Lucifer's POV

"I don't think you should see her right now." Hades was blocking me from my mate and growled at him. "Calm down Luce, she was hurt badly and she's resting now. Seth can't reach her or her dreams here. Seph is watching her and Shadow hasn't left her side."

Cerberus was even standing outside her door. I collapsed onto the couch as Hades passed me a glass of whiskey. "This better be the good shit." I drank it in one go and it burned all the way down.

Hades watched me from his chair, "Does she know you are mates?"

I shook my head, "No. She's human she doesn't understand what that means."

"Have you even tried explaining it to her?" He passed me the bottle of whiskey to refill.

"Haven't had a chance, my fucking son keeps trying to rape her." I will kill him the next time I see him.

Persephone came in then and sat on her husband's lap then held up her hand before I could start, "She's not okay Luce. Beyond the physical damage, she's basically put herself into a coma to stave off the emotional pain." She looked at Hades, "I suggest she stay with us for a while. She's safe from Seth here until you deal with him or mate with her. Which I don't see happening soon unfortunately."

"What do you mean mate with her? How will that help?" I hadn't heard of this before.

"She's human, when you mate with her and mark her as yours, she'll gain some of your powers and ultimately will become a demon." Hades spoke.

"But she is in no mental capacity to accept that right now. You could tell her you're mates but it won't do much until she's ready to consummate it. And she saw whatever was happening with Brittany." Pers looked at me with pity. "What happened there?"

"I don't fucking know! All I remember is Vina running off to the bathroom and then Brittany was there and it's like I blacked out. When I came to Brittany was still fucking herself on me and Vina was gone." I feel disgusting, violated and my mate saw it all. I dropped my head into my hands, "How can I even be the king of hell while my son somehow controlled me? I'm not good enough for Levina."

"That's not true and you know it! We'll find out why this is happening. She's awake I'm going to go check on her." Persephone got up and kissed the top of my head then went off to my mate.

................

Levina's POV

I woke alone except for Shadow. I curled up into her fluff and let out a few silent tears. "She hasn't left your side." I looked up and Persephone was standing in the doorway. She looked just like her comic depiction except she had pale skin like mine and gorgeous natural red hair and the prettiest green eyes I've ever seen. "How are you feeling?"

I tried to sit up but felt faint and laid back on my stomach. "Tired, in pain. I wish I had just stayed in purgatory."

She rushed to me and I flinched away, "Don't say that. Please Lucifer can hear you and Hades is barely keeping him calm."

I froze at that. "Why is he here?" He certainly didn't care about me, he never even stopped with Brittany.

I clutched at my heart; I was never this jealous on earth but seeing her with him cut like a fucking knife. "I think Lucifer needs to talk to you."

"Fine whatever." I laid back down and buried my face into Shadow's fur. I felt him come and sit behind me and then his hand was on my shoulder and I stiffened. "Please don't touch me."

His hand immediately left, "Levina I'm sorry. I've failed you so many times. I don't deserve you." I said nothing, "Persephone and Hades are going to keep you here for now until I can get the proper wards in place to keep Seth out of my house. And then I'm coming back for you and bringing you home." Lucifer sighed and I couldn't help myself I needed to feel his warmth around me, even for a few seconds. I turned around and climbed into his lap with my arms around his neck. Lucifer buried his face into my neck and inhaled. "I'm so sorry beautiful." He mumbled against my skin, his lips brushing me gently, sending a shiver down my spine.

I sighed and shook my head, "I'm sorry I fucked everything up. I should have just stayed in purgatory and then I wouldn't be causing you problems."

Lucifer pulled back and cupped my cheek, "Please never say that again. You have caused me no problems. My son is the problem. Brittany and him somehow worked together to incapacitate me so he could attack you. I'm so sorry I don't know how they did it. He's never been stronger than me." I sighed and leaned into his hand as he stroked my cheek with his thumb.

"Why does he want me so bad?" I whispered.

"Because I have you. I brought you here and he wants a new toy." I looked into his eyes and saw a partial truth, so I just nodded.

"Can you stay with me tonight?" I whispered.

"Yes precious of course. But then I have to get back so I can ward up the house. Okay?" He was still rubbing my cheek and I nodded. "We use our words precious."

"Yes sir." I emphasized the sir to piss him off.

"Please tell me you're not a brat." He gripped my chin so he could stare me down, "You listened so well the other day."

"Mmm I'm kind of an in between, depends on the day sub. Could be a brat, could be a little, could be a service sub." I smiled at him, the light hearted banter making me feel the best in days. "You'll never be bored." I said quietly all of a sudden shy.

"I can't wait precious. Now time for sleep, do you want me to heal your legs?"

"No don't waste your energy, just hold me while I sleep. Please sir?" I gave him a weak smile.

"I can't say no when you call me sir." He picked me up off his lap and laid me down next to Shadow then laid on my other side. Before we got too comfortable Cerberus came charging into the room.

"No Cerbi no!" Persephone was right behind him, "I'm sorry he's usually not like this." At this point Shadow had abandoned me on the bed and was up in Cerberus' face. But rubbing on him.

"Umm what's going on?" I asked though I had an idea.

"They're mates, Cerberus smelt her as soon as she arrived but couldn't wait any longer." Lucifer said then they both ran off and Lucifer was blushing. "Uh."

"You don't even have to finish that thought I think we all know where they just went." Persephone answered. I was happy for Shadow but that means I lose my dog. This day gets worse and worse but another thought hit me. If I hadn't left purgatory then Shadow never would have met her mate. I'd go through all this again for her happiness. Persephone seemed to read my face, "I'm sure she will let you have one of the puppies. Especially since you'll be visiting so often."

"I will?" I asked confused.

