Chapter Three

Lucifer

“I just have one question,” Cary said.

“One? You’ve already asked a hundred,” Gage replied. He stretched his arms over his head. His mates were getting ready to return to the human realm and Lucifer would be going with them. Even if he would prefer to keep his mates safe in his own realm.

“You can ask whatever you’d like,” Lucifer told his little human.

“Why do letters keep popping up on your desk?”

Lucifer brightened as he turned. Cary wasn’t wrong. His inbox was filling up. Just what Lucifer had been waiting for before his two amazing mates had arrived.

Had that just been a few hours ago?

Anyway, his project had just begun. Lucifer rushed to his desk. “Look! Look!” He picked up the dozen letters that had appeared. He waved them at his two mates. “This is the reason that I love this month so much!”

Cary hurried over to him while Gage approached more slowly.

“What are they?” Gage asked.

“Hey!” Cary picked up a letter that popped into the inbox. “This says Dear Satan.”

“They’re my Dear Satan letters.”

Cary frowned at the envelope. “I’m pretty sure the sender meant to address this to Santa.”

Lucifer snatched his letter back. They were his! He clutched his letters to his chest.

“Cary!” Gage pulled Cary away from the desk.

Cary glanced up and his eyes widened. “Oh!”

“They’re mine,” Lucifer told his mates. He didn’t snarl although he was a little tempted.

“You mean?” Cary laid his hand over his heart. “You make the wishes of the kids who write to Satan come true?”

“Just because they misspelled a name doesn’t mean that they don’t deserve Christmas too,” Lucifer argued. He’d had this conversation with every member of his family. Multiple times. “And some write to me on purpose! There are those who worship me. The parents might be misguided but the kids haven't done anything wrong!”

“That’s amazing!” Cary rushed forward to throw himself into Lucifer’s arms.

Lucifer caught his boy while managing to hang on to his letters. Oh! He hadn’t gotten that reaction before. Most of his demons didn’t get it at all. His family indulged him.

“You make Christmas wishes come true,” Gage said, joining them. He tilted his head back. Lucifer hadn’t noticed that Gage had lined his eyes with black. His dark eyes peered up at Lucifer with so much trust.

“I try. Want to see my shop?” Lucifer didn’t take anyone into his special room, but these were his mates. They would have access to every room in his house.

“We can help?” Cary danced around. Wow, his little human was full of energy. Always so cheerful. How did anyone live like that? Lucifer hoped he could figure it out. He wanted Cary to always be that happy. And Gage. There was a darkness in his eyes that he was trying to hide. Lucifer wanted to take away whatever pain Gage was pushing down.

“Do you want to help?” Lucifer questioned. That would be wonderful. It was a busy month for him. There were so many in need. Lucifer could use the assistance.

“Of course we do.” It was Gage who answered. “What kind of shop? I’m good at building things.”

“I’m good at organizing,” Cary offered. “And I can test out the toys. There are toys, right?”

“There are toys,” Lucifer confirmed.

“Yay!” Cary clapped as he bounced around.

Lucifer got a flash of the boys he’d seen around the dragon Alpha and family. They loved toys and some of them identified as being littles. Age regression. Lucifer had even been invited to bar-b-ques with the pack although he hadn’t accepted. He had gone into the territory when no one else was around to add his magic into the protection ward.

He liked Adam, the mate of his duke, who was part of the dragon hoard. Pack. Family. If he could add a level of safety, then Lucifer would do what he could. But maybe his mates would like to meet the boys and play? Was that the right word?

“Where is your shop?” Gage asked. He rubbed his hands together. “I haven’t been able to build anything in forever!”

At least he’d found something to offer Gage. Cary seemed much easier to please.

Lucifer picked up the additional letters that had arrived. “This way. I will give you a tour of the whole house later.” The house, as Lucifer called it, was made of magic. The rooms were constantly changing, evolving, meeting Lucifer’s needs.

He waved his hand, and a door appeared on the far wall.

“That…” Cary spun in a circle. “Is amazing. Magic is so cool.”

Just wait until Lucifer claimed his mates. Cary and Gage had no idea how mating with him would not only increase their natural gifts but also allow the magic to be wielded by them. Lucifer considered telling them, but he thought it would be a nice surprise.

