Chapter 37: Chapter 37

As soon as I stepped inside my room, I slumped on the bed, facing the window. The one thing Lukas did right was get me the sea view. Even in anger, I was thinking about him. I groaned,d pushing my face into the pillow.

The words he said still echoed in my ears, and it made me grit my teeth. How can he say those things as if it was entirely my fault? He should have warned me that I'm unsafe even in his kingdom.

At the knock on the door, I curled up, refusing to respond. I didn't have any energy to talk to him or Kira. Anger was still bubbling in my stomach, and I couldn't answer any of them without snapping. If it's Kira, that's the last thing I want to do.

"Talia" As his voice echoed in my ears I huffed, hiding my face in the pillow. Why was he here? Did he have anything more left to say? As if that wasn't enough.

His footsteps echoed towards the bed, and that's when I smelled it. Macaroni. Was he trying to bride me with my favourite comfort food? I was hungry because I was busy wandering and didn't have breakfast earlier. But I won't give so easily.

His voice was softer as he mumbled, "I bought your favourite food."

I scoffed, "Go away."

I could imagine him shaking his head, but there was silence from the other side. Did he give up so easily? I thought trying to take a peek when he appeared in front of me. A yelp tore from my lips, and I fell back.

Raising on my back, I glared at him, "Why would you do that?!"

He shook his head, "I had no idea you were going to turn so suddenly."

"Ugh, whatever. Get out"

He forwarded the tray her was holding, "But it's your favourite."

I haughtily raised my head in the air and rolled my eyes, "I'm not hungry."

As in on cue, my stomach growled, the sound making my cheeks blush. He raised his eyebrows at that, and I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. It was so embarrassing.

"That doesn't prove anything" I huffed, crossing my arms and pressing on my chest, pushing my back against the headrest. Why won't he go away? I didn't want to embarrass myself even more.

Lukas took a sharp breath, "Please, I'm sorry for saying those things. I was just so angry that I wasn't thinking straight-"

I interrupted up, glaring at him as I repeated the same words he said earlier, "Why did you leave? Huh?! What was so important that it couldn't wait till I came back?"

Lukas cringed, his lips pressed together as he shook his head.

"This isn't earth. People here are dangerous, and you are a mortal. Did you forget that?" I made a face, imitating his words back to him. He clenched his eyes shut, scrunching his face as the words echoed around the room.

"Do I sound like that?"

I snorted, waving my hand, "Worse than this"

He took my hand in his, and I stopped breathing for a second, my eyes widening. His hands were so huge, almost covering mine as he pressed it against his chest. I couldn't feel his heartbeat just a cooling sensation which made me still. It made me realise that he was not human.

"I'm sorry. I seriously regret saying those words to you. You can punish me as you please, but please don't punish yourself. Kira told me you didn't eat anything."

My stomach swooped at those words. Before I could feel happy about it, I held myself. What if he was just concerned for the child? Maybe that's why he was trying to apologise. The thought made my nose flare. It's not like we were dating anyway.

I abruptly pulled my hand back to which he frowned.

"I won't punish you, but you have to answer my questions."

He bobbed his head, earnestly staring at me "I'll be honest with whatever you ask."

At that moment, he didn't seem like a scary demon. I was not scared of him, but it felt like I was talking to Lukas from the club.

"Who were those people- err demons?"

His lips twitched at my error, "They are outcasts. As in people from different Hell who don't want to follow the royalty and system. They are free to do whatever they want in the land we, Kings or Queens give them. That's why we don't have much authority over them."

"Even though we share boundaries, they don't have any respect for us. In a way, you can call them radicals."

I licked my lips, "So they are like people on earth who hate the government"

Lukas grinned, "Exactly but in this case these are demons, and they don't have any demands. They just want to live on their own without rules."

"But that's so chaotic. Living without rules," I mused.

A system was something which ran things smoothly. Imagine having no one to look after you or punish you for the wrong deeds. That would be the utter chaos and end of the world.

"It is. But we cannot do anything because that's their choice. Most of the demons who are radicals are peaceful, mind their own business" Lukas shrugged.

"So these radicals are everywhere?"

Lukas hummed, "Yes, in most of the Hells. They occupy a small share of land."

"Wow," I breathed.

"Any more questions?" Lukas asked as he stared at me. I thought about it for a while when it made me remember about the mark. If I was going to ask him about anything might as well go on.

"What did he mean when he said that he wanted to see my mark?"

Lukas frowned, "When did he say that?"

"Before you came he asked me if I was marked and I said yes because I had no idea, so he asked me to show my mark."

Lukas was quiet as I said those things, his jaw set. Now that I noticed whenever the mark or mate thing was mentioned, he went silent. Why was that? Did the idea repulse him?

"Lukas!" I nudged at his hand and he blinked back at me.

"Huh?"

"What is that?"

He tugged at his hair, meeting my eyes, "Do you really want to know?"

"Duh. That's why I asked"

"Every demon has a mate. Someone to stay by their side and you are my mate. That's the reason you can bear my child. Marking is a way of showing that they are claimed."

Lukas stared out of the window, a sad look on his face, "Mates need to mark each other. Marriage is not something our kind believes in, but the marking is exactly like that. You stay true to your mate."

I opened and closed my mouth for several seconds. I had no idea that I was his mate. How is that possible? I was not a demon.

"But I'm not a demon."

He turned to look at me, "It doesn't matter. Demons can have human mates. Why do you think Leo is always around Anna?"

I gasped, "Are they, mates?"

"Hmm. They are, but she doesn't know because he's scared she will reject him after seeing his true form. That's why he does what he does."

I quirked my eyebrow, "Is it possible? For humans to reject their mates?"

Lukas nodded his head, "Most of the times demons don't want to settle in. So they reject to the mating. But it's excruciating for both of them, like ripping a piece of your body."

I shuddered at that. Hearing these things was so unreal. A few weeks ago, I was crying in front of my television because I had no Netflix. Now I was sitting in Hell and listening about mates.

"That sounds painful."

He bitterly laughed, "It is. Most of them don't survive from the pain."

I frowned, "But I thought demons were immortal."

"They are in a way, but the pain of rejection and of course, the Gods can kill us. We live a long life, but also we can die"

"So if a God attacks you, you'll die?"

Lukas chuckled, staring back at me, "Why? Will you be praying to God for it?"

I shook my head. Just the thought of someone hurting Lukas didn't sit right with me. It felt like someone was twisting a knife inside me. I blinked back at the image.

"No...no I am just curious."

He hummed, staring at the ceiling for few seconds, "Yes I can die."

"I don't want you to" I whispered softly, barely audible as I stared at him.

At my voice, he tilted his head towards me and raised his eyebrows, "What?"

"I don't want you to die. Just thinking about it scares me"

He gave me a dopey smile, his hand cupping my cheek, his thumb brushing the corner of my mouth,"Well then its settled. I won't ever die."

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