Lena could still feel the Devil's presence lingering even after the darkness faded. His words haunted her.
"You have a choice… you can let the mark consume you, or you can wield it."
The weight of those words settled in her chest like a burning coal. She didn't know what scared her more—the idea that she had no control over what was happening to her, or the idea that she might want that power.
When her vision finally cleared, she found herself back in Lucian's domain, the infernal sigils beneath her feet still glowing faintly.
Lucian stood a few steps away, watching her with an intensity that made her shiver. His golden eyes were darker than usual, his jaw clenched.
She pushed herself to her feet, shaking off the lingering haze of the Devil's presence.
"What the hell was that?" she asked, her voice hoarse.
Lucian didn't answer immediately. His gaze flickered to the mark on her wrist, which was still glowing faintly, as if it had been touched by something more powerful than even him.
"You saw him," Lucian finally said.
It wasn't a question.
Lena swallowed hard. "Yeah."
Lucian's expression darkened. "What did he say?"
Lena hesitated. She wasn't sure she wanted to tell him.
She could still hear the Devil's voice in her mind, offering her something more than just servitude. Offering her a chance to be something greater.
Something powerful.
Lena met Lucian's gaze. "Why do you care?"
Something flashed in his golden eyes—something sharp and dangerous.
"Because you're mine, Lena," he said, his voice low and controlled. "And I don't like sharing."
Her breath caught at the possessiveness in his tone.
His?
A flicker of irritation flared in her chest. "I'm not an object, Lucian," she snapped.
Lucian's smirk was slow, but there was no humor in it. "No," he murmured. "You're something much more dangerous."
Lena frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Lucian stepped closer, his presence suffocating. "You've caught my father's attention," he said darkly. "And that is not a good thing."
A shiver ran down her spine. "Why? Afraid he might offer me something better?"
Lucian's jaw tightened.
For the first time, she saw something flicker in his eyes—something that looked a lot like jealousy.
Lena smirked, unable to help herself. "Is that it, Lucian? Are you jealous?"
His eyes burned gold.
"Careful, little mortal," he murmured, his voice like silk over steel. "You don't want to see what I do when I'm jealous."
Lena's pulse quickened.
There was something dangerous in his tone—something that sent a thrill of both excitement and fear racing through her veins.
And yet…
She couldn't help but wonder.
How far would Lucian go to keep her?
---
A Claim of Fire
Lena could still feel the tension between them as they walked through Lucian's domain. The heat of the Underworld was nothing compared to the burning intensity in his gaze.
She had never seen him like this before.
Lucian had always been arrogant, always smug—but there was something different now. Something darker.
And it all started when she mentioned his father.
"Why does it bother you?" she asked finally.
Lucian didn't look at her. "It doesn't."
Lena scoffed. "Liar."
Lucian stopped walking.
Before she could react, he had turned, closing the distance between them in a flash.
One second, she had space to breathe—
The next, she was trapped between him and the cold stone wall.
His hands were on either side of her, his body dangerously close.
"Say it again," he murmured, his golden eyes glowing with an intensity that made her shiver.
Lena swallowed hard. "You're jealous."
His smirk was slow, but there was something almost hungry in his gaze.
"You think I care what my father wants?" he asked, tilting his head slightly. "You think I would ever let him take you?"
Lena's breath caught.
Lucian leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear.
"If my father wants to claim you," he whispered, "he'll have to fight me for you."
A shudder ran through her.
She had no idea what she had gotten herself into.
But one thing was clear—
Lucian was jealous.
And jealousy, in the hands of a demon, was a dangerous thing.
---
The Test of Loyalty
Lucian finally stepped back, his smirk returning.
"But let's put that theory to the test, shall we?" he murmured.
Lena frowned. "What?"
Lucian's golden eyes gleamed. "You want to know how much I care?"
He snapped his fingers.
The room shifted.
Suddenly, they were no longer in the halls of his domain.
They stood in a new place—a dark chamber filled with flickering torches.
And in the center of the room—
A figure stood waiting.
Lena's heart skipped a beat.
The figure was tall, draped in shadows, but his presence was unmistakable.
Lucian's father.
The Devil.
The air grew heavy.
Lucian's expression hardened. "You want to see jealousy, Lena?" he murmured. "Then watch closely."
Before she could react, Lucian stepped forward, his entire body radiating fury.
The Devil chuckled. "Jealous already, my son?"
Lucian didn't answer.
He simply summoned
his fire, his golden eyes burning with possession.
Lena's breath caught.
She had started a war between father and son.
And now—
She had no idea how it would end.