Infernal God (Claimed By Lucifer Book 3)

by Elizabeth Briggs

  I laughed a little at that, but then I remembered that this would be the last time we'd be going through all of this. I turned away, my eyes filling with tears, but Lucifer caught my chin.

  "What is it?" he asked, his voice full of concern.

  "To save you, I had to make a sacrifice too." I swallowed the lump of sadness in my throat.

  Horror filled his eyes. “Is something wrong with the baby? Did… Did Famine…?”

  I shook my head quickly before he believed the wrong thing. “No, Famine hasn’t hurt her. She’s just…” I stopped talking, but frown lines formed between Lucifer’s brows, and I had to finish before he imagined any worse. “She’s the last baby I can have.”

  He wrapped me in his strong arms, pressing me against his chest. “I’m so sorry, Hannah. I’m so sorry she’s taken that from you.”

  “From us,” I mumbled against his shoulder. I held him tight, feeling the sadness deep within my bones as my sacrifice really sank in. Lucifer clung to me too, no doubt feeling his own sorrow and grief.

  He pulled back and wiped a tear from my eye. "I'm sorry. I had no idea you'd given up so much to save me."

  "I won't lie, it hurts. I'm not sure I even want another child after this one, but to know it's impossible..."

  "I understand, and I feel the same."

  I tried to smile. “But we have four healthy children, right?”

  He nodded, still watching my eyes. “That’s an heir and more than enough spares. Of course, our heir tried to overthrow us multiple times, but we have time to work that out with him.”

  A short laugh escaped me at that. "It was so good to see them all together. We need to keep our family close from now on."

  "I've been thinking the same thing. I made so many mistakes with our family before, but things are different now. The curse is broken, and we won't have those long years without you. Our daughter will never have to try to adjust to her mother in a new body, like our sons did."

  "No, she won't," I said with relief. "And now that we're Elder Gods we can finally defeat Adam, so he won't ever be a threat to her."

  "Adam..." He growled a little at the thought. "He came here as Pestilence while you were gone, but I fought him off. I believe I weakened him, but I'm sure he will be back."

  "We'll be ready when he does. We already have a plan in place."

  "Of course you do." Lucifer pressed a kiss to my forehead. "I’m constantly amazed at your strength. Every lifetime, you inspire me. But in this one, you've truly outdone yourself, my queen."

  "Thank you. You're not so bad yourself, you know." I draped my arms around his neck. "Now, about that awkward pregnancy sex..."

  A sexy, masculine sound of amusement rumbled deep in his throat. "Whatever my wife needs."

  "Is there anywhere in this penthouse that isn't trashed?" I asked.

  He picked me up like I weighed nothing, then carried me into the bedroom we'd once shared, where I'd slept alone for months. The bed remained untouched, still covered in black silk sheets, with my added teal pillows.

  "Even in my frenzied state, I couldn't destroy this," Lucifer said, as he set me down on it. His voice was low and deep and sent a shiver of anticipation through me. "Although I'm starting to think maybe we need a new place to live..."

  I grabbed his shirt and yanked it open, sending buttons flying. "Stop talking and fuck me already. It's been six months since I've seen you, and these pregnancy hormones have been killer."

  He gave me a wicked grin as he removed his shirt, revealing the smooth, muscled chest I'd missed so much. "I used to wait lifetimes for you. Six months is nothing."

  I grabbed a pillow and hit him with it. He took it from me and tossed it aside with a chuckle, then pinned me to the bed, taking care not to crush my stomach. His kiss devoured me, while his hands entwined with mine above my head. My body arched toward him, the need to have him fill me so strong I thought I might scream. All I could do was kiss him back harder and rock my hips against him, silently begging him for more.

  He rose up, just enough to yank off my shirt and tear off my bra. Then he stared down at me, his fingers brushing over the swell of my body and cupping my breasts. “Incredible."

  “There have been some changes while you were gone.” I squirmed, midway between embarrassment and amusement.

