this than even I’m prepared for?
Let’s just hope he can help because I need this situation wrapped up.
Before my mate pays the price.