Chapter 56: Chapter 56

I blinked several times just to confirm if it was my best friend, Jaxon. What was he doing here? I strode towards him, hesitantly while holding onto my belly. Yes, there was a slight pudge, evident enough for the outsiders.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but I stood in front of him. Jaxon harshly swallowed the lump in his throat, his eyes glistening. When he tried to reach out, I slowly took a step back, making him flinch. A look of hurt crossed his face, and he gritted his teeth together.

“Talia” He breathed, drawling out.

I gulped, my lips parting, “Jaxon...What-What are you doing here?”

I couldn’t tear my eyes off him. Was he for real?

Jaxon smiled softly, “I am here to take you back home.”

His words echoed in my ears, sharp and loud. Home. It felt so foreign as he uttered those words. The thought of going back home almost made me recoil. Along the way, the idea of going back home never occurred to me. When did that happen?

When I thought of home, it always came back to Lukas. My mate, my soulmate. His grand mansion and the room we spend all the nights together. Never did I think that Hell would be my home someday.

I forgot about people back home, my best friends. Did that make me a horrible person? Maybe it did, but I didn’t care because I was excited about welcoming my baby with Lukas. Starting a family with him. As I thought it out loud, it sounded absurd because we never had that talk. But deep down I know that we will get there soon.

“Home?” I questioned, nervously blinking my eyes at my best friend. The word felt so alien in my mouth.

He frowned, raising his brows, “Talia? What are you thinking? Let’s go!”

I noticed his stretched out a hand towards me. Tearing my eyes away, I met his eyes. He had a hopeful look on his face. Did he think that I would go back with him?

I chewed on my lips, my eyes moving in the direction leading to lawn. Lukas was waiting for me. It was already too late. The one who made my heart flutter. My demon mate. My lips curled at the last part.

What would going back home entail? If anything I won’t be able to see Lukas again. Just thinking about never seeing him, hearing those sly remarks and smirks, his pitch-black eyes twisted my gut. I folded my lips together at the thought of never having his arms around me, his large hands almost encompassing and his passionate mouth whispering dirty things in my ear as I fell apart. The last part almost made my toes curl, face flaming red.

“I can’t” I shuddered, taking another step back.

Jason’s nose flared, his eyes turning into slits, “What are you talking about?! Do you realise how difficult it was for me to get here? Let’s go!”

Then it clicked me that Jaxon was in Hell. Like he stepped in through the portal. Humans couldn't do that. How did he do it? My eyebrows furrowed.

“How did you get here? Who helped you?”

Jaxon stuttered, opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water. Why was he not answering me? I stared at him expectantly.

“That’s not important right now.”

I glared at him, “It is to me!”

“Talia you don’t know what you are talking about. Let’s get you out of here, and we can talk”

I shook my head. There was no way I was going anywhere with him. Suppose anything Jaxon needs to leave before anyone else spots him. Lukas would have a fit, and I don’t want to imagine how Dean will react.

“Jaxon please leave.”

He took a step towards me, “Why is that?”

I tightened my hold on my stomach. His eyes went towards my hands. Jaxon clenched his jaw, his nostrils flaring.

“I can take care of both of you. You don’t have to stay here anymore. Just come away with me.”

I made an affronted sound at that. Why would he do that? I had a mate who can ideally take care of my baby and me. That’s what he has been doing for the past few weeks.

“You are not my mate.” I blurted out, almost slapping my mouth only if I learned to bite my tongue.

“So what? I’m still more of a man than he is!”

My eyes narrowed at him, hand on my hip, “Don't talk about Lukas that way! You don’t know anything about him.”

He may be a Demon King, ruthless ruler and all that but deep down he was the softest person I had ever met. Not only he cared for me, and the baby deeply but always made sure to keep us safe. Every time I was in danger, he was there for me, looked after me and sat by my side through everything. How can anyone talk against it?

Jaxon exhaled a breath, scoffing under his breath, “Are you seriously defending that scumbag who left you the next morning? You cried because of him! Are you in love with him now?”

I sucked a deep breath at that. Did I love him? I thought about it.

My day started and ended by thinking about him. As corny as that sounded, it was true. He made me feel special in a way no one had. I did not care how fate bought us together, but we were meant to be. Despite everything thrown at our way, he was still by my side and wasn’t that enough? I think I fell for his smile, the way he joked around or his sly remarks. Maybe everything about him. The realisation made me gasp out loud.

“I do...I am in love with Lukas” I admitted that out loud.

Jaxon flinched, absolutely repulsed by that. With his eyes narrowed together, he inhaled sharply.

“You don’t know what you are talking about. He’s a King of Hell. He’s everything evil and someone you should stay far away from.”

I groaned, “He’s a punisher. He punishes evil people. There’s a huge difference.”

“I can’t believe that you are vouching for someone like that!”

“He’s my mate, Jaxon! Of course, I am going to defend him.”

Jaxon was quiet for a few seconds. He pinched the bridge of his nose before turning towards me.

“Why can’t you understand Talia? I’m offering you everything. Why can’t you choose me this time? It’s not fair! I met you first!”

I scrunched my nose as his words sank in. What was he talking about? Why would I choose him? There was never a choice. Jaxon was always a friend to me, and that’s all. There was nothing romantic between us at all. Did he misunderstand our friendship?

“What do you mean by that? Umm...do you have feelings for me?”

Jaxon turned red. He rattled for a few seconds before nodding his head. “I couldn’t be more obvious! I thought after your graduation I will propose to you. I had everything planned but...” His eyes moved toward my stomach.

“Clearly things didn’t work out the way I wanted them to. But I promise that if you come away with me, I will keep you happy.” He earnestly said, flashing his puppy eyes at me.

My mouth parted open, eyes widening at his words. Jaxon had feelings for me?!  How do I respond to that? Why didn’t he tell me sooner? I had so many questions in my mind.

“Jaxon...”

“I am sorry, but I can’t come away with you. I have always thought of our relationship as friendship and nothing more. It was never my intention to lead you on.”

He kicked on the stone nearby, shaking his head, “No! I don’t want your apology!”

I winced. My eyes focused on his leg. That was so unlike him. I had never seen Jaxon get so mad that he would kick something. This was not the person I know and have been friends with. It felt like this was a different version of him.

I shrugged, “I don’t know what you want me to say”

“Nothing. I just want you to come along with me.”

I made a face, “I think you already know my answer to that.”

“What will it take for you to change the answer? Huh?” He asked, his mouth curled together.

“Jaxon why can’t you understand? I am not going to come back with you. You need to leave now” I hurriedly said, my eyes moving towards the lawn. What if Lukas came back?

He whooshed a breath, opening his mouth when I heard the shuffling from the other side. My heart thudded against my chest. Taking his hand, I pushed him towards the pitch-black hole.

“Go. Now!”

“I’ll come back for you, Talia. This isn’t over!” Jaxon yelled back as the orbit started closing, swallowing him whole.

***