Chapter Four

Lucifer

“I can’t believe you found your mates. This is reason for celebration!”

Lucifer held up his hand, holding off Asmodeus’s excitement. If he didn’t rein Asmos in, they’d have a large party happening within minutes. Lucifer cared deeply for his demons, and they did have their roles to play, but they were one hundred percent accepting of their natures. He needed his warriors, not the playful demons.

“I think you missed the part where one of his mates is promised to another shifter,” Belphegor pointed out.

Lucifer nodded to acknowledge Bel’s words. “Exactly. I will be accompanying my mates home to speak with the clowder. I want protection for them both.”

“I’ll go,” Bel offered.

“Me too.” Asmos rubbed his hands together. “I haven’t been to the human realm in ages.”

“We’ll be there to protect the king’s mates.” Bel smacked Asmos on the back.

“Don’t call me that!” Lucifer said in exasperation.

“That doesn’t mean we can’t have fun!” Asmos argued as he ignored Lucifer as he often did. They were his best friends, but Lucifer was starting to regret the calls he’d made earlier.

Bel sighed.

Lucifer shook his head.

The door opened.

They all three turned.

“Oh! Sorry!”

“Cary! Please come in,” Lucifer called in barely enough time to stop Cary from closing the door.

“I didn’t know you had guests,” Cary said from the doorway. He looked more curious than scared, which made Lucifer happy. He needed his mates comfortable with his demons.

Lucifer quickly rose and crossed the room to pull Cary into his arms. Cary was carrying a fluffy black cat that had to be Gage. “You are always welcome in any room. Let me introduce you to two of my princes.”

Cary’s eyes widened as he peered across the room.

Lucifer’s two oldest friends had both stood. Bel smoothed down his black leather pants before rolling his shoulders back. His long black hair cascaded down to his waist. Asmos was at his most decadent in a black and silver robe, tight silver pants, and black knee-high boots, with his bare chest showing off his muscular pecs.

“Cary and Gage.” Lucifer rubbed a hand down Gage’s furry back. “Let me introduce you to Asmodeus and Belphegor, Asmos and Bel, who have agreed to come with us to visit your clowder.”

“They’re coming with us?” Cary questioned.

‘Mer mer meow.’

“Yeah, I don’t think it’s a good idea either.” Cary winced as he peered up at Lucifer.

Lucifer frowned. “Why not?”

“They…” Cary waved his hand at the two demon princes. “It’s very nice to meet both of you,” Cary said with a blinding smile. “I’m sure that we’ll become great friends since I know our mate cares deeply for you, but I’m not sure it is necessary for you to join us.”

“Nice,” Bel said. “That was very well worded. Careful not to insult.”

“I like him,” Asmos said.

Lucifer growled. He’d appreciate Asmos not to like his mates too much.

“I mean no offense,” Cary assured them.

“But…” Bel drawled.

“Gage’s clowder is very religious,” Cary said.

‘Mer.’

“We just think it might not be a good idea to bring demons—well more than our actual mate—home to see the very religious and strict clowder,” Cary told them.

Asmos laughed. “Luci said you were smart.”

“I am,” Cary said with a scowl.

‘Mer!’

Lucifer took Gage’s furry body from Cary’s arms as the black cat hissed and his back arched. He was very close to attacking a demon. He wrapped his free arm around Cary’s shoulder, pulling the boy close. “Show them.”

“Of course,” Bel replied.

Asmos rolled his eyes.

They both transformed to their human forms. Glamour that changed their appearances from demon to human.

“Oh!” Cary exclaimed. “I didn’t think about that. Demons. Of course, as demons you can change your appearance. The horns were a little too much.”

“It’s fine,” Lucifer assured his young mate. “You’ll get used to them.” He narrowed his eyes as Asmos. “And they will be on their best behaviors.”

“Of course.” Cary rushed across the room. “It’s so nice to meet you both. I have so many questions. I’ve recently learned that all the stories about our mate are not true. I wonder if you wouldn’t mind clarifying your stories for me as well.” Cary shook both the demon's hands while beaming brightly at them.

In Lucifer’s arms, the black cat sighed heavily.

Lucifer was amused. He had expected Cary to be fine around the demons since Cary seemed to be taking all of this in stride. Gage was a question. He was already overly protective of Cary, and he could have reacted negatively, but seemed to be as amused as Lucifer as Cary spoke to the demons like they were old friends.

“We would love to answer all your questions,” Asmos stated. He waved his hand and a wine bottle along with glasses appeared on the table in front of him. “Drink?”

“I would stop trying to seduce the king’s mate,” Bel advised.

