Part 38

/Lukas POV/

The King of Hell muttered a familiar verse under his breath before creating a portal to the Underworld. He was directed to Hades immediately as if his arrival was anticipated. Lukas kept a straight face, walking in the hallway, dimly lit by the fire torches before he was inside a room.

Hades was perched on a huge couch but what caught his sight was the Hellhound by his side. Fang. What was he doing there? Lukas brow shot up at the scene, mouth opening and closing. The creature let out a yawn and stretches languidly, blinking up at the Demon King with tired, accusing eyes.

"Don't look at me like that," Lukas let out a sigh, soaking up the comfort of the familiarity that came from talking to Fang. "Come on."

He waited for the Hellhound to trot out into the hallway before turning back to Hades, who's flopped down onto his back, spread eagle, clad in one of his grim suits. Lukas resisted the urge to roll his eyes or to look and ran a hand through his hair. His fingers get caught in a knot, making him wince.

Fang was already waiting and wagging his tail by the door, ready to go home. The demon strode towards him, patting his head affectionately, tears springing into those eyes. He almost thought that the dungeon would be the end of him.

"I missed you too," The hellhound whined pitifully as if he understood every single thing and echoing the sentiment. Lukas scratched him some more before getting on his feet and turning towards his friend.

"What is he doing here?"

The Greek God sat up, using the pillow to support himself before crossing his legs together. A grin curved around his lips. "He came with me as if thinking I was hiding you in my place."

"Huh?" Lukas blinked several times. "Did you go to Hell?"

"Of course I did! Do you even realise what's going on there? Leo could barely handle anything." Hades sprang to his feet. "There are talks of overthrowing your throne. A rebellion is being planned so that they could take your seat forever. I decided to drop by and show my support towards you."

Lukas was bewildered. He thought that his friend might have complete control of the situation, but the reality shook him. Then again, he should have known with him gone; the dark forces would eventually come into power and be hungry for his position. It's always been like that, even with the previous King.

"H-Hades, I am so grateful for that", The Demon King gushed. "Leo did not inform me about any of this, or I would have handled the situation sooner."

"You were sick!" Hades huffed. "He did not want to cause you additional stress. The moment I heard about it, I wanted to come and meet my friend, but the location was supposed to be secret."

Lukas ran a hand over his face, exhaling loudly through his fingers. He felt so lost again. Everything was going against, falling apart, and he had no idea how to rectify it. The Demon King felt like a loser, shoulders slumping in defeat.

"I don't know what to do."

Hades touched his arm. "You can start by telling why someone wants you dead."

***

"How're you feeling? Still not sick? Warm enough?" Hades began questioning in quick succession, trying to care for his friend Lukas. After hearing the story, the God of Underworld couldn't comprehend it for the first few seconds, eyes wide as saucers. All this time, his niece was in front of him, and he did not recognise her. Then again, Zeus kept him apart from his family due to Heras stupid moral high ground. She didn't want to associate with someone who ran Underworld. As if she wasn't responsible for sending a quarter of souls down every spring.

A glance at the clock on the wall told Lukas that it's almost six in the evening, meaning the sun has dawned already. He only had a handful of hours, at least for the nightfall, which meant he should hurry up.

"I'm fine," He muttered his reply and allowed himself to be pushed down onto the bed, holding on to the blanket and not stopping Hades from throwing a couple more on top of him. "You don't need to..."

"I'll get the fire going again," The God rambled on. "It's an old chamber, this one, and it tends to be cold due to the whole Underground thing. I've not gotten around to replacing the windows and getting some double-glass ones in, so it's a bit draughty. I mean, it's not like this place has central heating and–"

"Hades"

His head snapped up from where he'd been pointlessly focusing on his own feet. "What?"

"Stop. I had enough rest to last for eternity. I got more problems to worry about."

Hades frowned. "I'm listening."

"Zeus has taken my mate. He is holding her there, presumably for Ajaxson. Or whatever reasons, but I need to get Talia out of there before he gets to her."

His stomach clenched at the mention of his mate being alone and scared. What if she still didn't remember anything? That would make things a bit more complicated.

"Right!" Hades clicked his tongue. "You need to hurry up then. My brother is a stubborn one who thinks he's right all the time."

Lukas chuckled at the statement, shaking his head. "So I have been told. And had a first-hand experience in my previous life."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Make a portal for me. I do not have the power to create one for Olympus after a little incident there." The demon King ashamedly admitted. "I would be very grateful if you can do that for me."

Hades fixed him with a glare. They have been friends for a while, and it's not that big of a favour to ask. He expected a slap on his arm as his friend already started chanting the familiar mantra. Little bursts of light started sizzling in the air before it crackled and formed a huge circle in the middle.

"Good luck!" He heard his friend yell at him from behind.

***

"Lukas!" A clammy hand closed around his wrist, making the demon stop short. He glanced up, his gaze meeting the blurry eyes of his mate. Her touch burned, and he swallowed down what felt like his heart beating on his tongue.

"Huh?" He breathed out, paying no mind to the goosebumps breaking out all over his body. It felt like an electric shock, Talia touching him, it's just her nimble fingers encircling his arm.

"I said I remembered everything." She breathed, pained, looking hesitant and wary as to what he was going to do. With a frustrated huff, she collided into him, hiding her face.

The Demon King seemed startled, but he immediately hugged her back, relaxing when Talia tucked her face into his neck, nuzzling up into his neck a bit.

"Everything?" Lukas got a gentle but firm hold of her jaw, his eyes piercing but not cruel before he pressed his lips to hers. A bit of squeezing against her neck, and his mate angled her head, letting her eyelids flutter shut. The long lashes fanned her cheekbones, giving an illusion of a soft shadow underneath.

She gave in to the pressure of his mouth, parting her lips with a sigh.

It's far too clumsy and urgent, but it's also everything these past couple of hours haven't been; careless and pulsing and full of heart. Perhaps Talia didn't know how close he came to dying, but it sure felt like some subconscious part of him did, practically clawing at her with his free hand, dipping low on her back to find bare skin. We

She almost flinched from the sensation of his cold fingers teasing her spine and, with a particularly sharp tug on his lips, her elbows buckle, falling lax in his arms. He didn't mind.

This was the closest they have been to each other in probably what felt like an eternity, and it's heady. Lukas felt drunk. There was just too much skin, exuding warmth, exuding heat, so much that it's slightly frightening when they part for a shaky, wavering breath.

Talia looked feverish. He could see the repercussions of his racing heartbeat in the tremors gripping his chest. Her lips were so wet, swollen and pinkish. How in the world could he put distance between them now?

Lukas quickly latched onto her throat, working sensitive spots with her tongue and teeth. He was afraid that it was an illusion, doomed to collapse and take her away from him.

"Talia," He sucked the tender skin of the pulse, his heart practically hammering. "I love you so so much..."

Before he could finish his sentence, the room's door was harshly pushed open, and a tall figure stepped in. His blood turned cold at the sight, eyes wide.

"What in the Olympus is going on here?!"

***