Lucifer strode forward, excited to share this experience with his mates. He nodded toward the handle. “Go ahead.”

Cary was the one who turned the knob and pushed the door open. He walked through with Gage following close behind. Lucifer heard the gasps of awe before he entered the room behind them.

* * * * *

Cary

He turned in a circle, taking in the tall shelves that held every imaginable toy in existence. This was better than any dream Cary had ever had. There were toys he only remembered from his childhood and some he recognized from before his time. “Wow!”

Gage rushed forward to one of the tables that held an array of tools. “Look!” He picked up something that appeared sort of dangerous.

“What is it?” Cary asked. He tried to pay attention as Gage ran his fingertips over the tools lined up, but he really wanted to go to the shelves.

“This is my workroom,” Lucifer said. “I never know what someone might ask for, so I started a little collection.” It was fun. Making and sharing little treasures.

“I…” Cary was finding it very hard to stand in place. The regression that he indulged in with the help of Gage wanting to break free. It was something that only the two of them knew about.

“You are going to have to let him touch,” Gage said. “It isn’t fair to put all the toys in front of Cary and not let him touch.”

“Of course he can touch.” Lucifer set the letters on the table next to Gage. He turned to Cary. “If you would like anything, please feel free.”

“I wouldn’t want to take something that’s meant for a child.” Even if he already spotted something he was desperate to play with.

“Most of these I started collecting decades ago. They haven’t been requested or something I thought a child wanted. I’m sure we can make more if need be.”

“You made all of these?” The toys went back years, decades, or longer.

“I’ve used magic to make my collection. The magic likes to help as well. I also handmake some items when I get ideas,” Lucifer shared.

Cary grinned over at Gage. “You might have a helper when building stuff.”

“And a tester for the toys,” Gage added.

“My own little helpers,” Lucifer said happily.

“Yes! We’re Satan’s little helpers!” Cary announced.

“I like that title,” Gage said.

“Me too.” Lucifer waved his hand and a ladder appeared in front of Cary. Now he would be able to reach the highest shelf.

Cary looked back over at Gage. They were supposed to be heading home. Cary understood why they needed to confront the clowder leader and his elders but…toys.

Gage stood, biting his lip, but looked up and caught Cary’s eye. “It’s already late, at home—not sure how time works here—it might be better to wait until morning?”

“It would give us time to prepare. To think about what to say,” Cary agreed.

“I would be able to contact my dukes. Protection for you both,” Lucifer said. “I would feel better if we waited at least a few hours.”

“It would make more sense to wait for morning.” Gage winked at him.

“Yes!” Cary scrambled up the ladder.

“Woah!” Lucifer floated up next to him. No ladder needed. That was so cool! He hovered close as if he could keep Cary from falling off the ladder. Not that Cary was that clumsy.

“I’m okay,” Cary assured his newest mate. He might not be a shifter, but he’d been climbing his entire life with Gage. When his boyfriend was in his feline form, Cary had a hard time keeping up with him, so Cary had learned some tricks. Wait! “Should I still call Gage my boyfriend?” He stopped on the ladder as Lucifer hovered beside him.

“Am I not your boyfriend?” Gage called.

“No, you are. But so is Lucifer, right? Or more accurately, you both are my mates. But I call you my boyfriend. I can’t have two boyfriends though.”

“You can,” Lucifer told him. “Or you can call us something different from one another. That’s the good thing about being mated. We get to make the rules.”

“If Gage is my boyfriend, what would I call you?” Cary questioned.

Lucifer moved to the steps under him. He grasped Cary’s waist as he set his chin on Cary’s shoulder. “You seem rather excited to play with the toys.”

“Uh, yeah.” Shit! Did Cary do something wrong? Gage was always trying to share parts of the paranormal world and rituals. Things that Gage insisted that Cary needed to know.

“Maybe you like to play with toys?”

Was this a trick question? “Maybe,” Cary said.

“He wants to know if you’re a little,” Gage shouted.

Cary gasped as he spun. Of course, he was high up on a ladder. If it wasn’t for Lucifer, Cary would have fallen. Very far down. He clung to Lucifer’s neck as they floated in the air.

“Nice catch, Daddy!” Gage praised.

Cary wanted the ground to open and swallow him up. He wasn't actually on the ground. Instead, Cary buried his face in Lucifer’s neck.