“Or your tongue might be removed. Again,” Lucifer threatened.

‘Mer!’ Gage added his own voice.

Cary’s eyes were huge as he looked from Asmos to Lucifer and back again. He took a step back then another and another.

“I promise to protect you, little one,” Bel said. “But maybe make your questions very specific when talking to Asmos. Carefully worded. You don’t want to get more than you asked for.”

Cary nodded as he backed into Lucifer’s chest.

Lucifer handed Gage over once again. “Are you two ready to go?”

“Yes. Gage wanted to shift to calm his nerves.”

‘Mer! Mer mer meow!’

“You are too nervous,” Cary told the cat.

Lucifer hid his smile behind his hand. Listening to Cary argue with the black cat that was their mate was adorable. “We don’t have to go today.”

“We do,” Cary said. “Gage is supposed to be marrying that woman tomorrow. It isn’t fair to her if we keep putting this off.” He set Gage on the ground and the cat hurried out of the room.

“That is true. It would be most responsible to get this task taken care of,” Lucifer agreed.

“And when we come back, we can start fulfilling the requests from your letters.” Cary clapped happily.

Asmos laughed. “You roped your poor mates into your yearly rituals.”

Cary turned on his heel. “We volunteered! This is important to our mate and so it’s important to us.”

“Fierce little one, isn’t he?” Asmos said.

“He is.” Lucifer smiled at his mate. “He is perfect.”

“And he is taken.” Gage walked into the room, in human form this time, dressed in jeans and a black shirt, glaring at Asmos.

Asmos whistled. “That’s okay, pretty. You’re my type anyway. How are you doing?”

Lucifer flicked his fingers toward Asmos.

“Damn it!” Asmos desperately patted at the flames across his crotch. “Luci! You have to stop doing that! You are really going to burn me one day.”

“Stop. Flirting. With my mates!” Lucifer roared.

Bel snacked Asmos on the back, forcing the other demon forward several steps. “You were pressing your luck.”

“I was just joking!” Asmos whined.

“Are we doing this?” Gage asked with his arms crossed and green eyes still sharp as he stared at Asmos.

“Yes, yes, we should get going,” Lucifer agreed. He pulled Cary and Gage close before nodding at his two princes. They joined them. “Everyone stay close.” He’d already gotten a description and the address for Cary’s grandparents’ house.

He transported his group in an instant.

They stood inside the living room of an older house in the human realm.

“Home sweet home,” Cary said with a smile.

* * * * *

Cary

He looked around the house that he had spent his entire life in, wondering what the others would think about the place. His grandparents never had much money but everything they did have went to raising and loving him.

“Anyone want a drink? I’ll start a pot of coffee.” Gage strolled toward the kitchen. “Coffee would be good.”

“He’s nervous,” Cary whispered to Lucifer.

“I understand.” He was peering around the house. There was a smile on his face that brightened when he spotted the numerous photos scattered around.

Cary fidgeted. “It’s…this is my house.”

“I can feel the love in the old bones of his place,” Lucifer told him. “There was much laughter, love, and happiness here.”

Cary beamed up at his mate. “There really was. My grandparents were the best. They always made sure that I had what I needed. They loved Gage too. Gage took their deaths as hard as I did.”

“I’m very sorry that I never got to meet them.”

He looked away quickly. “You…you didn’t?”

“Didn’t what?” Lucifer questioned.

He pulled Cary close, which Cary loved. Cary was very touchy-feely, and Lucifer was already with the program. This was hard. Cary didn’t want to ask. Well, he did but he didn’t want the answer. Not if it wasn’t the answer that he wanted.

“I’ll go help with coffee,” Bel offered. “Asmos come with me.”

“Why? I want to—”

Bel dragged Asmos from the living room as Cary avoided looking at his mate.

“Cary,” Lucifer’s voice was soft.

He took a deep breath. Cary might as well ask. “Are my grandparents in hell?”

“Oh, baby boy.” Lucifer captured Cary’s hand, leading him to the couch.

Cary was relieved when Lucifer pulled him into his lap. Cary hated that he’d slept being put to bed the night before but had loved waking between his two mates. They’d stayed in bed for nearly an hour, just talking and cuddling and kissing. So much kissing and they were good kisses. Cary had always believed that he and Gage would find the third that they had needed. Lucifer was the missing piece to them.

“Why would you think that your grandparents would be in hell?”

He shrugged.

“Use your words,” Lucifer told him.

“My grandma,” Cary started.

“Who Gage assures me was a lovely woman.”

“She was. But—”

“Tell me. I promise that I won’t judge what you say,” Lucifer said.

