Chapter Twelve #2
Sensing the growing distress I’d been waiting for, I reached over and settled my hand on Lulu’s thigh.
The delicate muscles there, which I’d just had my claws wrapped around, flexed.
I debated about how to respond. How to explain why I was here, when in all reality, I wasn’t completely sure of the answer.
“Lulu….”
“What is he saying? Arafel? Who is he?”
I swallowed, those were easier questions. “Lord Arafel is one of the sons of Lucifer. He rules my people’s area of the Underworld.”
Her eyebrows were so high I wasn’t sure she would even think straight now. But, when Lulu didn’t faint or call me a liar, I kept going, my voice gaining volume and confidence as it went.
“I commonly come into the living world as I was never very good at dreamwalking like my brethren. I only ever came into Lulu’s dreams. And when I voiced my disinterest, Lord Arafel procured me for other tasks.
” I looked to her, “You have to understand that magic is currency where I am from. I spend my days measuring the power that is keeping the Underworld alive and functioning.”
Lulu seemed to be thinking about it hard. “You’re an analyst?”
I couldn’t stop the laugh which in turn made her smile a little. Her leg under my palm relaxed a fraction. “Basically.”
Mr. Yale snorted, but didn’t contest my response. Lulu’s face sobered, “And you live there? In the Underworld?”
“I do, but it’s nothing like you probably think it is. It’s a mirrored reflection of this world a long time ago. I think you would love it. As soon as I figure out how to make you coffee there.”
Lulu’s lips quivered, “I’m sure. But..how did you get here?”
“Lord Arafel’s magic can send us back and forth,” I hesitated for only a moment.
“I’ve never shown anybody this, not even Traum.
” I pressed against my skin, letting the magicked away ring on my right hand finally show.
A perfectly intact obol coin, soldered into a ring came into view on that hand.
Lulu’s brows furrowed as she leaned down.
“What is that? God, I sound like a broken record,”
I held my hand up so each of them could see the ancient coin. Gigi must’ve recognized it because she nodded slightly as I began to speak.
“Once, Greek obols were used for a passed soul to pay entry into the Underworld. But now, we use them to travel between words. This one was blessed by Lord Arafel and allows me to travel back and forth as needed.”
I took a short breath, “And as far as Lord Arafel is concerned, I was sent here for only one reason…” Since when did I sweat so much? I could feel the perspiration breaking out against my skin as I revealed my secret. “I was sent here to find out if mate bonds generate power in the living world.”
Silence. None of them even blinked for a long moment. Finally, Gigi’s head tilted, “What do you mean?”
“They’re finding that relationships, especially bonds, in the Underworld are responsible for creating more powerful matches.
Lord Arafel’s soul mate is a unique situation perhaps, but now we’ve been looking at mate bonds between the demon kind.
” I turned to Lulu, “My eldest brother, he and his mate are among the most powerful our elders have ever seen. Traum and Bailey, even though she has no magical abilities, have nearly quadrupled his power since they have been together. Something is changing.”
“And your boss, he knew I was here?”
I shook my head, “No. I wasn’t even aware, not until I opened my eyes at the edge of town and felt you. I hadn’t felt called like that in years. I knew you were close and this time I couldn’t stay away.”
I recognized my mistake then. But, it was too late. My whip smart little mate was onto me. “There were other times that you did stay away?”
I swallowed, “Not like you think. I just…I checked on you a few times after school. I wanted to be sure you were safe.”
Panic tightened my chest as I waited for her to understand, if she was going to understand.
Lulu’s chest rose and fell quickly as I stared at her eyes.
I wished so badly that I knew what was going on in that brilliant mind of hers, but we weren’t connected like that.
Not yet. And Hades, after this, we may never be.
“Lulu?” Gigi’s soft voice broke into my anxious stream of thoughts. “Why don’t we give you a few minutes. Today has been quite a shock I’m sure.”
Lulu’s eyes never moved from where she stared down into her lap. While that wasn’t the best sign, she still hadn’t forced my hand off my thigh or even pushed me away. I sat, patiently waiting. “Do you want some time alone? To think things over.”
Her sigh raised the hair on my arms, made my heart skip a beat. I desperately wanted to move closer.
“Lulu?”
“In a minute,” she finally said. Her grandparents must’ve slipped out as I stared at her, because suddenly we were alone.
“Tell me, Z, about what it means to be a mate. Because there’s part of me, a big part of me, that you just spoke to, saying that the moment you get a mate, you become more powerful, and doubts it all.
But the other part, probably my stupid heart, loves that you watched over me all these years, never pressuring me, never pushing me.
And now, well shit, I’m just so confused. ”
I nodded, then held my arms out. “Can I hold you while I talk?” She hesitated and I quickly added, “No incubus tricks, I’m just dying to feel you against me.”
Lulu folded herself up, letting me tug her across my lap so that her face could press into the side of my neck.
My entire body relaxed as I tucked my arms around her slender form.
“It’s not all it’s cracked up to be, this mate thing,” I said against her hair.
“I mean, you’ll have to feel my most significant emotions.
You’ll have to share my pain. You’d have to share my entire life, since we would not be able to be apart for long. ”
I took a long breath in, the sweet scent of her tickling my every sense.
“But, I will cherish you, above all else. I will always try to give you the best life that I can. And I will crave you, the sight of you, the feel of you, the taste of you, until my last breath. Which honestly, would be a very, very long time for now. And, if you choose to share this bond with me, know that it isn’t something that can be undone. ”
“Wow,” Lulu said finally, her hands curling against my chest, “That’s…a lot of commitment.”
I chuckled, “We are all in types. But, it’s easier for me. My blood demands your satisfaction, even if it is in keeping myself from you under your request.”
“You would do that? Stay away?”
“I would do anything for you.”
“Even if it would be painful, like you said?”
“We aren’t fully mated yet, the bond isn’t set. But, yes, I would feel the loss of you until the very end.”
“And, I need to decide now?”
“Oh God, no. There is no timeline, not really.” I trailed off, unable to tell her much more. Because while she didn’t need to commit to me today, there was no way that I could convince Arafel to open up the Underworld to us without a mate bond in place.
“My head feels like a tornado has ripped through it.”
“I’m sure,” I pressed a kiss against the top of her hair. “Why don’t you sleep a little? I’ll make sure you are awake for dinner.”
“I can’t just use you as a body pillow,” Lulu insisted, but instead of pushing away, she merely shifted in my arms. I could see the dark lashes over her eyes already getting low.
“You can use me for anything, sweet dream, and I will gladly bear it. Especially, if it allows me to hold you longer.”
Her sigh warmed my throat, and a second later, I could feel the way her muscles gave way into the sleep so clearly needed. My arms tightened. Everything was on the table.
The choice was now hers.