XXXVII

Before the first blade could cut into Davina's skin, the entire room trembled violently. The air thickened with an almost electric charge, and the ground beneath them quaked as though the very foundation of the realm was being torn apart. A fierce wind howled through the marble chamber, and in a split second, the ethereal blades that circled Davina disintegrated into a fine powder, falling harmlessly to the floor. The four gods looked around in shock and disbelief, their powerful magic undone in an instant by a force beyond their comprehension.Davina's breath caught in her throat as strong hands suddenly gripped her arms, pulling her gently to her feet. Her heart stuttered in her chest as she looked up to find herself staring into the deep, hollow eyes of Lucifer. Relief flooded through her, but his expression was dark—his eyes sweeping over her battered form with concern. His gaze lingered on her bleeding knees, his jaw tightening with barely contained rage.He was beautiful—dangerously so. His dark hair framed his face like shadows that seemed to move with him, and his skin glowed faintly, as though he absorbed the very darkness around him. His presence was both menacing and captivating, a blend of deadly power and irresistible allure. Standing this close to him, Davina felt a magnetic pull, a deep, primal force that drew her in despite the chaos surrounding them.

"To what do we owe the pleasure of having the dark lord here ?"The silver-haired woman, who had initiated the attack asked breaking the silence .

" The same pleasure my child owes you " His voice, cold and commanding . Lucifer's tone was laced with sarcasm as he directed his words as warning toward the gods, his gaze never leaving Davina as he inspected her injuries. His touch was surprisingly gentle, though the fury in his eyes spoke of bloodshed to come.The silver-haired woman, who had initiated the attack, rose from her throne with a coy smile on her lips. Her eyes gleamed with intrigue as she took slow steps toward them, her movements calculated and graceful. "I must say, I didn't expect the great Lucifer to show up personally. I assume you've come to rescue your... child?" She emphasized the last word with a mocking lilt, clearly probing for something deeper.Lucifer's expression remained hard, but his voice carried a warning. "Yes, my child," he replied evenly. "The same one who owes you nothing but scorn for your treachery."One of the other gods, the skeletal man with the glowing golden eyes, leaned forward in his throne, scowling. "Your child?" he sneered. "This... abomination?"Lucifer turned his attention to him, eyes narrowing. "This abomination," he said calmly, pulling the silver-haired woman's throne closer with a single flick of his hand, "is far more than you realize. Sit, Davina," he said softly, pulling out the chair for her. She hesitated but then sat down, the pain in her knees easing slightly as the weight was taken off her legs.The black-bearded god, who had been silent until now, roared in outrage. "How dare you let a sinner sit on this throne !" he bellowed, his voice shaking the walls.Lucifer ignored him. He placed his cane on the ground, the blade within it glinting faintly as if anticipating use. Intricate snake markings coiled around the hilt, and dark energy seemed to seep from the weapon itself. His presence alone was enough to suppress the power of the four gods, as though the very essence of death had entered their sacred chamber."You claim Davina's existence is a sin," Lucifer began, his voice dripping with disdain. "Yet you've attacked her—not once, not twice—but relentlessly. You killed her as a hybrid and now when she is nothing a hybrib but a demon ,you sent Victoria to do your dirty work. When that failed, you sent rogues. When even they weren't enough, you slaughtered Ethan—a wolf from your own kind , not a demon—and dared to manipulate the supernatural society into sending ten of their best guards, all based on your lies."The silver-haired woman stiffened, her coy smile faltering. The coal-eyed man shifted uncomfortably in his seat, but Lucifer continued without hesitation. "You abused your power. You destroyed countless lives, all in the name of maintaining your so-called balance. Yet, when faced with the consequences of your actions, you cower and hide behind your thrones."He turned to the bearded god, his voice dangerously low. "And now, you stand before me, threatening the life of someone who belongs to me?"The black-bearded god growled, his fists trembling with fury. "You cannot interfere with this, Lucifer. You promised to stay away from her fate—never to meddle in her reincarnations! What now? Have you grown tired of eternity? Will you go against the contract you signed with the former Lord of Hell and risk being erased? Are you willing to face death?"The words hit like thunder. Davina, caught off guard by the revelation, instinctively stood from her chair only to stumble back into it, her legs suddenly weak. The shock in her eyes mirrored the turmoil inside her—had Lucifer truly made such a promise? Her mind raced with fear and confusion as she looked at him. She knew how deeply he had shielded his secrets, and now the very truth he had fought to bury was dragged into the open.she couldn't believe the sacrifice he had made just for her when it was her who destroyed his everything and betrayed him to death . Lucifer's eyes darkened, burning with a fury so intense it seemed to dim the light in the room. His entire aura shifted—he became the embodiment of shadows, of nightmares, of power no mortal could comprehend. His jaw clenched, his lips pulling into a tight smile that did nothing to hide the seething rage underneath. The black-bearded god had done the unthinkable: he had spoken the one and only truth that Lucifer had fought to protect, and now there would be no mercy.Lucifer's gaze shifted to Davina. Kneeling before her, he took her trembling hands in his, offering a smile that was almost painfully calm. "Look at me," he said softly, his voice a balm against the storm of emotions swirling in the air. "I am okay, see? Nothing can destroy me—I am the almighty lord of death, of darkness. I cannot be crumbled."But even as the words left his lips, Davina saw the flicker of something else in his eyes—something vulnerable. He was lying. She could feel it in the depths of her soul. This wasn't a battle he wanted to fight, and the fear of the consequences he'd buried for so long was now laid bare.His thumb brushed over her knuckles gently. "We will talk once I have dealt with them," he whispered, his voice growing colder with each syllable. He stood, and in an instant, the warmth was gone, replaced by the deadly cold of the ruler of Hell. His entire presence grew darker, more oppressive.Lucifer's gaze snapped back to the black-bearded god, his eyes gleaming with dangerous intent. "I promised nothing but to keep her far from the depths of Hell," he said, his voice low, vibrating with an authority that made the walls tremble. "But you overstepped. You sought to end her, even after she became something beyond a hybrid—something that now belongs to my domain. You sent assassins after her, you murdered her companions, and now you dare stand here and speak of contracts and judgments? You presume to lecture me on promises? You?"The god's eyes widened in sudden horror as Lucifer unsheathed the blade from his cane with a sharp, echoing sound. The blade glistened darkly, humming with the energy of a thousand souls. Lucifer's smile turned cold, almost feral. "For your crimes," he hissed, "I alone will judge you."