“It’s okay.” Lucifer patted his back. “I sort of figured it out on my own.”

“It’s a secret,” Cary mumbled.

“We can’t have secrets with our mate,” Gage said.

Cary peeked over Lucifer’s shoulder. Gage was standing at the bottom of the ladder. Cary knew his boyfriend was right. It was still a secret that had been between only them.

“I’m serious,” Gage said. “Lucifer needs to know that you’re a little and I’m a middle.”

Wow! Gage hardly admitted that to Cary. He watched over Cary when he played. Would play with him but didn’t want the bottles and naps that Cary did.

“Two boys,” Lucifer said, holding him tight. “How did I get so lucky?”

Lifting his head, Cary squinted at Lucifer to see if he was teasing. Lucifer smiled with that perfect smile.

“I mean it,” Lucifer told him. “I am very lucky. Now can you point to the toy you want?”

Cary nodded before he pointed to the shelf four levels up.

“And you can call me whatever you want. Maybe someday I’ll even be Daddy.”

He sucked in a breath. When he’d sent his wishes into the universe, someone had been listening.

“Want to see something cool?” Lucifer questioned.

“Of course!” Cary replied.

Lucifer grinned as the wings on his back opened.

That was so awesome! Lucifer lifted Cary until he could reach his toy. He cackled as he grabbed the Easy Bake Oven.

“No!” Gage yelled. “Put it back, Cary!”

Lucifer was already returning them to the floor.

“Cary!” Gage stomped his foot. Must be feeling a little ‘middle.’

“What’s the problem?” Lucifer asked once he set Cary on his feet.

“That!” Gage pointed to the box that Cary held. “The last time he played with one of those, we got food poisoning!”

Lucifer tapped the box. “All safe. I would never allow either of you to get sick.”

“See,” Cary drawled with an evil smile. “It’s safe.” They had gotten really really sick. Maybe picking up an Easy Bake Oven at a garage sale and using the batter that came with it from decades ago hadn’t been Cary’s best idea.

Gage groaned. “You have no idea how big of a mess he can make. And I’m not cleaning it up.”

Another wave of Lucifer’s hand and one of the tables was cleared off with a plastic tablecloth covering it.

“Well, I want to play too,” Gage demanded.

This would be the first time that they would be able to play together without worrying about being caught. “You can play with me,” Cary said.

“I was thinking of putting that train set together.” Gage motioned to the table he’d been in front of earlier.

“While you two do that, I’ll read my letters,” Lucifer told them.

A large, cushioned chair and small table appeared in the corner. Lucifer collected his letters before retreating to the seating area.

Gage was already wandering back to the table that held several small trains, tracks, and other items. Cary carried his box over and set it down on the plastic. Gage wasn’t wrong about Cary making a mess. That was the fun of playing!

* * * * *

Gage

He’d started by placing the tracks on the table and making a path that covered the entire space. The longer the track, the wider the table became. Magic. Gage wasn’t sure how he felt about the magic but also knew that he needed to get used to it. His second mate was Lucifer and wielded magic with just a wave of his hand.

The train cars snapped together, and Gage had decided to go with ten different colors. That was for his boyfriend. Cary loved so many colors that he refused to pick a favorite. Gage had even been able to make towns that the train went through. It was the best train set that Gage had seen in his entire life. Building the train, town, and tracks was just as much fun as when he would eventually have everything working.

“I brought you people for your town.”

Gage turned to find Cary standing beside him, holding out his hand. He was adorably rubbing his eye sleepily with his free hand. His thumb close to his mouth but not in yet.

Gage took the people, setting them down on the table before wrapping his arm around Cary’s waist. “Tired?”

“Yeah. My cake is cooling,” Cary told him.

“What’s—” He turned them to where Lucifer has been lounging in his chair. Their new mate was still there but now he had the big book that they’d found in Cary’s attic. “Come on.” He urged Cary across the room. Gage felt better than he had in months. Free. He still had worries, but he held hope as well.

They’d barely taken a couple of steps when Lucifer glanced up. Lucifer’s entire face lit up, watching as they approached. Warmth filled his chest. It had only been a few hours since they’d met Lucifer, but Lucifer had already given them something special.

“All done playing?”

“Cary’s getting tired,” Gage said.

“Am not!” Cary argued right before yawning.

