Lena had known from the moment she made the deal that she was in danger.
But not like this.
Not with him.
Lucian was dangerous in the way a predator stalks its prey, all sharp edges and burning intensity. He never said it outright, but she could feel it—the possessiveness that lingered in his gaze, the way his touch was both careful and demanding at the same time.
It had been there before.
But now, after his father had taken an interest in her, it had escalated.
And that terrified her more than anything.
The Weight of His Gaze
Lena stood near the massive black stone balcony overlooking the Underworld's darkened sky. There was no sun, no stars—just an eerie crimson glow that bathed the entire realm in an unnatural light.
She hated how much time she had spent here.
Hated how easily she was starting to understand this place.
She felt him before she saw him.
Lucian's presence was like a fire in the darkness—undeniable, suffocating, unrelenting.
He didn't like when she was alone.
She turned slightly, watching as he leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, golden eyes burning like molten fire.
"You're avoiding me," he said.
Lena inhaled sharply. "I needed space."
Lucian smirked. "That's a shame," he murmured. "Because I have no intention of giving it to you."
Her fingers tightened against the cold stone railing.
"Lucian—"
"Do you have any idea how reckless you were?" His voice was low, but there was something dangerous underneath.
Lena frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Lucian pushed off the wall and closed the distance between them in a matter of seconds.
"You think I didn't notice?" he whispered, his voice like silk over steel. "The way you hesitated when my father spoke to you?"
Lena's breath caught.
Lucian's jaw clenched. "Tell me, Lena—did he make you an offer?"
She flinched.
That was exactly what had happened.
The Devil had whispered to her, tempting her with something she hadn't even realized she wanted—power.
Lucian's fingers brushed against her wrist, tracing the mark that bound them together. It was still faintly glowing, as if it had been touched by something darker.
"Don't lie to me," Lucian murmured, his grip tightening slightly.
Lena swallowed hard. "He… he said I had a choice."
Lucian's expression darkened instantly.
"Of course he did," he muttered bitterly.
Lena hesitated. "Why does that make you so angry?"
Lucian's golden eyes locked onto hers, burning with something raw and untamed.
"Because he wants to take you from me," he said. "And I won't let that happen."
Lena's heart pounded.
"You act like I'm your possession," she said, her voice barely a whisper.
Lucian's smirk was slow, but there was no amusement in it.
"You're not my possession," he murmured. "But you are mine."
Her breath hitched.
There it was again—that dangerous obsession.
The thing she had been trying to ignore.
The way he looked at her, as if she was the only thing in this world that mattered.
The way he spoke her name, like it belonged to him.
Lena's stomach twisted. "Lucian—"
"Tell me," he interrupted, tilting his head slightly. "When my father spoke to you… did you want what he was offering?"
Lena opened her mouth—then hesitated.
That was the problem, wasn't it?
She didn't know the answer.
Lucian's eyes darkened further. "You did."
It wasn't a question.
It was a statement.
Lena exhaled sharply. "It's not that simple—"
"It is to me."
His fingers curled around her wrist, his grip possessive.
"You belong to me, Lena," he murmured. "Not to him. Not to anyone else."
A shiver ran down her spine.
"Lucian—"
"I won't lose you," he said. "Not to him. Not to anyone."
His words were a promise.
A threat.
And Lena knew, in that moment, that Lucian would burn the entire world down before he let anyone take her from him.
A Test of Loyalty
The days that followed were suffocating.
Lucian watched her constantly.
She felt it when she walked through the corridors of his domain, when she trained to control the mark on her wrist, even when she slept.
It was as if he feared she would vanish the moment he looked away.
Or worse—that she would choose someone else.
Lena tried to ignore it.
Tried to pretend she didn't notice the way his gaze followed her every move, or the way his expression hardened whenever she hesitated to answer his questions.
But then, one evening, he snapped.
"You need to prove something to me, Lena," he said, his voice laced with an edge of command.
Lena narrowed her eyes. "Prove what?"
Lucian stepped closer, golden eyes smoldering. "That you belong to me."
Her heart pounded. "Lucian, I—"
Before she could react, he teleported them.
The world around them shifted, and suddenly, they were in the middle of an infernal battlefield.
The ground was cracked, molten lava bubbling beneath their feet.
And in front of them—a creature stood waiting.
It was massive, covered in blackened scales, its eyes glowing red.
A demon.
Lucian turned to her, his expression unreadable.
"Kill it," he commanded.
Lena's stomach dropped.
"What?"
Lucian didn't blink. "If you are mine, then prove it. Kill the demon."
Lena's breath came in short, uneven gasps.
"Lucian, I—"
"You hesitate," he murmured, his tone dangerous. "Why?"
Lena clenched her fists. "Because this isn't a test of loyalty—it's a test of obedience."
Lucian smirked. "What's the difference?"
Her chest tightened.
He was testing her.
Pushing her to the edge.
And she wasn't sure what scared her more—the fact that he was doing it… or the fact that a part of her wanted to obey.
The demon let out a low growl, its eyes narrowing.
Lucian tilted his head.
"Make your choice, Lena."
She gritted her teeth.
And then—
She raised her hand.
The mark on her wrist burned.
The demon lunged.
And Lena made her choice.