  He met my gaze with a hungry look in his eyes. “I love you like this, round with my child. I'm going to savor every second of it.”

  “Start now," I murmured, reaching for his pants.

  "So impatient," he teased. He unfastened my pants and tugged them off, taking my panties too. I was still wearing the clothes I'd worn to fight Famine in and they were a bit dusty, but none of that mattered to him.

  He admired me for a few seconds, then he sank between my legs and kissed the side of my knee, and my breath caught. I anticipated him kissing along the inside of my thigh, but as I held my breath, waiting, he moved away and started at the other knee.

  “Like I said, I'm going to savor you.”

  I huffed but closed my eyes because Lucifer savoring me… I’d missed it.

  His fingers gripped the outsides of my thighs as he parted them farther, and my breathing increased just from the anticipation. His tongue touched my skin, and I moved my hands until I pushed them through his thick, dark hair.

  I tugged, trying to pull him closer. “Lucifer.”

  He made that rumble of amusement again, but then he took pity on me and covered my clit with his mouth. I let out a breathy moan at finally getting a sample of what I craved, as his tongue moved across my folds, tasting every inch of me like he couldn't get enough. He buried his face in my pussy, and I lost all thought as he sucked my clit harder. He feasted like a starving man, as if I was the best meal he'd ever had.

  “Mmm.” He hummed his satisfaction. “You missed me.”

  “So much.” But my words were broken by harsh breaths as his mouth worked magic on me. My hands were back in his hair, tugging at the dark strands, and he responded to me, applying more pressure, licking and sucking harder and faster. Then looked at me, his eyes glowing red, before lowering his head again to flick his tongue over my clit in one possessive stroke. It was enough to send me spinning away from him as all of my muscles tightened and released. I hung in a moment of free fall, my breath held in my chest as I rode the feeling.

  My body pulsed and I gasped for air as Lucifer rose up above me with a dark smile. Then he slowly dragged his trousers off, his large, perfect cock jutting forth with obvious need. I wasn't the only one dying for release here.

  I sat up a little and took his cock into my mouth, just for a few seconds, unable to help myself. I needed to taste him too. He caught his breath, and I relished my small degree of control over this man who was used to controlling every other element of his life. Here, he was mine.

  "Fuck, I missed you too," he said, as he gripped my head lovingly. But then his need overwhelmed him too and he let out a groan and jerked his cock out of my mouth.

  He laid back on the bed and pulled me on top of him, making me straddle him. With fingers digging into my hips, he lifted me up while looking me in the eyes, his intense and glowing red. I wondered if mine were glowing too, but that was my last thought before I sank down, sliding him inside me.

  It felt amazing, both of us joined together at last. I wasn't sure if it was because I was pregnant or because we were both gods now, but I felt him so much more than I ever had before, both physically and on a spiritual level. Our souls were entwined, just as our bodies were.

  “You feel so good.” Lucifer groaned, a deep sound that vibrated right through both of us. His hands were on my hips, before he ran them over my ribs and to my breasts, touching me everywhere, like he'd never felt me before. Then he thrust up hard, filling me so deeply it made me gasp. It was exactly what my body needed though, and now I wanted more.

  At first Lucifer let me set my own rhythm as he fondled my breasts, watching them bounce over him, and I threw my head back
and enjoyed the pleasure building within me. I rode him harder and faster, and I loved the feel of his cock sliding deeper into me with each thrust. But then his hands returned to my hips and he growled as he began to thrust up, matching me, holding me at the angle he wanted, fucking me harder and faster like he couldn't get enough.

  He reached up to tangle his hand in my hair and pulled my face down to his, kissing me in a way that left no doubt that I belonged to him. His possessive fucking only fueled my own desire, and I let go and allowed him to take control of my body completely. I melted into him as we moved as one, each of his thrusts teasing more heat through me until I screamed his name and dug my nails into his skin, shouting my pleasure. As the orgasm rocked through me, power erupted out of me, and then Lucifer's breathing changed and he joined me with his own rush of energy. Glass shattered around us, but I barely noticed as he thrust a few last times, dragging out the moment where we'd never been more connected.