Lucifer waved his hand, and the book floated from his lap to land safely across the room on a desk. The desk hadn’t been there earlier. In fact, as Gage peered around the room, he noticed several changes.

Gage turned back to Lucifer, who was grinning.

“The rooms here change as the magic wills it. Provides what is needed.”

“Amazing,” Gage concurred. He’d noticed that with the table, of course. He wished he knew more about magic. At least for Cary’s benefit. Cary had wanted to know about his magical ancestors, but it was forbidden.

“Come here.” Lucifer opened his arms.

Cary rushed forward to crawl into Lucifer’s lap. Gage took his time walking over. He’d always been the responsible one. Cary often got lost in his books or mind, having no awareness of what was happening around him. Gage had superior senses and instincts that he used to keep himself and Cary safe. He wasn’t going to need to do that here. Not within a house that magic literally ruled.

His clowder was completely against using any kind of magic. They believed they were superior due to their shifter DNA and anyone who used magic would become tainted with darkness. Gage had never believed the preaching that was shoved down his throat by his church, the clowder leader, or his parents. Cary’s grandmother had a touch of magic. Enough to make her gardens grow but not too much where it drew attention to the family.

Gage never told his family about Cary’s grandmother because he knew that would be reason enough for his parents to refuse to allow Gage to hang out with Cary any longer.

“Are you okay?” Lucifer asked him.

Gage smiled. “I think I am.” He climbed onto Lucifer’s other leg. Gage was tall and skinny. He wouldn’t fit on most men’s laps, but Lucifer was the perfect height for him. He also made Cary seem even smaller. It was adorable and perfect for their little human mate.

Lucifer’s arm tightened around him. It was nice. Being able to lean on someone else.

Cary had his face buried in Lucifer’s neck as his even breathing told Gage he had already began to doze. Cary could always fall asleep anywhere.

“He’s pretty worn-out,” Lucifer commented.

“It’s been a stressful couple of days,” Gage responded sadly. “We tried not to think about what was going to be happening but we both knew that I would be married off in a few short days.”

“I’m so sorry that you two have been through so much,” Lucifer said. “That your clowder and your family haven’t done right by you.”

Gage appreciated the words. “They’re not evil, you know. Not bad people.” Gage truly believed that. “They just lost themselves somewhere along the way.”

“Many creatures have,” Lucifer said. “When mates stopped being found, we all went on like nothing was happening. One year was too long, ten years, twenty. This went on for so long and yet no one really put together that something bad was happening until people stopped believing in mates. Until recently no one was even looking into why true mates weren’t being found.”

“There are people looking into it now?”

“Yes,” Lucifer said. “A small group of mixed paranormal creatures. I met them when one of my Reapers found his own mate. I’ve given them all the resources within my ability. Other realms are also providing information. There are a few leads, but it appears it was the result of a very dark spell.”

Gage glanced over at Cary sleeping peacefully.

“Our mate and his family had nothing to do with it,” Lucifer told him.

“You can tell that his grandmother used magic?” Gage had never been able to pick up a hint of magic from Cary.

“He has a small touch of ability as well. Probably could have learned to use it if he’d been properly taught.”

“Magic is illegal in our community.”

“By shifters?” Lucifer snorted. “What of the magic used by your clowder to shift?”

Gage shook his head. “They consider shifting a natural occurrence. Not magic. We have numerous books about how all magic is evil.”

“Religious nonsense.” Lucifer’s voice was cold. “This isn’t the first time that I’ve had to deal with it.”

“And probably won’t be the last,” Gage said, feeling Lucifer’s pain even if his mate was trying to hide it. “But you don’t have to deal with it alone. Not ever again.”

“I have been truly blessed,” Lucifer responded.

“We all have. Thank God Cary messed up that summoning.”

“That actually still bothers me,” Lucifer told him. “That book doesn’t belong with a family that barely practiced magic. From what I understand about Cary’s family, they weren’t into black magic at all. Summoning a demon is serious business.”

“We were desperate,” Gage confessed.

“That book, it worries me,” Lucifer said.

“Are we in trouble?” Gage would take the blame.

“Of course not. Magic is not illegal, and you both have the right to experiment with it. If Cary wishes to learn more, I know several good teachers that would love to aid him.”

