Part 35
/Lukas POV/
The demons gaze flickered down his badly beaten up body. Wincing when he noticed that Dean's jacket did an excellent job of hiding a lot of it, but the skin of his bare chest and arms were still red and blotchy as if he'd inflicted burns on himself. Lukas was not sure how he overlooked that. He probably tried to quell all those memories of being tortured.
"We need to get you out of here as soon as possible," His loyal guard continued. "You're hurt."
"I don't care, I don't fucking care," The demon said, and he's starting to sound hysterical because none of them is bloody doing anything. "I need to find my pregnant mate! Don't you get it? Talia just disappeared. She was supposed to be in the Underworld.”
Lukas huffed. “Why aren't you doing anything? I-I c-can't…”
He cannot lose her. Not again.
Of course the demon knew. Every memory, every single one he spent with the moon princess, came rushing back to him. The fairies were the ones who helped Lukas but he kept those things under wraps, fearing that exposure might trouble Talia and their child inside of her.
Dean cleared his throat. "My lord, you need to understand the grave of the situation here. After we leave this place, Ajaxson and his men would try to locate you. They will not rest until you are found and captured again."
"I can fight—"
"Your body needs to be healed." His guard whispered. "Please come with me."
Lukas pondered over it for a second or two before bobbing his head along. Not like he had any other choice.
***
Dean took him to a place on earth. Some cottage in the middle of nowhere. Lukas heavily relied on his guard to take him inside and plop him on the bed. The demon King quickly found the fairies sitting on the couch as if waiting for him.
"She's all right." Gia was the first one to speak.
His head snapped up, heart beating painfully fast and hard, so much so that his entire ribcage seemed to be constricting. "You found her?"
"Not yet, but we will find her."
Dread settled in his stomach. Why were they unable to find her? Did something happen to her? The thought itself sent chills down his spine, making his arms and legs tremble.
"She is not dying", Another of the fairy replied sternly. "You need to stop having negative thoughts. Focus on yourself first. We will find her for you."
"Yes, my lord." Dean patted his side, probably in support, and it should probably hurt, but his entire body has gone numb. His mind was not far behind.
The demon didn't understand. None of this makes sense. He wanted to protest, but his jaw locked, and the edges of his vision darkened. Trying to keep his eyes open proved to be a task, head lolling back.
Not even another second went by before he passed out.
Over the next couple of days, he got used to having the fairies around; began to drown their happy chirping. He was unconscious more often than not, dreaming of a life with his lover and magical things he couldn't even begin to describe.
Leo often dropped by to check up on him with updates from Hell. He also wanted to bring the Hellhound with him, but that would merely draw attention. That's the last thing they needed.
Dean proved to be his best support system. He stayed up at night on most days, sitting by Lukas side and reading to him. The guard also recalled the time they started together in Hell with heathens everywhere. It took them a long time to bring everything in order.
They were all trying to restore Lukas health, giving him all kinds of herbs and medicines. He was also asked to chant the prayers to speed up his healing process.
And cruelly, just as his physical well-being seemed to improve, as he was at least able to swallow and keep down liquids, Lukas could feel everything else deteriorate without knowing exactly why. He wanted to be happy that he's alive, and even more so, he wanted to be happy that Talia's also alive and well somewhere.
But he cannot. He's inexplicably sad. Lukas felt a sheer unimaginable grief sticking to his bones that refused to let go of him. No matter how hard he tried to convince himself, he cannot shake it. He refused to let Leo, or anyone else for that matter, see it. It seemed unfair to them. The demon King chose them, and maybe this was the price they had to pay for helping him.
Lukas laid there, on the same bed, day after day, staring at the ceiling and willing the ache in his chest to go away. Wishing that time passed away quickly so that he could find his Talia. This time he would never let her go.
***
There's only one person who could help him track down his lover. Li Changying. The definition of fearless and evil. She may not like the bond he shared with Talia, but their family owed him. It's time he collected that favour.
Dean and Leo were pretty much useless in finding out about Talia. He cannot sit in his room and mop around, unable to return to Hell as well. The fairies were trying hard to find the thread but failed. How could he not do anything?
For a second or so, he thought that the female demon might turn him down, but that's just the risk he had to take. After all, there was no other choice left. Steeling himself, he transported himself to her Palace.
The demon didn't look the least bit surprised at his entry, almost too happy as if she already knew he would turn to her. Lukas gritted his teeth together, trying not to let the anger cloud his brain. Schooling his features, the demon King greeted her.
"Oh my! What a surprise!"
"Cut the crap. You know why I am here."
"I have no idea what you're talking about." She said in a sing-song, smirking at Lukas. The demon should have known that she would make him cringe for help. Or ask to be met with some ridiculous demands. "Do you need something?"
"Please." He growled, eyes flashing black. "This is not the time for your little tricks. You know that she may be in danger. I need to get to her a soon as possible."
"Alright, I'll tell you what I know. In return, I want you to kiss me." She stated, leaning back in her chair, and Lukas couldn't help but roll his eyes. The King of Hell thought back to the soft pudge of Talia's stomach that held their children and managed a gentle smile in Li Changying's direction. She looked surprised but eager, getting up from the settee that she sat on in favour of straddling his lap the sultriest way she could manage.
Lukas maintained a blank face. Before she could manage to make contact with his lips, the King grabbed her throat and, in a blur of movement, slammed Li Changying to a wall fiercely, hearing her head bang against it.
The sound quenched the thirst he had inside, raging to inflict that on someone. A low growl slipped out of his mouth. Her cry of pain was very satisfying to Lukas, who constricted her breath with the hold he had on her throat.
In a fit of rage, Li Changying tried to use her magic against him, but it didn't work; not even made him move an inch. Lukas was clever enough to take a vial of protection before leaving the house for the first time. The potion gave the person that drank it immunity to any magic. Granted, he had to beg the fairies for it and promise to owe them a huge favour. They happily agreed.
"I'm going to ask you again one last time, where did they take Talia?" Lukas asked, and she choked out some words, but they were indecipherable, considering the King was practically crushing her throat. He loosened his grip a tiny bit.
"She's taken by Zeus. To her birthplace" Her face turned blue. "I swear."
Lukas released his grip on her neck, sending her into a coughing fit on the ground. That was all he needed. "Take this as a warning, Li Changying. I don't want you to anywhere near Talia and my children. Or else I won't be very kind next time."
With that, he walked out of the Palace, feeling victorious for the first time in a while. Now all he needed was his friend Hades help to get inside Mount Olympus. The thought of seeing Talia caused his heart to pang.
If she's under the protection of Zeus, he had nothing to worry about. Still, the Demon King wanted his mate to be near him as soon as possible. Only a few more hours, he thought to himself while creating a portal to Underworld.
***
