Chapter 54 - XXVI

"The child you brought is awake, my lord," a voice rang out suddenly, shattering the fragile tension in the air.Davina whipped her head around, eyes searching the room until she spotted the small, mischievous Imp—a creature she had only heard about in old, half-forgotten tales—bouncing from one shadowed corner to the next. It was a surreal sight, one she never imagined seeing in person.Lucifer reacted before she could, his voice cutting through the silence with uncharacteristic urgency. "How is he?" The sudden concern in his tone startled her—this was the same man who had spoken so coldly moments before. The stark contrast rattled her, but Lucifer quickly masked the emotion, reclaiming his typical composure."He's fine, my lord," the Imp chirped gleefully, showing no regard for the gravity of the moment. "But the kid looks more human than wolf."They followed the Imp to the room where Ethan was resting. The child sat quietly on the bed, his small body hunched as he stared out the window, lost in a world of his own. His head jerked toward the door at the sound of their footsteps, eyes wide and fearful as they entered."Davina!" Ethan cried out, his voice trembling as tears welled up in his eyes. His small body shook with sobs, and Davina's heart twisted at the sight. She rushed to him, wrapping him in her arms as she sat down on the bed beside him. He buried his face in her shoulder, his tears soaking through her shirt."Shhh, it's alright, little one," Davina whispered, her voice soft and comforting as she stroked his hair. But inside, she was seething—whatever had happened to him had left him terrified.The Imp, entirely unfazed by the emotional reunion, chimed in, "See, my lord? No wolf in him." It was as though the creature found the whole thing amusing.Lucifer's gaze softened slightly as he explained, "The child hasn't bonded with his wolf yet. When he does, he'll learn to control it." His voice was gentler now, carrying a wisdom that surprised Davina. For a moment, she wondered who the true guardian of the child was—her or Lucifer?Just then, a dark, seductive whisper slid into her mind like a serpent. "Mmm, caring and sweet... just the way I like it. Can we lick him up from top to bottom?" Lust hissed in her ear, the voice laced with temptation. Davina recoiled inwardly, her pulse quickening. The demon's brazen words sent a shiver through her. Why now? Why was Lust toying with her at such a vulnerable moment?Lucifer's eyes narrowed slightly, his head tilting as if he had heard something strange. His gaze flicked to her, and for a moment, she felt exposed, as though he could see straight into her mind. Unbeknownst to her, he could hear her demons as clearly as she could. Lust's twisted murmur wasn't just affecting her—it had reached him too, stirring feelings he had long buried.Davina broke the silence, her voice gentle as she looked down at Ethan. "Who hurt you, sweet boy? Do you remember?" She kept her tone calm, not wanting to frighten him, though she could already feel the anger simmering beneath her skin.Ethan shuddered, his small frame trembling. "It was... the Alpha King's father," he whispered, his voice barely audible, but the words hit Davina like a sledgehammer. Her entire body tensed as the fury surged through her like wildfire."I will tear him apart," she hissed, her voice deadly and filled with venom. The raw, murderous intent in her tone made Lucifer smirk. In that moment, she wasn't just Davina—she was his powerful demoness, radiating a dark, dangerous energy that made her seem unstoppable."Good," Lucifer said, his voice colder now, the smirk still lingering on his lips. "Take the child and go. This is all I can offer you." His gaze flickered to Davina, and for a heartbeat, she saw something there—a flicker of emotion, quickly buried beneath the mask he wore. It hurt her more than she would ever admit, her chest tightening as her resolve splintered."Yes, go to your Alex," Selfishness sneered inside her mind, its voice dripping with bitterness."So what if he remembered us," Annoyance added mockingly. "He hated us for all these lifetimes. He can't compare to Alex."Davina's lips tightened into a thin line. "Hypocrites," she muttered under her breath. Her demons were so fickle, always switching sides in an instant. She felt trapped, tugged in different directions by voices she couldn't control.Suddenly, another voice—deeper, calmer—slid into her thoughts. "Because they are demons, Davina." The voice wasn't her own. It was Lucifer's, echoing in her mind as though he was answering the question she hadn't dared ask aloud.She blinked, confused, thinking it was one of her own demons speaking to her. But Lucifer continued, his voice weary and low, as though the weight of centuries hung heavy on his shoulders. "Get used to it. They're like Daeliah—unyielding."The mention of her wolf made her flinch as a wave of grief crashed over her. Daeliah. Her wolf was gone, and with her absence came an ache so deep it threatened to drown her. She hadn't even realized how much she missed her until now.Lucifer's gaze softened for just a moment, his eyes glimmering with something that looked like understanding. "You're a demon now, Davina. Not an angel. Not a wolf. Selfishness comes with the territory. Your demons block Daeliah's memory because they know it would break you."Her gaze snapped to his, anger bubbling up alongside her grief. "Didn't you say you wanted nothing to do with me? Why do you care now?" Her voice trembled with emotion, the confusion and frustration evident in every syllable.Lucifer clenched his jaw, looking away from her. "As your lord, your thoughts... bother me," he admitted, the words coming reluctantly. "I can hear them—your uncertainty, your fear... and your... lus-." He hesitated, clearing his throat - the word sticking in his throat but he masked it with other demon name . "Your love, if any remains for anyone ." He straightened his posture, regaining the indifferent mask he had been wearing. "I cannot block them. They're loud, disruptive. Ask him." He nodded toward the Imp, who had been watching the exchange in silence. The creature jumped in surprise, hurriedly nodding in agreement, though the lie was obvious. If Lucifer wanted to block her thoughts, he could.The sharpness of his words cut her, but something else ignited within her—anger. "Fine," she snapped, her voice thick with bitterness. "I apologize, my lord, for being such a nuisance. I'll be sure to stay far away so as not to 'bother' you any longer. And as for my thoughts, I hope you'll find the decency to stop prying into them."Lucifer's gaze hardened, but for the briefest moment, she saw a flash of regret—then it was gone."And since you are my lord," she said, her voice dangerously calm now, "I suppose I'm allowed one wish, aren't I?"His brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you want?""I want you to keep Ethan here," she said softly, a plea hidden beneath her words. "Under your protection, no one would dare harm him. I'll return for him once I've handled those who attacked him. And after that, you'll never have to see me again."Lucifer studied her for a long moment, the tension between them thick and palpable. Finally, he turned to the Imp. "Show the Miss her way out." She opened her mouth to protest, desperation creeping into her voice. "You call yourself a lord, and yet you can't grant this one small request?" She was playing with fire, and she knew it. But she couldn't back down. Not when Ethan's safety was at stake.Lucifer's voice darkened, cold and sharp. "I said, show the Miss her way out. Only the Miss."