XXXVIII

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."Without a moment's hesitation, Lucifer moved with the speed of a shadow, driving the blade straight through the black-bearded god's chest. The sound of metal piercing flesh echoed in the chamber as blood sprayed across the white marble floor. The god gasped in shock, his body convulsing as Lucifer twisted the blade deeper, his smile never faltering.The other three gods stood frozen, their faces pale with fear as they watched their comrade's lifeblood spill onto the ground. For all their power, they were no match for the Lord of Hell.Lucifer let go of the blade and watched the black-bearded god crumple to the ground. His dark eyes shifted to the remaining gods, who now looked at him with a mixture of terror and disbelief."You made a grave mistake," Lucifer continued, his voice calm, almost casual as though he had just swatted a fly. "You thought your position granted you immunity from judgment. But I am the Lord of death - the final say for your sins comes from me , and you have broken every law of balance there is."His voice dropped to a whisper, cold and final. "And now, you will answer to me."The gods trembled, no longer the all-powerful beings they had claimed to be, but mere souls standing in the shadow of something far more ancient and terrifying.Even Davina gasped, frozen in place. She hadn't expected blood—after all, weren't these gods supposed to be nothing but ancient spirits?Before the remaining three could react, Lucifer's voice echoed through the chamber. "why dont you try to kneel to your superiors ?"The gods dropped to their knees with a resounding thud, their expressions contorted in pain and fury. Blood seeped from their knees, darkening the floor beneath them. The sheer force of Lucifer's command made it clear that their power was nothing compared to his.It was then that a soft, melodious voice echoed through the chamber, stopping Lucifer in his tracks."I beg of you, my lord," the voice said gently, "show mercy to my juniors."Lucifer paused, his blade still in hand, and slowly turned to face the source of the voice. A smile tugged at his lips, and he bowed his head slightly in respect. "Luna."Davina's eyes widened as she saw the source of the voice—a woman, impossibly graceful and beautiful. She appeared old, yet her beauty was timeless, her presence commanding respect. Even Davina, though confused, found herself instinctively bowing her head as Luna approached.The gods who had been kneeling also stared in shock. Luna stood tall, her movements regal as she stopped a few feet from Lucifer."It was my negligence that led to the downfall of my people," she said, her voice still soft but filled with authority. "If punishment is due, it should be directed at me."Lucifer chuckled darkly. "Drop the façade, Luna," he said, amused. "How could you be blamed of things you were not aware of . we all know you have long left the throne and anything related to it ."Luna smiled, and with a wave of her hand, her elderly form melted away, revealing a young woman, no older than twenty. She was radiant, her laughter like a melody that made even the gods tremble. With a mere gesture, people entered the chamber, dragging the remaining gods away.Lucifer turned back to Davina, his expression softening.

"I apologize for ruining your...retirement days .," he said to Luna with a smirk.

"Retirement ? i would love to call it vacations - i mourn for your vacations too , old friend," Luna replied playfully. Her eyes flicked to Davina, and she smiled knowingly. "Is this the lady for whom you rejected me?" She narrowed her eyes in mock appraisal. "She is beautiful, indeed. But if you change your mind, I'll be waiting," she teased, winking at Lucifer before returning to a glass throne adorned with flowers which appeared out of blue and it was then Davina and Lucifer noticed that the room walls have changed from the solid white marbles to the open garden . wherever you look it was an open field full of beautiful flowers .Luna's gaze returned to Davina, her voice filled with sympathy. "I owe you an apology, my child. Your father's sins were his own to bear, but you... you owe nothing to anyone. We are beasts, after all, and I will not judge the path you've chosen - as for right now i am not your lord . However, I can offer you a gift—a chance to live once more as nothing hybrid or other creature but a pure wolf, to undo the knots in your heart."Davina stood frozen in shock, her heart pounding as Luna's words sunk in. A second chance? Could she truly return to her former self? The offer filled her with a mix of hope and confusion. She could start over, perhaps undo her regrets, but the weight of the decision crushed her. She didn't wanted to leave the man standing beside her . Right now at this moment - she wanted him more than anything .As Luna's offer echoed in the chamber, Lucifer's heart sank, as if all the years of torment, isolation, and darkness weighed on him at once. Her presence, her existence, was the one anchor in the endless abyss he called his reality. Earlier, he had tried to convince himself that it would be bearable, even if she chose the wolf over him—as long as she remained a demon, there would still be some piece of her tethered to him, some connection they could never truly sever but now he doesn't know anymore .

His hands clenched by his sides, and though his face remained impassive, his soul trembled. It was as though someone had stolen his last will to exist, leaving him hollow. He had barely survived without Davina before, but now, with her so close, the thought of losing her again felt unbearable. It was as if he had forgotten how he had endured all those years apart. His dread grew not from uncertainty but from the certainty—he already knew her answer. And it terrified him.

"Don't worry," Luna said gently, motioning toward the corridor. "You will meet your friends and mate by the end of this hallway . Go meet them first. Take your time. you have a day - you can decide and let me know tommorow . "Davina glanced at Lucifer, but Luna's tone left little room for argument. Reluctantly, she turned and began walking away from where Lucifer was . Each step felt like the closing of a chapter, and with every step, Lucifer felt his heart ache with the dread that he might never see her again. He just wanted to stop her for once and final - not letting her go away from him . As soon as Davina crossed the threshold and left the room, Lucifer's knees buckled beneath him, and he crumbled to the cold, marble floor. A sharp, searing pain coursed through him—a brutal reminder that he had defied the contract once again. This was the third time he had interfered with her fate, and he knew nature itself, the laws that governed all existence, would not forgive him easily this time.