“We can ask him,” Gage agreed. Cary loved to learn so it was a good possibility he’d want to at least get the basics down. Cary had been extremely upset when he couldn’t figure out the summoning.

“We will do that in the morning. I would like to have this book investigated as well. If he doesn’t mind me borrowing it.”

Gage shrugged. “I don’t think it has much meaning to him. It was just something we found and thought it could help us. Not that either of us really believed we would be able to summon a demon. Or what we would even do with a demon if we did. I guess we didn’t think things through.”

“Can I ask why you didn’t run away? Leave? I’m not judging you. Just curious, I guess.”

“How can I leave?” Gage asked. “Everything I have belongs to my parents. Even the money I make at my part-time job goes to my parents. They won’t give me my birth certificate or social security card. Nothing.”

“That isn’t right. You are an adult,” Lucifer said.

“Not by my clowder standards. We aren’t considered adults or even valuable until we’re married and providing offspring,” Gage informed him.

“That is so barbaric. Backwards. I saw that a century ago but it’s not as common.”

“It’s what I was taught as soon as I was young enough to understand my studies.”

“You didn’t go to public school?”

“I did. That’s where I met Cary. But the clowder runs that entire town. The schoolboard, sheriff department, everything. We weren’t even allowed to associate with other species of shifters.”

“Unusual.” Lucifer hummed.

“What does it mean?” Gage asked.

“I’m not quite sure yet.” Lucifer hugged him. “I need to think some more.”

“Okay.” He was happy to hand over the problem to someone else. Gage felt like he’d been fighting his clowder and the teachings his entire life. Cary tried to help. To understand. But Cary also saw the best in everyone.

“Now I think it’s time we turned in.”

Gage nodded. “Can you carry him? He’s not easy to wake.”

“I can.”

Gage went to climb off Lucifer’s lap but paused to look his mate in the eye. “I’m really glad that we found you.” He pressed a soft kiss to Lucifer’s cheek. Lucifer was warm. It felt good to touch him.

“Me too, Gage. Me too.” He smiled.

Gage got to his feet and waited as Lucifer rose with Cary in his arms. Cary looked good in Lucifer’s arms. It hadn’t been twenty-four hours and Gage could already see how much them being there meant to Lucifer. Gage was extremely lucky that he’d always had Cary in his life. Gage hadn’t been alone. His heart ached for everything that Lucifer had been through too. The things that he must have seen.

“Would the two of you like your own rooms? Or to share one?” Lucifer asked as he strolled to the closest door.

“We aren’t sharing with you?” Had they done something wrong? Gage didn’t think so. Lucifer seemed very happy with them there.

Lucifer stopped. “I wasn’t sure you would be ready for that.”

Gage shrugged. “We’re mates. We don’t have to have sex yet.” Not that Gage was against the idea either. Cary, on the other hand, needed to be awake for this kind of conversation.

“Especially not with our little human sound asleep,” Lucifer sounded amused.

“Yeah.” Gage peered at Cary comfortable in Lucifer’s arms. “I still wouldn’t mind sleeping in the same bed.” And he refused to be separated from Cary.

Lucifer smiled. “Your wish…” He waved his hand and the door turned red. “Go ahead.”

Reaching out, Gage turned the knob then pushed the door open. Gage stepped through and knew that magic was already at work here. He could feel the soft vibration of the magic humming. He didn’t know if he would ever get used to it. He’d been taught that all magic was bad and here even the house had its own magic.

“This is a nice room,” Gage said as he took in the entire space.

“The magic provides what is needed.”

“So, you don’t normally have a giant bed on a platform?” Gage teased.

“I am a large person.”

Lucifer’s sexy tone held promise. Gage shuddered. Yeah, he would not mind sharing a bed with both his mates. Or when they did more than share the bed.

“Covers,” Lucifer said quietly.

Gage hurried to the bed, but the covers were already turning themselves down. “Oh!”

“You’ll get used to the magic.” Lucifer laid Cary in the middle of the mattress. “Should I undress him?”

They’d removed their shoes and socks earlier before relaxing on the couch. Cary still wore his jeans and T-shirt. “Yeah, he wouldn’t be comfortable in jeans.”

“What would he normally wear? And be specific,” Lucifer said.

“Um,” Gage replied. “Last night he wore his lounge pants that are white with black cats on them. He also wore a short-sleeve black T-shirt.”

