“I think we have the list for now,” Lucifer told his mate.
Cary pressed his lips together but nodded slowly.
Atlas would place good money that the guest list would bigger than just the couples that Cary had listed.
“How about seven?” Lucifer asked. “That will give you time to get Atlas settled in some. Maybe show him around?”
“Really?” That perked Atlas up. “I could get a tour of hell?”
Bel scowled at Lucifer.
Lucifer grinned back, flashing some sharp fangs before hiding them again. “It is a very lovely plane of hell.”
“It’s the best,” Cary agreed.
“That would be cool.” He peered up at Bel, hoping that the demon prince would agree. He even attempted to bat his lashes as Bel had a soft spot for cuteness. Atlas could probably pull off cute. Maybe. Hopefully.
Bel nodded at him. “If that is what you want.”
“It would be nice to get to know everyone while we figure out my flickers. And if it turns out that you can’t help me, at least I had some fun.” Atlas kind of wanted to bounce himself. Yeah, Bel was a total sucker for cute boys. He would just keep that information in the back of his mind in case he needed to use it later.
* * * * *
Bel
This was a bad idea.
Not that he had a problem giving his mate a tour around his home realm. It was nice to show off a little. He still needed a plan to get his mate to stay. That could wait. He didn’t want to take away from this moment with Atlas. Bel was enjoying the way Atlas would gasp and vocalize his appreciation of the sights around them.
The problem was that Atlas didn’t know he held that special place in Bel’s heart. The demons that they passed, they knew, and they were not shy about checking out Bel’s mate.
He growled at a young demon who’d stopped on the other side of the street. The youngster had a bag in his hand for a delivery and should really be moving on and not eyeing the human at Bel’s side.
“Why are you growling at that demon?” Atlas whispered. “Do you not like him?”
“I don’t like him looking at you,” Bel said as a warning to the youngster. The demon would be able to hear every word even without Bel raising his voice.
The young demon swallowed hard before hurrying off.
Good riddance.
“But I’m safe here?” Atlas asked, moving closer.
“Of course,” Bel assured his mate. No one would ever dare threaten Bel’s mate. That didn’t stop them from looking though. With Atlas standing close, Bel could pick up the faint scent of his bodywash. The boy smelled fresh and clean. Like his.
“I figured I was safe enough,” Atlas said. He grabbed Bel’s arm just above his elbow as he peered at the long street ahead of them. “You are a prince of hell.”
“This is the private plane. Mostly it is the oldest of demons that live here.”
“But why does Lucifer need a private plane? Is he in danger? What about Cary and Gage? Are they safe here?” Atlas asked.
Bel walked Atlas over to a nice black wrought-iron bench overlooking a beautiful park. “They are perfectly safe. The safest. No one would dare touch one hair on their heads.”
“That’s good. Cary seems so sweet. And I think I’d like Gage, if he could be in human form.”
They sat on the bench, with Bel sitting just a bit closer than was polite. Not that Atlas seemed to mind.
“Gage is protective over his mates but he is a good person. Shifter. Scrappy and sarcastic but I think the two of you will get along,” Bel said.