  As my throbbing body returned to gentle flutters, I fell over his chest, rolling slightly to the side to allow for my cumbersome shape. Then I noticed the plants growing all over the room, which I must have created when he made me climax. Oops. Lucifer's orgasm had demolished more of the penthouse too, destroying what little had still been standing.

  He followed my gaze and raised an eyebrow. "That's new."

  "Was it just me, or was sex even more intense as an Elder God?"

  "I'm not sure," he rumbled, as he reached down to slide a finger inside me. "I think we should do it again to be sure."

  "Already?"

  "Definitely." He grabbed me and set me on my knees, then mounted me from behind. His cock was already hard and pushing against my entrance, begging for entry. "After all, we have six months to make up for...and I have the stamina of a god."

  After that, there were no more words as I pushed back against his cock, taking him in deep, while he reached forward and grabbed my hair to yank my head back. He took me hard and fast, like he would die if he didn't claim every inch of me—but we were gods now and nothing could harm me. I reveled in every second of it, until he had me screaming his name again and tightening around his cock, squeezing out his own climax while our power shook the entire floor of the penthouse.

  "If we keep this up, we might need to move," I said, as my body trembled under the lingering effects of my last orgasm.

  "I've been thinking the same thing." He wrapped me up in his arms and kissed me. "But right now all that matters is we're together—and nothing is going to tear us apart ever again."

  15

  Lucifer

  I glanced at the pile of books on the desk again. Hannah had left no stone unturned, no tome unopened. There were books open I doubted she could even understand, but I could imagine her taking her time turning the fragile pages looking for a familiar word or a diagram in a margin. How often had she spent late nights in this room searching for the way to rescue me from War’s clutches?

  I didn’t need an answer. Instinct told me she’d made every night a late one during her search. Somehow she’d risen to Demon Queen during my absence as well, all while pregnant—and pretty ill too, from what I'd gathered.

  I’d always known Hannah would rescue me. It was one of the reasons I'd taken such a risk in the first place. But seeing the evidence of all her hard work made me appreciate her efforts even more.

  I breathed in the scent of my library—the ancient pages, the leather chairs, and now the slight floral scent from Hannah's plants. Though I'd destroyed much of the penthouse when I was War, I'd left enough of this space untouched for me to work at my desk for a few hours, trying to catch up on everything I'd missed in the last six months.

  I'd missed a lot, it seemed. Time hadn’t passed the same for me with War in my body. I hadn’t thought about normal things or needed to eat or sleep. I’d had two focuses.

  One, escape the confines of Heaven. Two, bring war and chaos to the world.

  Hannah stepped into the library, absolutely glowing in a pale green floor-length dress that showed off her rounded belly. Pride and love filled me, and I immediately stood and crossed the library to her, taking her in my arms. I’d never truly felt lucky before. Certainly not like this.

  "Hello, my love. How are you feeling this morning?" I asked, as I drew her against me.

  "Strange. I don't need to sleep or eat anymore...but I still like to do both of those things." She shrugged. "How are you?"

  "I'm brilliant. Never better." I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Is it time for the meeting?”

  “I believe it is.”

  “Come with me?” I lowered my voice and spoke against her ear. “We’ll have time to nap later.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Of course I’m coming to the meeting. I can’t let you loose with my Archdemons until I see that you know what you’re doing.”

  "Oh, they're your Archdemons now?" I took her hand and led her out of the library, excited to be sharing my throne after so many lifetimes I'd spent without her. "I see how it is—I leave you alone for a few months and you take over completely."

  "What's that saying? What's yours is mine, and what's mine is mine..."

  "That does sound like marriage, yes."

  As we held hands and grinned at each other like young lovers, we took the elevator down a level, to the command center. The demons working there bowed and some even clapped as we entered, and I gave them all a cocky grin and a little wave, though Hannah shook her head at me. It never hurt to remind them that I really did live up to all the stories about me.