"Oh yes. Us queens need to stick together." Now I was really confused.

"Uh Persephone I don't know what you're talking about. I'm not a queen but I'll gladly come visit you if you'll have me."

She flustered for a second but composed herself, "Yes of course." She smiled, "I'll let you sleep. I'll change your bandages in the morning."

She left and closed the door behind her. "Umm that was weird right? What was she talking about?"

Lucifer shrugged, "Persephone likes to get ahead of herself." I made an 'o' with my mouth then yawned. "Okay time for sleep." He didn't have to tell me twice and was out in seconds.

...................

Persephone was changing my bandages the next morning as I had woken up. Alone. Persephone had said he left earlier in the morning. Lucifer had left without a word, I tried not to let that hurt but it did. "Do you want some breakfast; Hades makes a mean omelet."

"No, I'm fine. I'm still tired I think I'll take a nap." She gave me a small smile and patted my shoulder before leaving me alone.

.....................

Days passed without word from Lucifer and my anxiety was trying to convince me that he had just left me here. When Persephone deemed I didn't need bandages that morning I went to take a shower. Afterwards Persephone dressed me a flowy blue sundress. "Can Hades send me back to purgatory?" I asked as we walked around the garden.

Persephone stopped me with a gasp, and a grip on my wrist. "Why would you want to go back?"

I waved my hand around me, "Lucifer hasn't said a single word since leaving me. He's not coming back and I'm now just a burden to you guys. I'd assume you'd let Shadow stay here. Please can he send me back?"

She frowned at me, "I'm sorry he can't. You could drink from Lethe and become a soul of the underworld but Hades and Lucifer wouldn't okay it." I nodded slowly and wiped at the few tears that escaped. "Lucifer is coming back. You have to believe that."

"Why would he? I'm nothing to him. An annoying human he took from purgatory to shut up. And then has to keep defending, he should just give me to Seth and be done with me." I was full out crying now. "I'd actually like to be alone please." She nodded and left me, I collapsed into the soft grass and sobbed. Crying myself to sleep, I didn't even wake when Shadow and Cerberus came and laid by me. When I woke, I looked at Cerberus, "Can you take me to Lethe? I want to forget." He shook his head at me.

Well fuck, I laid in the grass and looked at the navy-blue sky. "Precious what are you doing?"

I didn't even bother looking at Lucifer, "I don't think you want the real answer. At this point I know I'm hallucinating, just seeing what I keep hoping for."

"And what is that?" He asked as he sat next to me.

"It doesn't matter you're not real." I stood and walked away with Shadow on my heel.

"You've been seeing me a lot these last few days?" He asked teasingly.

"It's been a fucking week Lucifer, since I've seen or heard from you! You left me without a word! So, forgive me, I have an active imagination." I was crying again, this was all I did; cry, sleep, cry, sleep. I wanted it to end.

"Please precious, I'm here now. I'm real." I moved before he could touch me. "Dammit why are you so stubborn?!"

"Lucifer that is enough!" Persephone came over and stood between us, "Can't you see she's not okay?" I started to walk back to the house.

"Obviously I can see that my mate is not okay!" That stopped me in my tracks and I turned to look at Lucifer, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Levina, I swear I was going to tell you. I was just waiting for the right time." I stared at him for a minute, it all made sense now.

Every book I read, the pull I feel to him. "I... I'm your mate?" My hand trembled as I covered my mouth, "But I'm just a human. I'm nothing." I whispered from behind my hand.

Lucifer started to come to me but Persephone stopped him, "Levina please..."

"That's why Seth wants me so bad." It clicked in my head and Lucifer gave a sad nod. I pointed at Seph, "That's why you made the comment about us queens." She nodded. "If we mated, I would be queen of hell?" A nod from both of them. "A human. Because that would go over well with your demons."

"Levina..." Lucifer started but I stopped him.

"What if I reject you? Would you find a better mate?" I saw the wince as he paled.

"If you rejected me then yes maybe I would get a different mate but Levina I've waited centuries for you. I'm not just going to let you go."

"I'm sorry but that's not really your choice." He paled further.

"Okay everyone just needs to calm down, let's not make any rash decisions. Once the mate bond is severed that's it." I knew Persephone was right I sighed and ran my hand through my hair.

"I need time to think." Lucifer nodded and moved quickly around Seph to cup my cheeks.

"Please don't reject me." He whispered so quietly I almost didn't hear him. He looked so vulnerable; I covered his big hands with mine.

"Lucifer, I don't want to. But let's be real here you deserve more than me. I'm a human, I'm nothing to you. I was nothing when I was alive either." I was crying again. "You deserve someone worthy. Not someone you're forced to be with because of fate."

"But precious that's just it! Fate wouldn't have chosen you if it didn't think you were worthy. And after we mate you will become demon. You'll get some of my powers. Persephone will help you become the queen I know you can be!" He brought my face forward so he could kiss my forehead, and holy fuck the heat that shot through me! "Please beautiful don't give us up before we've even had a chance."

I was getting lost in his eyes and this amount of vulnerability in his eyes was weakening my resolve. "Fine, I still want a day."

"Fine but then you're coming home with me." His hand cupped the back of my head.

"Yes sir." I smiled at him.

"Mmm good girl." His lips brushed mine for the briefest moment and then he was gone. And I was tingling, all over, my lips were burning.

I reached up to touch them, "What just happened?" I whispered to Persephone as she smiled at me.

"Feeling the tingles?" She asked excitedly, and I nodded slowly. "That's the mate bond. It'll get stronger the longer you spend with him, the more you touch each other."

I nodded again, "I think my brain is breaking." I was trying to wrap it around the fact that Lucifer the king of hell was my mate. And the fact that I as a human have a mate.