XXIX
Lucky groaned. His hand shook against his stomach and he blinked his sticky eyes open one at a time. The room was unfamiliar, and his body felt heavy, but nothing was as jarring as hearing crying coming from his side. He flinched before he shifted his gaze to the edge of the hospital bed.
“Ew! Gross!” Lucky said with disgust when he saw his sister standing next to him crying.
“Shut up, you fucking nerd!” Lie shouted, wiping the snot and tears from her face. Her makeup was a mess and she looked like a wreck. The usually put together Heir of Lust was dressed in an oversized t-shirt and fuzzy slippers, tail hanging limp and lip trembling.
An even more unusual sound broke through the sobs, and Lucky winced when he realized it wasn’t simply laughing, but Lucius laughing.
Every voice from deep within them snickered, and it was haunting.
Fear rolled over him. Lucius never laughed, at least not out of joy or glee.
That was reserved for intimidation or torture sessions.
The fact that it was soft and familial was somehow scarier.
“The fuck is wrong with you two?” Lucky asked weakly as he tried to push himself up. His weary arms shook and refused to work like he wanted them to. Something was wrong.
“We almost lost you, little one,” Lucius said from the armchair in the corner.
“Lost me?” Lucky mumbled. “What do you mean? Oh… my head.”
He rubbed the space under his horns. His hair felt unusually greasy, and it was repulsive.
“Your flame almost went out. You have been put on strict bedrest, per Father’s orders,” Lucius explained.
“How could you be so stupid! You could have died!” Lie shouted at him.
Lucky went to snap back but she was truly upset.
Authentically worried about him. That was when the reality of the situation registered.
He was in the hospital, stiff from sleeping with an IV in the back of his hand and the thermostat cranked high.
The hellfire slab under the bed was working overtime to stabilize his internal fire.
He felt nauseous and weak. A bouquet of white lilies with Gabe’s handwriting on the card was tucked up on the nightstand beside the bed.
They were fresh blooms straight from Heaven judging by the fact they hadn’t wilted from the high temperature in the suite.
“You were worried about me?” Lucky questioned.
Lie sniffled and crossed her arms over her chest. “No, don’t be gross.”
Lucky chuckled. “There’s the Lie I know.”
They shared gentle smiles. He mouthed that he was okay, and she started complaining about having to take on his workload while he was on medical leave before she left to go find something to eat.
As the door closed, Lucky attempted to scoot up.
It took significant effort that he wasn’t used to.
Lucius turned their eyes to him once they were alone.
“What’s going to happen to me?” Lucky asked.
“You are going to rest until your flame stabilizes,” Lucius replied.
“Cut the shit, Lucius. What’s my punishment? What’s Father going to do with me?”
“He has a plan, you need not worry about it now.”
Lucky picked at the blanket over his lap.
Someone knocked on the door, but unsurprisingly Bub didn’t wait for a response before he burst into the room.
The door slammed open and the oversized demon lord stood there with tears already bubbling in his eyes and his lip trembling.
Gabe apologized for the disruption as they followed.
The archangel shared an emotionless, unreadable look with Lucius, so Anger’s heir took that as their cue to leave.
They lifted themself from the chair and approached the hospital bed.
“Do not worry, little one, I will handle the logistics. Nothing will happen to you,” Lucius promised. “I told you, I am always watching, and I know your worth better than you do. Everything will be fine. Please call if you need me.”
Lucky nodded. He turned his eyes to Bub after Lucius left. The demon lord was standing in the corner of the room with big, teary eyes. Before Lucky could tell him it was fine for him to come over, Bub embraced him. Lucky buried his face into his friend’s shoulder.
“You scared me,” Bub whispered. “I told you to be careful.”
“I know,” Lucky mumbled. “I’m sorry.”
“How are you feeling?” Gabe asked as they approached. Their nurturing instincts took over and they started fussing and fixing the blanket, his slipped hospital gown, his fallen hair. Anything they could do to make contact and feel his heat, ensure he was safe.
“Like death,” Lucky replied. He turned his fiery eyes their way.
They sat on the side of the bed and took his free hand. Bub refused to let go so Lucky continued to hold him. The demon lord’s natural heat felt nice against him, he hadn’t realized how cold he’d actually been until his fire had almost gone out.
“He’s awake,” Gabe said quietly, tone sweet and full of understanding. They knew he’d need to know despite Seraphiel’s ruling that he couldn’t have details.
Lucky closed his eyes as his emotions bubbled up again. “Thank God… literally.”
“He was asking for you.”
Lucky wiped the tears away and nodded. He’d heard.
At least, he thought he had. It was hard to tell if it had been a dream or the voice of his beloved priest calling to him from Earth.
It hurt so much to know Charlie had called and he wasn’t able to run to him.
Another broken promise that he hoped the priest wouldn’t hate him too dearly for.
“Please watch over him for me. He’s hopeless,” Lucky begged.
“I will,” Gabe swore.
“Do you need anything? Are you hungry?” Bub asked, still a blubbering mess.
“Not now, I think I simply need more sleep,” the tired prince replied.
“You deserve it,” Bub said. “My schedule is going to be slammed taking on your contracts—don’t feel bad, don’t argue, I’m more than happy to help—but I want you to keep your phone on and call me if you need anything. One of us will come. You’re going to be alright, man.”
Lucky looked at his friends. He let out a slow, shaky breath and nodded. It was all he had the strength to do.
“Thank you, both of you. I’ve been such a mess and… I’m not okay,” he admitted.
Gabe took his hand and held it tight. “We know. You’ll get through this, though.”
Lucky wasn’t sure he believed them, but he didn’t have the energy to argue. All he could do was try and survive and take it one day at a time. A broken heart would heal eventually. The pain couldn’t last forever, even if eternity was a damn long time…