“My grandma didn’t do it often,” Cary said. “But she did use a little magic on our garden. It was the food that we depended on. She didn’t do it all the time but—”

“Your grandma didn’t do anything wrong using her magic,” Lucifer told him.

“Are you saying that because you use magic?”

“No. I’m telling you that because it’s true. Both your grandparents are in their paradise. Together. They are happy and at peace.”

Tears filled his eyes as Cary gripped Lucifer’s shirt. “Really?”

“I swear to you,” Lucifer placed his hand over his heart.

“I told you.”

Cary jumped as he looked toward the doorway to the kitchen. Gage winked at him.

“I told you that your grandparents were together again. That they were happy,” Gage said strolling forward.

“I…”

“But I’m glad that our mate was able to confirm it,” Gage told him. He leaned over the back of the couch to place a kiss Cary’s cheek.

“I needed to know for sure,” he confessed.

“Then I’m glad I could provide the answer.”

Cary allowed the tears to fall. It hadn’t been easy, losing the two people who had always been there for him. That had accepted the love that Cary had felt for Gage before he even knew what love was.

Lucifer hugged Cary to his chest as Gage fit himself between Cary and the arm of the couch. Gage hugged him from behind.

Oh! Cary allowed the warmth of his two mates to replace the coldness that he’d felt when thinking of his grandparents in hell. He’d been afraid for so long that because of him, his grandma might have cursed herself.

She’d been old when his mother was born. A late child when his grandparents hadn’t thought they’d ever have kids. A miracle baby, his grandma had called his mom. Except she hadn’t been born healthy. His mother shouldn’t have even tried to get pregnant, but he was still there. She’d done it.

Cary lived when his mother hadn’t.

His grandparents hadn’t ever made him feel like it was his fault either. They’d loved him and doted on him. Told him stories of the mother that he’d never know. Cary had never missed her because his grandparents had kept her memory alive.

“It’s okay.” Gage kissed the back of his neck.

“I’m fine. Tears of relief,” Cary told him. He leaned back against Gage as he peered at Lucifer. “I was worried for so long.”

Gage sighed. “I wish you’d told me.”

“You have enough to worry about,” Cary responded.

“Neither of you have to worry about anything again,” Lucifer said.

“We still have to meet with my parents, the clowder, and the elders,” Gage reminded them.

Cary wrinkled his nose. “They can’t force Gage to marry that woman now, right?”

“They never could,” Lucifer stated firmly.

“That’s not what they think,” Gage said.

“I’ll be sure to set them straight,” Lucifer vowed.

“My parents have been calling for hours,” Gage said. “They’ll all be at the church waiting for me. The rehearsal is today.”

“There won’t be a rehearsal. Or a wedding!” Cary declared. “They can’t have you!” They were never going to threaten him and Gage again. Not when they had the literal king of hell by their sides.

“I hope they’ll listen,” Gage commented.

“We’ll make them listen.” Cary was very serious about that.

“You will be protected, little human!” Asmos announced loudly as he entered the living room with a mug of coffee in his hand.

Cary laughed. He so liked the demons and hoped that they would become very close friends.

* * * * *

Gage

“Are you sure about this?”

Gage squeezed Cary’s hand as they walked up to front steps to the church. “I’m not going to let them lie to me any longer. They need to admit that they knew we were mates the entire time.”

“And Lucifer?”

“They’ll start demanding answers,” Gage said. “If it’s just us, then maybe we can talk rationally.” He wanted his parents to listen to him. To take his side. To do what was best for Gage finally. He didn’t think it was too much to ask for his parents to put him first for once.

“It’s pretty cool that he can still watch over us.”

Gage glanced at the little speck on Cary’s shoulder. Their mate was amazing and had shrunk himself down until he wasn’t even noticeable. It had been Asmos’s idea which worried Gage a little. That demon was tricky, and Gage would keep a close eye on him.

Lucifer was with them every step they took and would make sure they weren’t separated while still giving them a chance with his family. His mate being there gave Gage the boost of confidence that he needed.

“You know what I just thought of?” Cary asked as he came to a stop.

“What?” Gage asked. Was Cary trying to put this off longer? They were already late.

“I have a literal devil on my shoulder,” Cary told him.

He… Gage started to laugh. And laugh. He had to let go of Cary’s hand as he doubled over.

“It’s funny, right?” Cary asked.

Wiping his eyes, Gage nodded. Leave it to Cary to say the most ridiculous thing that he needed to hear.

The church doors slammed open, making the smile fall from his face. He stepped in front of Cary out of habit. Gage’s mother stood at the entrance with her hands on her hips.

