The star crossed lovers

VIII

The air was thick with tension as the figure draped in blue leaned in closer, her voice a venomous whisper that sliced through the silence.

"I let you live, and yet you returned," she hissed, her words laced with malice, as a treacherous smile twisted at the corner of her lips. Her grip on Davina loosened, and in one swift, cruel motion, she released her hold.

Davina fell to the ground with a sickening thud, gasping for breath. The impact rattled her bones, and the sharp pain that shot through her chest was nothing compared to the fury building inside her. Victoria's words echoed in her head, taunting her, fueling the anger that bubbled just beneath her skin. But before Davina could even think to retaliate, a cold, familiar voice cut through the air, freezing Victoria in her tracks.

"Come on now, you don't take credit for someone else's work. That's just basic manners."

The voice was like dark velvet—soothing, yet edged with danger. Davina knew who it belonged to instantly. Him. Lucifer.

Her body tensed as his presence filled the space, though her eyes remained locked on Victoria. Still, she could feel his gaze burning into her, that intense, all-seeing gaze that made her skin prickle. She didn't need to turn around to know he was watching her, as if her every breath belonged to him.

Victoria's face twisted into something far more sinister as she let out a low, mocking chuckle. "You still look the same as you did 10,000 years ago," she sneered.

In a flash, Victoria lunged toward Lucifer, her movements too fast for the human eye. But he was quicker. In the blink of an eye, he dodged her attack, their bodies vanishing into the air, leaving only a faint ripple in their wake. Davina barely had time to process what had happened before he reappeared, standing right where he had been moments ago. She scrambled to her feet, her mind spinning.

"Follow me," Lucifer's voice was low and commanding, leaving no room for protest.

Without another word, he turned and walked into the woods. The silence that followed was suffocating, thick with unspoken tension. As they moved deeper into the forest, Davina's unease grew. The questions inside her head screamed for answers, but the cold atmosphere and Lucifer's silent presence kept her on edge.

"Weren't you on vacation?" The words left her mouth before she could stop them, and immediate regret washed over her. What a ridiculous thing to say to the Devil himself.

To her surprise, he said nothing, continuing his silent trek through the woods.

"What happened to her?" she asked again, her voice barely more than a whisper. This time, he stopped.

He turned slowly, his face a cold, unreadable mask. His eyes, however, held something dark and furious just beneath the surface. His lips trembled, as though he wanted to speak but was holding back.

"Why are you here?" she demanded, mustering all the courage she had.

Lucifer's gaze bore into her, reading her as though she were an open book. His eyes flickered to the dark bruises on her neck, and a sudden, dangerous rage flashed across his face. His voice, when he spoke, was a low, restrained growl.

"Is that what's important right now? If it wasn't for me, you'd be dead. Do you not understand the gravity of the situation you're in? Or are you really that foolish?" His voice rose, echoing through the forest with a force that made the trees seem to shudder. This was the first time she had seen him this enraged, this on edge, and it terrified her.

"Listen, little demon," he hissed, taking a step closer. "If you want to survive, you will pack your things and leave this place. There won't be a next time."

"I didn't ask you to save me!" Davina shot back, her defiance sharp, but he cut her off before she could continue.

"Oh, really?" he sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I warned you, didn't I? You don't stand a chance against her. You're nothing more than a demon, and she... she is the Moon Goddess. What you saw earlier? That was nothing. A mere flicker of her power. She could kill you in a heartbeat, and you wouldn't even have time to scream."

His words hung in the air like a death sentence. Davina's heart pounded, her mind racing. She had suspected, but this... this was more than she had ever imagined.

"If Victoria is the almighty Moon Goddess, then why is she pretending to be Alex's mate?" her wolf, Daeliah, growled within her, the question burning in Davina's mind as well.

Before she could react, Lucifer was standing directly in front of her. The sudden proximity sent a chill down her spine. He leaned in, his face inches from hers, and without warning, his hand shot out, gripping her arm. He yanked her closer, and for a moment, their bodies were flush together, the heat of his skin searing into hers.

"Stay still," he whispered in her ear, his breath cold against her skin. Her entire body froze, paralyzed by his command. She wanted to push him away, to fight back, but she couldn't. Something dark and powerful held her in place, something beyond her control.

A cruel smile played on Lucifer's lips as he watched her struggle. He had used his demon command on her, and now she was helpless under his influence. Slowly, almost tenderly, he brushed his fingers over the bruises on her neck. The pain faded in an instant, the bruises disappearing as though they had never been there.

"Breathe," he muttered, stepping back, his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer.

"She—your mate, Alex..." Lucifer began, but his voice faltered. It was as though he were battling with himself, the conflict clear in his eyes.

"You should let nature take its course. If we interfere with the fate of this demon any more than we already have... it won't end well," his inner demons whispered in his mind.

Lucifer exhaled sharply. He had known this all along. He had let her go before, knowing that interfering with her fate would only lead to destruction. His eyes softened, if only for a second, as he looked at her.

"Go back. Victoria will have returned by now."

Davina's voice trembled as she took a step forward. "Daeliah... save my wolf. Please."

The desperation in her voice sent a pang through Lucifer. He knew the truth. Her wolf was doomed, and nothing could change that.

"You're not a wolf anymore," he said, his voice cold. "You belong to the demons now. The sooner you accept that, the easier this will be."

He didn't meet her eyes as he spoke the last words, and before she could respond, he vanished into the shadows.