Chapter 4

CATALINA

I groaned as someone nudged me. “Wake up,” a cold voice demanded. One eye opened, spotting Lucifer lying next to me in the bed. Ignoring him, I tried to go back to sleep.

“Don’t be a brat.”

“Fuck you,” I mumbled. The bed creaked and groaned as he moved around, hopefully to leave. When all went silent, I sighed in relief. Great, I could get more sleep.

Suddenly, I was airborne. I screamed, my arms flailing to grab something, but there was nothing but air.

“This is what happens when you don’t listen.” My eyes darted to the man standing on the side of my bed. I glared at him.

“You’re an asshole!” I raged, giving up on trying to break free of whatever magic he was using on me.

“Heard it all before.” His hand waved in a dismissive gesture. “Now, before we head off on this wonderful plan of yours, I need my medic to run some tests on you.”

I growled. “If you think I’m going to let some random run tests on me like a lab rat, you better think again.”

He sighed in irritation. I suddenly dropped to the bed. Asshole, he was lucky I couldn’t use my powers.

“It’s not like that. I’m simply curious about your magic. Maybe there’s a very simple answer as to why it no longer wants to reveal itself. I activated your powers, yet once again they’re hiding,” he mumbled to himself.

“So, you finally believe me when I say I can’t call on them?” Even though I could feel the magic sitting inside me, it was just out of my reach. Like there was a door or wall blocking me.

“I believe that you believe you can’t.” My glare intensified. “So, I’ve decided to get an outsider’s opinion. He’ll simply draw some blood and run a few tests.”

“And how well do you know this doctor?” Yawning, I stretched my arms above my head, peeking at the clock on my bedside table. He woke me up two hours before Lucien was meant to pick me up for class.

Walking over to my dresser, he pulled out a shirt and some shorts, tossing them back to me on my bed. “He’s been my personal doctor since I fell from heaven. I trust him more than you.”

I paused in my dressing at his words. Why did that last comment cause a slight pain in my chest? Clearly, the mate bond didn’t like that our mate trusted someone more than us. I eyed him curiously.

“That last part was unnecessary, don’t you think?”

“I think it was very necessary.” Heat flared in his eyes as I pulled my shorts up over my panties. If I wasn’t so sleepy, I’d be embarrassed getting dressed in front of him. Lucifer and Jayden were the only two I hadn’t mated yet. And with their attitudes, it would be a long time before that happened. So, I hoped he was enjoying the peep show.

“Hurry up,” he growled, the scent of his arousal heavy in the air. My lycan purred in satisfaction.

I contemplated teasing him. But you know what they say—play with fire and you’ll get burned. And considering this particular mate was the creator of his own hellfire, it probably wouldn’t end well for me. Slipping my feet into some slippers, I grinned at him.

“All done, lead the way.”

***

“You motherfucker!” I jerked my arm from the gray-haired man, giving him a seething look.

He laughed softly. “You really are his mate.” Releasing my blood into a small vial, he tossed the empty needle in the trash. “You’re now free to go.”

I rubbed my sore arm, ignoring Lucifer’s amused look. I’d been poked and prodded for the last hour! Few tests, my ass. “I hope my lycan eats you alive.” I bared my teeth at him.

He smirked. “The one inside you or the one that wants to be inside?” My eyes went to the doctor, cheeks heating.

“Come along now, you need to get ready.”

Jumping down from the hospital bed, I followed Lucifer out of his medical room. “Should I be concerned that you have a mini hospital in your house?”

He eyed me over his shoulder. “I think you have bigger things to worry about.”

Shrugging, I continued following him through the halls. “I liked it better when my only problem was human Claire and her bullies.” To think this all started because of a bunch of silly high school kids. Now my life was in danger from actual gods.

Lucifer stopped abruptly, causing me to crash into his back. I opened my mouth to ask what his problem was, only for his strong arms to envelop me. I stiffened in shock as my face pressed against his chest.

“Uh, what are you doing?” I asked, feeling the pleasant tingles that I only experienced when touching my mates flow from our contact.

“I promise you, anyone that comes after you will regret it,” he said, his voice causing the floor to rumble. His arms, now burning hot, tightened around me. The heat didn’t bother me, but I was taken aback by his show of affection.

He bent slightly, shoving his face into the juncture of my chin and neck, inhaling deeply. “Stay home,” he said. It was both a plea and a demand. That’s when it hit me—Lucifer was nervous. He didn’t want me to leave the safety of his fortress.

Bringing my arms up, I hesitantly wrapped them around him. This was the first time we’d ever embraced. I couldn’t say I didn’t like it. He was so warm, warmer than my dragon.

“I need more time,” he breathed out against my neck.

“More time for what?” I asked. Instead of answering, he pulled away, running a hand through his dark locks.

“Your Wolf is here,” he said. Faintly, I heard footsteps approaching. Before I could question him further, he disappeared. Unlike Kol, there were no shadows or any sign that he was about to teleport. He simply vanished.

“There you are, pup.” Lucien smiled when he saw me. “Why aren’t you dressed?” He opened his arms, waiting for me to come to him.

Shaking my head, I tried to forget Lucifer’s strange behavior. I slipped into Lucien’s embrace, my lycan purring in happiness. Although my lycan accepted all my mates, it was no surprise she favored Lucien the most.

“I was hoping you’d help me dress,” I purred seductively.

His hands slipped from my hips to my ass, giving it a squeeze. “Where’s your room again?” he asked, lifting me up. I squealed and wrapped my legs around his waist.

I smirked. “As if you don’t know.”

His eyes filled with lust, flicking between my lips and my eyes. “Are you going to kiss me or—”

His warm lips pressed against mine, cutting me off.

I kissed him back greedily, my fingers twisting in his hair.