  We stepped into the conference room, where our allied Archdemons were waiting for us, along with Samael. They all rose to their feet when we entered, and Lilith actually rushed forward and threw her arms around me. Then she hugged Hannah next.

  "You did it," she said. "You actually managed to save him."

  "She did," I confirmed, with a wry smile at my wife. "I owe my salvation to Hannah, though I would like to thank each and every one of you for your part in keeping the demon world running smoothly over the last few months. Romana, thank you for your loyalty and for your people's help in guarding Hannah. Baal, I truly appreciate the risks you've taken in spying on Nemesis and Fenrir for me. Lilith, Hannah's told me your counsel and support were invaluable to her, and I thank you for that."

  "I think I speak for everyone when I say it was an honor to help however we could," Lilith said. "However, we're all relieved you've returned to us."

  "As am I. I thank you all for your loyalty during this difficult period, though there is one more person I must thank—Samael." I turned to my oldest, dearest friend. "You've supported me through all these years, and when I was gone, you stood by Hannah's side in my absence."

  "I did what anyone would do in such a position," he said, his voice deep yet humble.

  "No, you always manage to go above and beyond, my friend." I rested a hand on his shoulder, and he stoically nodded, though I can see in his eyes that he was pleased.

  "Is it true you're both really Elder Gods?" Romana asked. "What happened to War? And Famine?"

  "Yes, it's true," Hannah said.

  "You could say we defeated them...and then took their place," I added.

  "They're truly gone then?" Baal asked.

  Hannah's eyes grew sympathetic. "I'm sorry. If I could have done it without defeating your mother, I would have. If it makes you feel better, she seemed to still care for you, in her own way."

  He held up a hand. "Do not apologize. It's actually a relief to know she's gone. I no longer have to live in fear of my mother awakening and destroying the world."

  I knew exactly how he felt—except my father, Death, was still out there, locked away in his tomb, waiting to be set free. With Famine released, we were one stepped closer to his awakening, and that thought terrified me like nothing else.

  "Nemesis is dead too," Hannah said. "I killed her in the battle in Faerie at Famine's tomb. Unfortunately, Fenrir got away."

  "Do you think he'll
go after Death next?" Romana asked.

  "Possibly, if he's still stupid and stubborn enough to continue this battle," I said.

  "He is," Baal confirmed.

  "Even so, he can't get into Hell, where Death's tomb is located," Lilith said. "Lucifer made sure of that when he sealed that realm up all those years ago. Only he and I have the keys."

  "A good point." I turned to Samael. "Let's make sure to get extra protection on Lilith."

  "That's not necessary," Lilith said.

  "No, he's right." Baal took her hand, and I noticed Samael narrowing his eyes. "We must protect that key at all costs."

  "What of Pestilence?" Romana asked.

  The very thought of him made me bristle. "When I was War I fought him and weakened him, but I have no doubt he'll be back."

  “We already have a plan in place for Pestilence’s return.’ Hannah looked at me as she spoke, then turned to the table. “But I think we should have something else ready if it doesn’t work.”

  "Somehow I doubt Adam has any interest in fighting off Pestilence's control, like you two did," Samael said.

  "No, that won't work. We need another plan." Hannah turned to me. "Oberon said you once had a key to Void. Do you still have it?"

  A chill ran down my spine. Whatever I’d expected her to say, it hadn’t been that. "We're not using that."

  “But you’ve been to Void before," Baal said.

  “Yes, thousands of years ago, and I risked a lot by asking Nyx to make the Fallen into demons so they could survive in Hell. I'm lucky I made it back at all."

  "How did you even get such a thing?" Romana asked.

  "My father, Death, gave it to me. Before we became bitter enemies."

  “It might work," Samael said, his voice thoughtful. "The key is the only thing that can send the Elder Gods to the Void.”

  I cast a hard look around the table at my allies. "Yes, but opening a portal to Void could also let other Elder Gods out. We don't need any more of them on our hands, now do we?"