“Where have you been?” she demanded as she stomped toward him. She stopped to glower at them. “And why did you bring him ?”

“I brought him because he is my mate,” Gage told her.

She waved her hand in his face. “We are not having this conversation again. It is time that you got over this childhood crush and accepted your responsibilities to this clowder.”

“No.” Gage stood up straight as he looked his mom in the eye. “Cary is my mate. My true mate. I won’t be marrying anyone but him.”

“How dare you!” his mother screeched.

“How dare you,” he shouted. He burned with anger. This woman was meant to love him, care for him, and yet the clowder always came first. “You have been lying to me my entire life. I have a mate. I am one of the lucky ones and you won’t keep me from him.”

“Don’t talk to your mother that way.” His father stormed toward him.

Gage looked up as his father and two of the elders exited the church. It took everything in him to remain standing tall. To not show weakness. He knew from experience how his father would react when Gage claimed Cary as his mate. “Cary is my mate, my true mate, and I will not be marrying anyone else.”

Elder Max grabbed Gage’s father’s shoulder as he charged him. “Now, Gage. We know that you are close to the young man but—”

“No!” Gage shouted. “He is my mate!”

“Son,” Elder Adams said, coming forward.

“I am not your son!” Gage replied with pure hatred. Elder Adams had never been kind. Had punished Gage even when it hadn’t been warranted. “And I need you all to listen to me.”

“This isn’t the time or place. We have people waiting,” his mother said snottily.

“When is a better time, Mother?” Gage asked. “After the wedding? The birth of my first child?”

“There won’t be a wedding if we don’t apologize to the Jones family. Emily Jones’ parents are very upset with all the events you’ve missed. They think you don’t want to marry their daughter.”

“I don’t want to marry her!” Gage exclaimed. “I want to be with my mate.”

“That is enough,” his father raged. “You will march yourself into that church and take your place next to your bride. You will apologize to her parents and charm them into forgiving you.”

All of a sudden, a calmness came over him. In the same instant that Cary’s hand landed on his lower back. He didn’t know if it was purely Cary or if Lucifer was adding some of his magic. “No.”

His father lunged at him, getting away from the elder.

Gage stumbled back, his heel hitting the edge of the step, but instead of falling back, arms wrapped around his waist, steadying him. Those weren’t Cary’s arms. He looked up and over his shoulder and into Lucifer’s scowling face.

His mother screamed.

“I understand that you wanted to speak with these people to hopefully keep things civil, but I am not sure they are even capable of listening.”

“What is this blasphemy?” his mother yelled. “Who—who is that? Is he using magic!”

Gage smiled at his other mate. “This is Lucifer, Mother. My and Cary’s other mate.”

Lucifer made sure that Gage was steady on his feet before he turned to Gage’s parents. “Hello.”

“Why would you say that?” Elder Max asked. “Are you really that desperate to avoid your responsibilities?”

“My mate has no other responsibilities other than to me and Cary. He wanted to talk to you, to share the news, but you won’t let him speak.”

“You are not the devil,” Elder Adams said.

“The devil, Satan, Lucifer. I go by many names,” Lucifer replied. “And I assure you that I am who Gage says I am.”

Bel and Asmos appeared in their human forms behind them.

“This is a trick. Black magic,” Elder Adams declared.

Gage shook his head. “No, it’s not. Lucifer is our mate. True mates are real. Forcing people to marry must stop. They might have mates out there.”

“You’ve been deceived, my poor child,” Elder Max said.

Lucifer shook his head. “Trust me?”

“Of course.” Gage stepped back and grabbed Cary’s hand. Bel and Asmos hovered close by. He didn’t know what Lucifer would do but Gage trusted that no one would be harmed. He knew deep in his soul that Lucifer would never hurt anyone that didn’t deserve it. He couldn’t say the same about his clowder.

Lucifer strode up the steps and right to Elder Max. He pressed his thumb to the center of Elder Max’s forehead.

“What is he doing?” Gage whispered.

“Making the man see the truth,” Bel answered. “While also learning everything he knows.”

Elder Max gasped as his eyes went wide.

“I wish to speak with the clowder leader,” Lucifer told Elder Max.

“I will get him.” Elder Max rushed off.

They all stood around, awkwardly staring at each other. His parents were clinging to each other while cringing in fear. Gage shouldn’t enjoy seeing them like that but a small part of him liked it. For so long Gage had been the one scared.

Elder Max returned with the leader, Stan Fisher, who was already red-faced and pissed off. Normally that meant that Gage would be feeling pain and terror. Lucifer stood between him and the leader though. Gage lifted his chin. He would not cower ever again.