The clothing he’d described appeared folded neatly on this side of the bed.

“Huh, okay, that is pretty neat.”

“And for yourself?” Lucifer questioned.

Gage grinned. “I run hot. Black basketball shorts and a black tank top.”

Gage’s clothing appeared next to Cary’s.

“It’s truly that easy,” Lucifer said. “At least inside the house. The rest of the realm is a little tricky, but I will teach you both.”

Gage looked over to the heavy drapes across the room. “Can I see out the window from here?”

The drapes opened slowly, revealing the snowy landscape of a large yard. Magic. He might need to get used to it, but Gage couldn’t argue that it really was helpful.

“This is the back of the house. If you want to have any other views from the windows, just tell the magic.”

Okay, it might take him more than a little bit of time to get used to it. “You said that this was your own plane inside the hell realm, correct?” He glanced away from the window toward Lucifer.

Lucifer was bending over the bed, changing Cary from his jeans to his lounge pants. Unsurprisingly, Cary hadn’t woken. Gage quickly pulled out his phone and snapped a picture. Cary would be sorry that he missed Lucifer changing his clothes. The picture would call to the little side of Cary. It warmed Gage’s heart. Gage was never going to be the Daddy that Cary needed. Not with his own regression tendencies. They had both needed someone else but that didn’t mean that they loved each other any less.

“Did you just take a picture of us?” Lucifer asked.

Gage nodded. “Cary would kill me if I didn’t. The moment was too perfect.”

Lucifer straightened with Cary’s shirt in his hand. “Can I… I have a question, but I can wait to ask Cary.”

“You can ask me,” Gage replied. “I’d tell him anyway. We don’t have any secrets.”

“Good.” Lucifer went back to attending to Cary. “We discussed a little about regression. You called Cary a little. And he said you were a middle?”

He laughed. “Cary is a little-little. Bottles, diapers, naps. He would want it all if he had the space and privacy. I’m more of an older middle. Not quite a teenager. I take care of him when he regresses but I’m not a Daddy.”

“I thought so.” Lucifer tucked Cary under the covers. He tossed Cary’s jeans and shirt into the air and they popped out of view.

“Ugh?” Gage waved his hand toward the empty space the clothing had been.

“Laundry room downstairs. Although the magic could make them clean and fold them and put them away. I like doing some chores though. Helps the time go by.”

Gage peered at Lucifer, really paying attention to him as a mate, not just as the Lucifer. From the moment he and Cary had arrived unexpectedly, Lucifer has been welcoming and putting their needs first. Doting on them. Accepting them.

He strode across the room, closing the distance between them. Gage rose to his tiptoes and cupped Lucifer’s face. “And what do you need?” It was important to take care of Lucifer’s needs as well.

“You. You and Cary. I need my mates.” Lucifer wrapped his fingers around Gage’s wrists as Gage continued to cup his face.

“You have us,” Gage vowed. “You will never be alone again.”

He knew that he said the right words when Lucifer closed his eyes, leaning into his palms.

Gage kissed Lucifer, coaxing Lucifer to open for him so Gage could slip his tongue inside. He could taste the chocolate and marshmallow that Lucifer and Cary had indulged in earlier.

Lucifer groaned and Gage deepened the kiss.

Shuffling closer, Gage gave Lucifer his weight before Lucifer lifted him off his feet. Gage’s cock was all aboard being pressed up against Lucifer’s stomach as Gage wrapped his legs around Lucifer’s waist.

It was Lucifer that slowed the kiss until their mouths were separated by mere inches.

“I believe this is where we slow things down,” Lucifer told him.

Gage nodded even though his dick was not happy with him. “Yeah. But I can’t wait to do that again.”

Lucifer flashed him a smile. Fangs peeking out. Huh, Gage hadn’t noticed the fangs when they were kissing. “Many more times,” Lucifer promised.

Gage couldn’t wait to tell Cary all about the night. “I should get ready for bed.”

Lucifer released the hold he had on Gage’s legs and Gage slid down his body. Their erections brushing. Fuck! Gage adjusted his hard cock.

Lucifer’s eyes glowed red.

“I’m going to…” Gage backed away before he jumped Lucifer. They had plenty of time to complete the claiming, but Gage was sure it wouldn’t be long.